Home Building: Breaking Down BIM BUILDING SOFTWARE Click HereWhat Is BIM? As building information modeling grows in prominence, builders and designers share their thoughts on how it helps their businesses. The core of BIM centers around the creation of 3D models of a home. All of the elements of the home—from the roof trusses and the drywall to the kitchen island and the bathroom tile—are represented as solid objects in the 3D environment. This is what distinguishes BIM from simple 3D drawings: Rather than just being lines on a screen, each object carries the same properties it would in real life. The size, shape, and material composition of each object is noted, creating a complete, living picture of the home exactly as it will be built.
BIM doesn’t stop with the completion of the model though, says Joe Sirilla, design department head at Monta Consulting & Design (MCD), an Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based design and engineering firm. In fact, creating the model is just the first step. And that, Sirilla says, is the key to understanding BIM and all of its potential for home builders—to stop thinking of it as technology and to start thinking of it as a process.“It’s a process where all the individuals involved, using their software together, can interact and create one project in a 3D virtual world,” he says. Levels of BIM, BIM is a process whereby a builder creates a home in a 3D environment to better define construction ahead of the actual build. Builders who use BIM say putting the pieces together virtually first lets you find any possible construction issues before you start building, like overlapping plumbing and structural components. “Having one master model for a particular plan lets you quickly see what works and what doesn’t,” says Brad McCall, co-owner of Billings, Mont.-based McCall Homes. “It’s much easier to catch a problem when it’s in 3D.”
There’s also the issue of incompatibility among the different BIM software. Each program has its own type of output, which often conflicts with other programs. That’s why groups like the American Institute of Building Design (AIBD)—for which Sirilla is the National BIM representative—are working to establish a national standard for BIM users and software. Check here for the rest of the article.
In 2010, former senior editor Nigel F. Maynard visited with designer Jeff Speck at the Washington, D.C., house he designed for himself. Learn how the shape of the flatiron corner lot inspired Speck to seek special variances and devise custom design solutions. (source: architectmagazine)
The Top 100 Green Design Firms, click here for FULL list by Engineering News Record There is no lack of interest in sustainable design, as shown in the results of ENR’s Top 100 Green Design Firms list. As a group, the Top 100 generated $5.21 billion in design revenue in 2014 from projects registered with and actively seeking certification from third-party ratings groups under objective sustainable-design standards such as LEED. For the group, this revenue is a 10.1% increase from the $4.73 billion in 2013. Domestically, green design revenue rose 5.8%.ENR: Engineering News Record | McGraw-Hill Construction
Of the many different styles and kinds of architecture and building design, you may ask what are the Most Interesting Sustainable Innovation Design Architecture....here is one. Habitat 67, or simply Habitat, is a model community and housing complex in Montreal, Canada, designed by Israeli–Canadian architect Moshe Safdie. It was originally conceived as his master's thesis in architecture at McGill University and then built as a pavilion for Expo 67, the World's Fair held from April to October 1967. It is located at 2600 Avenue Pierre-Dupuy on the Marc-Drouin Quay next to the Saint Lawrence River. Habitat 67 is widely considered an architectural landmark and one of the most recognizable and significant buildings in both Montreal and Canada. It has been reported many times as one of the top 10 ugliest buildings in North America and the world.
Cad designs are generated through a number of methods however, one thing that is consistent is if you want a good design you have to be creative. Seeking out good design sometimes maybe a task you may have to look through a lot of data. The high end design firm Rodwin Architecture has really good residential design. The utilization of the materials and how they put them together in unique configurations with design is incredible. So check out some of their designs and contact them, for the rest of the story here's the link.
Company’s Green Claims for Plastic Lumber Misleading FTC Order Requires Firm to Have Distributors Take Down Ads With Unsupported Claims. A Wisconsin-based manufacturer of plastic lumber products has agreed to stop making allegedly unsubstantiated claims about the recycled content and recyclability of two of its brands of plastic lumber.“Consumers deserve to know the truth about the products they are buying,”said Jessica Rich, Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “Many of them want to buy products that are environmentally friendly, but they can’t do that if they get information that’s wrong or unsupported.”
In its administrative complaint, the FTC alleges that between September 2012 and March 2013, N.E.W. made false and misleading claims while promoting Evolve and Trimax. Specifically, the company claimed: Finally, the proposed order bars N.E.W. from providing anyone else with the means of making false, misleading, or unsubstantiated claims. The order will end in 20 years. The FTC has new information for consumers in a blog post on its website. Also the FTC provides detailed guidance to businesses on environmental claims in its Green Guides. NOTE: The Commission issues an administrative complaint when it has “reason to believe” that the law has been or is being violated, and it appears to the Commission that a proceeding is in the public interest. For the rest of the story click here.
Are your green claims clean? Knock on wood. Consumers have another choice these days: plastic lumber, which is often used in decking, fences, outdoor furniture, etc. Wisconsin-based N.E.W. Plastics Corporation (you may know them as Renew Plastics) manufactures two lines of plastic lumber - Evolve and Trimax - and touts their environmental benefits. But according to a settlement announced by the FTC, the company’s green claims didn’t stack up. N.E.W. markets Evolve and Trimax through independent distributors and retailers across the country. One focus of the company’s marketing campaign for Evolve was to position the product as an environmentally conscious choice: "When you build with EVOLVE recycled plastic lumber, you demonstrate your commitment to the environment and sustainable living. EVOLVE recycled plastic lumber products are 100% plastic and generally contain over 90% high density polyethylene (ReHDPE) material."
This statement turns out not to be truthful.Despite express representations that the products were recyclable, local recycling centers wouldn’t accept Evolve and Trimax. Why not? Because they contain other components that aren’t recyclable. In addition, most facilities accept only small household items, not larger, heavy building materials like plastic lumber. What about sending it back to N.E.W.’s factory for recycling? Good luck with that. The shipping cost made that an unrealistic option. The FTC’s complaint alleges that N.E.W.’s “90% recycled plastic” claim for Evolve was false and unsubstantiated, as was the representation that Trimax was made of all or virtually all post-consumer recycled content like milk jugs or detergent bottles. The settlement offers insights for advertisers making environmental representations. First, the FTC’s Green Guides remain your best resource for how to avoid an eco-oops in your advertising. A product may have a theoretical environmental effect in a lab setting, but your ad claims should reflect actual consumer use. File your online comments about the proposed settlement by March 24, 2014, and bookmark the FTC's Environmental Marketing page for guidance on keeping your green claims. This video is a good place to start: Click here for the full story.
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BIM doesn’t stop with the completion of the model though, says Joe Sirilla, design department head at Monta Consulting & Design (MCD), an Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based design and engineering firm. In fact, creating the model is just the first step. And that, Sirilla says, is the key to understanding BIM and all of its potential for home builders—to stop thinking of it as technology and to start thinking of it as a process.“It’s a process where all the individuals involved, using their software together, can interact and create one project in a 3D virtual world,” he says. Levels of BIM, BIM is a process whereby a builder creates a home in a 3D environment to better define construction ahead of the actual build. Builders who use BIM say putting the pieces together virtually first lets you find any possible construction issues before you start building, like overlapping plumbing and structural components. “Having one master model for a particular plan lets you quickly see what works and what doesn’t,” says Brad McCall, co-owner of Billings, Mont.-based McCall Homes. “It’s much easier to catch a problem when it’s in 3D.” 
