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10: Chapter 10. Set grids, levels, dimensions, and building columns

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    13186
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    targeting.png Session Objectives

    Upon completing this session, students will be able to:

    (CO 1) Import CAD drawings- Floor plans, building elevations, and sections
    (CO 2) Adjust and verify the scale
    (CO 3) Create and modify grids and levels
    (CO 4) Create plan views- Floors and ceilings
    (CO 5) Create columns


    lightbulb.png Session Highlights

    At the end of the session, students can create the graphics below.

    This image shows the Session highlight presenting the column grids and columns. This is the expected result at the end of this lecture.


    signing-contract-1.png Lecture Contents

    (CO 1) Import Drawings- Floor plans, building elevations, and sections

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "10 - Set Grids, Levels, Dimensions, & Columns - CO 1 - Import CAD drawings- Floor plans"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/?p=92

    Prepare Drawings before import CAD drawings

    • [STEP 1] Open Revit application > Open your project > Double-click [LEVEL 1] from [PROECT BROWSER] > Close all other views except [LEVEL 1]
    • [STEP 2] Select [SITE] information including the property line, trees, and neighborhood buildings > Mouse right-click on one of the selected elements > select [HIDE IN VIEW] > Select [ELEMENTS] or [CATEGORY]
      This image indicates how to open the model and hide other elements that will not be used for level 1.

    Repeat this process for FLOOR PLAN – LEVEL 2, ELEVATION – EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH, CEILING PLAN – LEVEL 1, LEVEL 2
    This image shows the views that hide unrelated information.

    Insert drawings

    In this tutorial, we will practice how to add an image (drawing) to the view. You can insert CAD files and PDF files

    • [STEP 1] Select [IMPORT IMAGE] from [INSERT] tab, under [IMPORT] panel
      Note. Revit can import various file types – dwg, dxf, pdf, jpg, tif, rvt, and more
      Note. For this project, I will use [tif] files
      This image indicates how to import image drawing.
    • [STEP 2] Find the folder where the drawings are saved > select the floor plan > click [OPEN] > place the imported image on the view [LEVEL 1]

    Repeat this process for FLOOR PLAN – LEVEL 2, ELEVATION – EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTHNote. The imported image will only show on the view where you placed.
    Note. To use the image file that you imported for your other level like [LEVEL 2]. Click [MANAGE LINKS] > Click [IMAGES] tab > Click the image that you loaded in the model > Click [PLACE INSTANCE]
    This image indicates how to import image drawing using manage links


    (CO 2) Adjust and verify the scale

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "10 - Set Grids, Levels, Dimensions, & Columns - CO 2 - Adjust and verify the scale"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/?p=92

    Confirm the scale and position of the imported drawings

    If the imported image/CAD file/PDF is in the right scale and position, skip this one, but double-check for your accuracy

    • [STEP 1] Select imported image > click [SCALE] from [MODIFY] tab, under [MODIFY] panel
      This image indicates how to scale change of the imported drawing
    • [STEP 2] Click the first point that you know the dimension. I will use the overall building dimension (58’-7”). You may also use a graphic scale if you have one
      You need to zoom in to select the first point in the middle of the dimension line.
      This image shows the scale change of the imported drawing to zoom in to find the point to dimensioning.
    • [STEP 3] Click the second point
    • [STEP 4] Type the dimension [58’7”] and press [Enter] key
    • [STEP 5] Zoom out to see the position
      This image shows the location of the imported image that must relocate to match the building footprint.
    • [STEP 6] Move the drawing to match the base drawing. You can use a specific point to match the drawing to the base Revit model that you created
      This image shows the relocated imported drawing.

    You may need to change the graphic display to [WIREFRAME] to see the image behind the model

    Repeat this process for FLOOR PLAN – LEVEL 2, ELEVATION – EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH
    This image shows the import drawings for all views.


    (CO 3) Create and modify grids and levels

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "10 - Set Grids, Levels, Dimensions, & Columns - CO 3 - Create and modify grids and levels"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/?p=92

    Create grids

    • [STEP 1] Open [LEVEL 1] view
    • [STEP 2] Select [GRID] from [ARCHITECTURE] tab, under [DATUM] panel
    • [STEP 3] Using the straight-line selection, hover over the view near the west wall until it becomes highlighted in the center of the wall and an “X” appears
      This image shows the location of the first grid and guideline.
    • [STEP 4] Click the first point and click the second point to complete the gridline 1
    • [STEP 5] To complete the remaining gridlines, you can copy or continue drawing gridlines based on the imported image
    • [STEP 6] To copy, select the Revit gridline 1 that you just made. Select the Copy tool and click a point and specify the second point to the next grid line
    • [STEP 7] Also you should use dimension [DI] to specify the distance between gridlines
      This image shows the grid dimensions.
    • [STEP 8] Continue to copy all North/South gridlines
    • [STEP 9] If the grid bubble and numbers are too big, you can update the view scale by clicking scale. For the Eames House project, use 3/8” = 1’-0”
      This image indicates how to update the scale for changing grid symbol size.
    • [STEP 10] Create a Horizontal new grid for East/West. And Update the Grid name to [A] and complete East/West grids
      This image indicates how to change the number to the letter of the grid symbol.
    • [STEP 11] Your gridlines and dimensions can be locked
      This image shows the locked grid symbol and dimensions.
    • [STEP 12] Open [NORTH] view and adjust the grid line heights by dragging and drop the edge of the grid line. And repeat this for [WEST] view
      This image indicates how to adjust grid line.

    Create and Modify levels

    • [STEP 1] We will now make Levels. Begin by navigating to the [SOUTH] elevation in the Project Browser.
      • Adjust the length of the level by dragging and drop the edge of the level line
      • Repeat this for [EAST] elevation view
    • [STEP 2] After you have confirmed that Levels 1 & 2 are set to the correct elevation, you can add additional levels. To adjust the elevation number, click on the number and type in the correct elevation.
      Note: Level 2 will be [9’-7”] higher than Level 1.
      This image indicates how to adjust the level height.
    • [STEP 3] Add a roof level.
      • Select [LEVEL] from [ARCHITECTURE] tab, under [DATUM] panel
        Or, type [LL]
      • Click the left corner of the level and click the second point to finish the command
      • Rename [Roof] > Click OK in the window pop-up and change view name accordingly
      • Adjust the height to [18′ 5 1/2″]
    • [STEP 4] If you copy (CO)the level from the existing level, the view will not be created. Create Ground and Level 1 top (Black symbol)
      This image shows the resulting image after adding levels.
    • [STEP 5] Update the view scales
      • 3/16” = 1’-0” for all elevations
      • 3/8” = 1’-0” for floor plans and ceiling plans
        This image shows the resulting image after updating drawing scales.

    (CO 4) Create plan views- Floors and ceilings

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "10 - Set Grids, Levels, Dimensions, & Columns - CO 4 - Create plan views- Floors and ceilings"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/?p=92

    Currently, you have what you need. When you add a new level [LL], the views automatically created. If you made the view by coping existing levels [CO], you have to create new views for the level

    • [STEP 1] Select [PLAN VIEWS]
    • [STEP 2] Select [FLOOR PLAN] if you need a floor plan
    • [STEP 3] Select [NAME OF THE LEVEL] and click [OK], then you can find the view from [PROJECT BROWSER]

    If you need additional plans for furniture plans, power, and data plans, and finish plans, you need to duplicate the view by mouse-right clicking and select duplicate view > duplicate

    Note, there are three options for duplicating views. Please refer to this link for further explanation


    (CO 5) Create columns

    Thumbnail for the embedded element "10 - Set Grids, Levels, Dimensions, & Columns - CO 5 - Create columns with dimensions"

    A YouTube element has been excluded from this version of the text. You can view it online here: https://iastate.pressbooks.pub/visualgraphiccomm/?p=92

    We will now add columns beginning on the Ground level

    • [STEP 1] Under the Architecture tab on the Ribbon select Structural Column.
      This image indicates how to select the structural column tool from the ribbons.
    • [STEP 2] Select the 5” x 5” column.
      Note: an existing column family may need to be edited to create this size by clicking [EDIT TYPE] > Click [DUPLICATE] > add name [W5x 5] > click [OK] > update width and height to 5”
      This image indicates what to edit type to 6X6 column.
    • [STEP 3] Confirm the Base Level is set to Ground and the Top Level is set to Roof
    • [STEP 4] Place a column on your [LEVEL 1]
    • [STEP 5] It will be necessary to Move [MV] and Copy [CO] the Revit columns to align as shown on the imported floor plan and the grid that you created

    Hide the imported drawing image to confirm all columns are properly placed

    Type [TL] to see the thick lines for print
    This image shows the resulting image after adding columns.

    SAVE the file before closing the application.

    Save in a different location for the backup (e.g., a cloud folder)


    book.png References

    Autodesk.Help. (2007, September 13). About Duplicating Views in Revit. Retrieved October 22, 2020, from https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/revit-products/learn-explore/caas/CloudHelp/cloudhelp/2018/ENU/3PP-RVT-ARCH-ASCENT/files/GUID-F4ABE31C-D4D8-45FB-A628-A512D41D8114-htm.html

     


    This page titled 10: Chapter 10. Set grids, levels, dimensions, and building columns is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Yongyeon Cho via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.