Company Overview
VJAgosta and Associates (VJA) is a leading architectural design firm known for its modern and functionally honest design aesthetic, integrating community and environmental considerations. They excel in providing fully customized and innovative solutions by immersing themselves in their clients’ perspectives. VJA prides itself on ensuring that we provide the best designs to our clients, and attributes this to our drive to invest in the latest innovations in the industry. With a growing portfolio and increasing workload, VJA recognized the need to optimize their Revit workflow and provide customized training for their team members.
Objective
VJA approached Interscale with the goal of enhancing their Revit Templates to increase efficiency and implementing a customized training program to upskill their team. Specific areas of focus included optimizing VJA’s Revit Templates, content creation, hosting lunch and learns/short training sessions to ensure the team didn’t have to spend too much time away from their projects, and introducing future software planning.
Revit Templates
Our team began by conducting an in-depth analysis of the current Revit VJA templates and workflows. We identified areas where improvements could be made to streamline processes and increase efficiency. The key areas addressed were as follows:
Project/Shared Parameters:
We collaborate closely with the VJA project team to identify the most relevant and commonly used project/shared parameters. We develop a set of standard parameters that align with VJA’s specific project requirements. This enables consistent data management and facilitates easier collaboration among members.
View Template:
We assessed existing VJA display templates and identified opportunities for improvement. We worked closely with their design and documentation teams to create a comprehensive set of optimized display templates that aligned with VJA project standards. These templates improved consistency across projects, reduced manual adjustments, and saved valuable time during the design process.
Filter:
Our team analyzed VJA’s filter settings and identified areas for improvement. We collaborated with their team to develop custom filter settings that aligned with their specific project needs. These new filters allow for better organization and quick identification of elements within a complex building model.
Timetable:
We reviewed VJA’s schedule templates and identified areas where efficiency improvements could be achieved. Our team worked closely with their team to refine and standardize the schedule setup. We implemented automated formulas and intelligent grouping, resulting in a more accurate and easy-to-update schedule, reducing manual data entry and potential errors.
Content Management
We assessed VJA’s content creation process and identified opportunities for improvement. Our team worked closely with their design team to develop an efficient content creation workflow. This included creating standardized sets and components, allowing for efficient reuse and reducing the need for manual content creation.
Customized Training
Lunch & Learn Session:
We regularly host Lunch & Learn sessions, where we deliver focused training sessions on specific Revit topics. These sessions are held during lunch breaks, minimizing disruption to VJA’s busy schedule. Topics covered include advanced modeling techniques, efficient documentation workflows, and best practices for collaboration.
Short training to cope with busy schedules:
Recognizing the busy nature of VJA, we developed short training modules that can be completed in a limited time frame. These modules focus on company-specific skills and techniques, and are delivered through an online platform, so team members can access them at any time.
Introduction and future planning of other software:
Understanding VJA’s vision for future growth and diversification, we introduced them to other relevant software that could complement their Revit workflow. We provided an overview of software options, discussing their benefits and potential integration with existing processes. This allowed VJA to plan for future software adoption and explore new possibilities to enhance design and collaboration.
Results
Improvements to Revit Templates:
By implementing enhanced Revit templates, VJA experienced significant improvements in its design and documentation processes. Standard parameters, display templates, filters, schedules, and content creation workflows resulted in increased efficiency, reduced errors, and improved consistency across projects.
Customized Training:
Customized training programs help VJA team members improve their Revit skills and increase productivity. Lunch & Learn sessions provide valuable insights into advanced modeling techniques and collaboration workflows. Short training modules allow team members to acquire new skills at their own pace, fitting into their busy schedules. Additionally, introductions to other software expand VJA’s knowledge base and lay the foundation for future software integrations.
Conclusion
Through a comprehensive approach to improving Revit efficiency and providing customized training, VJA was able to streamline processes and upskill their team. Enhanced Revit templates and optimized workflows resulted in increased productivity, improved accuracy, and reduced manual effort. Customized training programs ensured that team members had the skills necessary to maximize their productivity while adapting to busy schedules. VJA is now well-equipped to tackle complex design challenges, deliver projects more efficiently, and continue their commitment to innovative and sustainable architectural design.
