Course Syllabus

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RETHINKING BIM

Location: Ware Lounge, Avery Hall

Time: Thursday, 7 pm to 9 pm

Instructor: Joe Brennan, AIA, jab2315@columbia.edu

Introduction

Different assumptions exist for BIM, which stands for Building Information Modeling. Most people will tell you it equates to Revit. Others correlate it more closely with parametric design.

Rethinking BIM will challenge its participants to explore different methods of leveraging BIM to enhance all processes within our industry.

One of the critical drivers of success is our ability to collaborate with other members of the development, architecture, engineering, and construction (DAEC) industry. Therefore, we will examine how these related disciplines function. Concurrently, we will develop processes to better understand and communicate with each other. We will also take inspiration from outside the industry from areas like tech and manufacturing. Finally, we will leverage drawing and diagramming to visualize and explain these collaborative processes.

Throughout the semester, your projects and thinking must function at two scales - macro (urban scale or building scale) and micro (program scale or detail scale). The goal of the class is to leverage new BIM processes to drive better-informed design, so all projects must develop a process that leads to a concrete design idea. You will be required to present process and design ideas through various assignments throughout the semester. Students will work in groups.

Class Structure

The class will consist of lectures, discussions, software demonstrations, pin-ups, and office hours. Class time together will focus on “big ideas” and concepts critical to successful project execution, as well as nitty-gritty details of execution. 

Pin-ups are scheduled in advance, and each group is expected to present at each pin-up.

Office hours are held after class.

The schedule below outlines these in more detail.

The class will communicate through Slack starting after the first day. All notes, changes, or modifications to the schedule are posted there. Setting up and monitoring the class workspace is critical. Message me through Slack with questions. 

Project, Deliverables, and Grades

Students are expected to work in groups of three (3). Collaboration and workflow processes are critical aspects of the class, so figuring out the best way to work and communicate as a group will be instrumental in project development.

You will be required to present four “mini-projects” over the semester, which will lead to one comprehensive final project. These projects will be structured into four modules, and there will be lectures that focus on each of these modules. An in-class software demonstration and pin-up will follow each lecture in the subsequent weeks. The modules are:

  • Module 1: Rethinking BIM and the Power of Parameters (Weeks 1-3)
  • Module 2: Zoning, Programming, and Planning (Weeks 4-6)
  • Module 3: Construction Logistics, Fabrication, and Finance (Weeks 7-10)
  • Module 4: Sustainability and Environmental Analysis (Weeks 11-13)

Each deliverable for the mini-assignments will consist of a minimum of two drawings,one printed on 24 x 36 and one on 11x17. These drawings must explain the design solution (24x36) and process (11x17). We will work together to determine the best architectural drawings and representational methods to leverage for these.

Reading

Below is a reading list that indicates optional readings. In addition, the syllabus also suggests the passage or pages that are associated with each lecture.

Chakrabarti, V., & Foster, N. (2013). In A country of cities: A manifesto for an urban 

america, Metropolis Books. 

Deutsch, R. (2019). Superusers: Design Technology Specialists and the future of Practice. Routledge.

Frampton, K., & Cava, J. (2001). In Studies in tectonic culture: The poetics of 

construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century architecture, MIT 

Press. 

Friedman, T. L. (2017). In Thank you for being late: An optimist's guide to thriving in the age of 

Accelerations, Picador. 

Jones, S. (2019). In Mass timber: Design and research, ORO Editions. 

Lynn, G., Gage, M., & Nielson, S. (2011). Composites, surfaces, and software: High 

performance architecture. W.W. Norton. 

Marble, S. (2012). Digital workflows in Architecture: Designing Design -- Designing Assembly 

-- Designing Industry. Birkhäuser. 

Potter, Brian. Construction Physics, https://constructionphysics.substack.com/

Rothfeder, J. (2015). In Driving Honda: Inside the world's Most Innovative Car Company, Portfolio/Penguin.

Klanten, R. (2008). Data flow. Gestalten. 

Klanten, R. (2010). Data flow 2: Visualizing Information in graphic design. Gestalten. 

Software Stack

We will use the following programs/plug-ins throughout the semester, so please ensure you have the latest version of these platforms that GSAPP provides. You may also need additional plug-ins depending on your project.

Revit - modeling, collaboration, data management, documentation

Rhino - modeling, documentation

Grasshopper - parametrics, data management, interoperability

Dynamo - parametrics, data management, interoperability

TT Toolbox - data management, interoperability

Rhino.inside - parametrics, data management, interoperability

Lunchbox - data management

Python - parametrics, data management

Excel - data management, interoperability

Google Sheets - collaboration, data management

Slack - collaboration

Miro - collaboration, presentation

inDesign - presentation

Illustrator - presentation, documentation

BIM360/Construction Cloud - collaboration, presentation, documentation

Schedule

MODULE 1

Week 1 - Rethinking BIM, Software Deep Dive, The Power of Parameters

Lecture:

  • Discussion of project and goals for the semester.
  • Discussion of different types of software, the pros and cons, and how to best leverage them for success.
  • Discussion of other parameters and ways to manipulate them.

Discussion Prompts:

  • What current or future uses of advanced design technology have you seen or used before?
  • What methodologies do you see in other industries that can be leveraged in DAEC?

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • Revit Primer Videos (Attendance at Revit Primer is encouraged)

Reading Suggestions:

  • Rothfeder, J. (2015). In Driving Honda: Inside the world's Most Innovative Car Company, pages 25-63
  • Marble, S. (2012). Digital workflows in Architecture: Designing Design -- Designing Assembly -- Designing Industry, skim this book. It contains a variety of case studies and visualizations that will be excellent references for the semester.

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Sign up for the class Slack channel - you will receive an invite
  • Form groups of three - send the name of your group and Uni’s of all members to me
  • Select a building within the five boroughs of NYC that you will model in Revit. This building will be the core element of your project, so choose carefully based on your desired area of exploration. Next, think about the building program. It must be well documented. Compile this documentation. The building should be roughly 100,000 to 300,000 square feet.
  • Model out core and shell of building in Revit

Week 2 - Demo - Data Transfer and Parametric Geometry Manipulation

Lecture/Demonstration:

  • Basics and benefits of a BIM-based platform
  • How to set yourself up for workflow success
  • Interoperability strategies
  • Collaboration strategies

Discussion Prompts:

  • What are your current preconceptions of BIM/Revit?
  • What is your current design process like?
  • What are the biggest roadblocks you encounter within your current process?

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • None

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Drawing showing your proposed parametric manipulation on your building
  • Drawing showing workflow of data manipulation

Week 3 - Pin-Up 1: Data Transfer

Lecture:

  • None

Discussion Prompts:

  • None

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • None

Reading Suggestions:

  • Chakrabarti, V., & Foster, N. (2013). In A country of cities: A manifesto for an urban america, pages 124-213

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Refinement of project based on pin-up comments

MODULE 2

Week 4 - Zoning, Programming, and Planning

Lecture:

  • Tools and methods for examining zoning
  • Analyzing zoning intent
  • Performance-based zoning
  • Programming and planning analysis
  • Case Studies:
    • gBlox zoning tool
    • Belton Court Programming - meeting neighborhood requirements
    • gFloorz - meeting programmatic requirements
    • No Envelopes, New Cities - strategies for performance-based zoning

Discussion Prompts:

  • In your experience, how does zoning impact neighborhoods?
  • How does metrics-driven zoning contribute to neighborhood feel?
  • Can we quantify neighborhood character?
  • What are some methods by which we can better develop building programming?
  • How can we measure the spatial quality of a project?

Video Tutorials and Resources:

Reading Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Lynn, G., Gage, M., & Nielson, S. (2011). Composites, surfaces, and software: High performance architecture - skim this whole book
  • Frampton, K., & Cava, J. (2001). In Studies in tectonic culture: The poetics of construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century architecture, pages 335-376.

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Diagram outlining the overall process and how data integrates into Zoning Analysis
  • Preliminary parametric process
  • List of resources and data management strategy

Week 5 - Leveraging Data for Smart Feasibility and Analysis

Lecture/Demonstration:

  • Massing analysis using Rhino, Grasshopper, and Revit
  • Translation of massing data into Revit

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • Custom video - point construction methods for surfacing and panelization
  • Custom video - tracking construction logistics using Rhino.Inside

Reading Suggestions::

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Drawings for pin-up

Workshop this Week:

  • Data translation between Rhino and Revit using Rhino.inside
  • Data translation between Rhino and Revit using Excel and Dynamo

Week 6 - Pin-Up: Urban/Building Analysis

Lecture:

  • None

Discussion Prompts:

  • None

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • None

Reading Suggestions:

  • None

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Revisions to project based on pin-up comments

MODULE 3

Week 7 - Construction Logistics, Fabrication, and Financial Analysis 

Lecture:

  • Thinking tectonically while building process
  • CLT and the emergence of more direct to fabrication methods
  • Examination of  how technology and manufacturing has driven architecture
  • Case Studies:
    • 14 Water Logistics
    • City Point megapanels
    • Jacksonville Flex Field - Constructability and value engineering
    • MSG Sphere - facade constructability and logic
  • Understanding the key metrics involved in project returns
  • Understanding critical ways of measuring project costs
  • Cost management processes
  • Case Studies:
    • 14 Water Finance
    • ReDO Terminal - Zoning/financial analysis tool
    • Jacksonville Flex Field - Value Engineering

Discussion Prompts:

  • How can we leverage technology to bring more technical thinking forward in the process?
  • How can we ensure design standards are being preserved throughout the entire process?
  • What design standards and criteria are critical to a project’s success? Can this vary from project to project? Which are consistent, and which are variable?

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • Custom video - point construction methods for surfacing and panelization
  • Custom video - tracking construction logistics using Rhino.Inside

Reading Suggestions:

  • Friedman, T. L. (2017). In Thank you for being late: An optimist's guide to thriving in the age of Accelerations, pages 208-242.

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Preliminary model/work flor for Module 3

Week 8 - 4D Modeling, Financial Tracking, Logistics Planning 

Lecture:

  • Leveraging Rhino to Revit workflows for more accurate logistics tracking
  • Extracting quantities for financial analysis

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Pin-up for Module 3

Week 9 - Pin-Up: Specialty Fabricated Element(s) 

Lecture:

  • None

Discussion Prompts:

  • None

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • None

Reading Suggestions:

  • None

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Revisions to project based on pin-up comments

MODULE 4

Week 10 - Sustainability and Environmental Analysis

Lecture:

  • Methods for measuring environmental factors
  • Alternative methods for determining a project’s environmental impact
    • Logistics, material quantity
  • Designing environmentally responsive systems
  • Case Studies:
    • Solar shade

Discussion Prompts:

  • How can we convince our clients that sustainable design is better design? Can we leverage technology to make that argument?
  • What are the various ways we can measure environmental impact?

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • Custom video - Galapagos

Reading Suggestions::

  • Jones, S. (2019). In Mass timber: Design and research, pages 9-62.

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Progress on module 4

Week 11 - Parametric Environmental Analysis 

Lecture:

  • Methods for measuring environmental factors
  • Alternative methods for determining a project’s environmental impact
    • Logistics, material quantity
  • Designing environmentally responsive systems
  • Case Studies:
    • Solar shade

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • https://docs.ladybug.tools/climate-analysis/

Reading Suggestions::

  • Deutsch, R. (2019). Superusers: Design Technology Specialists and the future of Practice, pages 75-91.

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS:

  • Pin-up for module 3

Week 12 - Pin-Up: Environmental Analysis

Lecture:

  • None

Discussion Prompts:

  • None

Video Tutorials and Resources:

  • None

Reading Suggestions::

  • None

Assignments Due NEXT CLASS (FINAL REVIEW):

  • 100% final drawing set showing comprehensive project
  • 100% final deck

Week 13 - Final Review 

Students will present their final drawing sets to critics.

Course Summary:

Date Details Due