BIM. After Dark.

Jeffrey A. Pinheiro, AIA

DESIGN:BIM
A Guide to Utilizing Design in the BIM Process
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 Contents
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 CONTENTS
Contents������������������������������������� 03
00
Introduction��������������������������������� 05
01
Concept�������������������������������������� 06
Program / Diagram������������������������� 06


The Arsenal������������������������������� 07
02
Massing�������������������������������������� 08
Sculpting the Form������������������������ 08
Massing Studies��������������������������� 09
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Development���������������������������������� 10
Skinning the Form������������������������� 10
04
Presentation��������������������������������� 11
Export / Render��������������������������� 11
Post-Processing��������������������������� 12
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Conclusion����������������������������������� 13
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  CONTENTS 04
 00 Introduction
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00 - INTRODUCTION
I want to personally thank you for Design is extremely subjective. Therefore,


downloading this eBook. If you have taken you do not have to agree with or like my
the time to sign-up and download this eBook design aesthetic to get a feel for my
then you already have the drive it takes process. This process will work regardless
to break the “BIM-barriers” down. We need of what building type, design aesthetic, or
more people like you to think outside of “ism” you prefer.
the box and push our software-of-choice to
its limits. Enjoy the eBook!

This eBook is not meant to be a technical -

manual but more of a mini-guide. I’ve
taken my design process and broke it down
in the simplest, systematic way I could.
When I released BIM After Dark - Volume 1
the feedback was incredible. Customers who
purchased the video series asked if I could
break down my design process in an easy-to- Jeffrey A. Pinheiro, AIA, LEED AP
follow guide. Well, here it is! “The Revit Kid”
 01 Concept
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Program / Diagram

01 - CONCEPT
Many people find it very hard to believe to keep this diagram on my desk throughout

PROGRAM / DIAGRAM
that I, “The Revit Kid”, still start with the entire process as a reminder of where I
pencil and trace. Well, I do! started. Of course, designs get refined over
time and some stuff will change.
Obviously, I embrace technology and believe
in it. But even a technology geek like The diagram above is for the example project
myself cannot deny the free hand sketch on I will be using in this eBook. It is a 450
a nice piece of trace paper or Moleskine bed hospital. The entrance loops around a
notebook. reflection pool while one of the two patient
bed wings reaches out to meet the pool.
When looking back and trying to rationalize The patient wings face each other to shield
my process for this eBook I always start the glazing from the sun (it is a very hot
with freehand “par-ti” style diagrams. climate).
Sometimes these diagrams are in a plan
view, other times they are in an elevation If you are interested in learning how I
or section view. No matter what the view, make my hand sketches look like the colored
the final version of this diagram becomes sketch on the far right, check out
the driver of the entire building. I like BIM After Dark - Volume 1 (Video 1, 00:00:11).
 The Arsenal
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Pilot Razor Point

01 - CONCEPT
Pentel Sign Pen

Uniball Vision - Fine

Papermate - Clear Point

THE ARSENAL
It might just be me, but I love seeing
what kind of pens/pencils people use to
sketch. I guess it is similar to how I
purchased a Fender Stratocaster when I
was younger because Jimi Hendrix used
it... Maybe not?

Above, you will find my current “arsenal”.

I typically do all of my sketching on
trace paper and I find the pens listed
above to work great on trace. The Uniball
has a slight bleed to it which can make
for some awesome line extensions to your
sketches. I also enjoy a good mechanical
pencil (remember, this is free hand, not
drafting). Give them all a try! Let me
know what you think!
 02 Massing
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Sculpting the Form

02 - MASSING
In my process, I constantly go back and forth between
Revit and hand sketching. Once I have a diagram I
am happy with I jump into Revit for the first time.
Typically, I will mass out something somewhat to scale
in order to get a sense of the building 3-dimensionally.
Basically, this is the virtual version of a physical
sketch model.

You can see in the images to the right that this model
is very crude. In fact, unless I truly need to, I do
not use Revit’s conceptual massing. I prefer to use
model-in-place extrusions. I will then print views
similar to the ones shown here. Once printed, I will

SCULPTING THE FORM

lay a piece of trace over them and sketch continued
detail and development.

I go through this process (sketching, adding a bit to

the model, repeat) a few times refining my design. The
sketch model gets a bit more detail because of this,
refer to the top right image.

Note: BIM After Dark - Volume 3 (Spring 2015) covers how I make
virtual sketch models (similar to the ones on this page).
 Massing Studies
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Option A: Large Tower

02 - MASSING
Option B: Equal Wings

MASSING STUDIES
One of the great things about using Revit so early in
the process and creating simple forms is the ability
to study different options. I will use Design Options
within Revit and place each iteration of the form in
the option. Now, each of my set views can flip between
the different options.

For this building, I was trying to decide if I wanted

to place more of the program in one tower element
(Option A) or distribute the program between to two
wings (Option B). Similar to a physical sketch model.
 03 Development
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Skinning the Form

03 - DEVELOPMENT
01 02 03 04
Sketch-Over Technique Core Element

SKINNING THE FORM

As I mentioned in Section 02, I constantly If my design and presentation is primarily
work between Revit and hand sketching. One being used for exterior images (at this
of the techniques I have used during this stage) then the original “sketch model”
process is what I call the “sketch-over does not have to go to waste.
technique”. For this technique, I simply
print out my sketch model (01 & 02 above) I continue developing my building by
and lay a piece of trace over it. I then wrapping the “sketch model” with real Revit
hand sketch details and further develop the walls, doors, windows, and curtainwalls
project (before modelling them in Revit). (image 04 above). The “sketch model” can
then be used as the “core element” for your
Finally, I scan the trace sketch and overlap presentations.
the two images in Photoshop. Now, I can
color the image in photoshop if desired For an in-depth video of what the “core
while utilizing the shading and model from element” is and how POWERFUL it can be
Revit (similar to image 03 above and the check out:
images on the next page). BIM After Dark - Volume 1 (Video 3, 00:15:12)
 04 Presentation
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Export / Render

04 - PRESENTATION
EXPORT / RENDER
Materials / Lighting / Views / Render
Now that the design has been developed between Revit Once materials are applied, I will set up my views (if
and hand-sketching and the “sketch model” has been I have not done so already), add lights (if required),
wrapped with a Revit element skin it is time to start and render. Choosing materials, tweaking with views,
producing images. After all, what good is a design if and getting the lighting correct will usually take a
you cannot present your concept and sell it? fair amount of time. Plan accordingly.

The images shown above are my hand notes and drawings For in-depth videos on creating custom materials,
specifying what materials I plan on using for this exporting views, and rendering, check out:
project. I plan it out on paper before entering Revit. BIM After Dark - Volume 1 (Videos 2, 3, & 4)
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Before After

04 - PRESENTATION
Post-Processing
Finally, my images are rendered. The
final step is to make them “sexy”.

Post-processing renderings and images

is a must. When used correctly, Revit
can create very nice renderings.
But they must be post-processed to
extract the details, enhance the
lighting, and really impress clients.

POST-PROCESSING
The images on your left illustrate
native Revit renderings (before) and
the final images I post-processed in
Photoshop (after). I, perhaps like
you, used to Render an image and
call it finished. When I learned
the techniques to create the images
shown here it completely changed my
opinion on Revit as a rendering tool.

For in-depth videos on post-

processing, adding entourage, and
creating renderings similar to the
ones on this page check out:
BIM After Dark - Volume 1 (Video 4)
 05 Conclusion
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I hope you’ve enjoyed a sneak peak into my

05 - CONCLUSION
process. It was an interesting experience
stepping back and analysing my process (a
process I normally don’t think about).
This eBook should serve as a guide to get
you using Revit early on in the design
process.

Don’t forget to check out BIM After Dark

- Volume 1 to fill in any of the gaps or if
you are interested in creating images that
look similar to the ones in this eBook.

Feel free to share this book with others:

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POST-PROCESSING
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