Autodesk 256B1-05A761-1301 - AutoCAD Revit Structure Suite 2010, User Manual

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Conceptual Design Environment
Autodesk Revit Architecture 2010 introduces a new conceptual design environment. Use the conceptual
design environment to explore early design concepts before creating a more detailed BIM model in the Revit
project environment.
The conceptual design environment is a type of Family Editor that provides sophisticated modeling tools
and techniques for designers to create new massing families. These design concepts contain intelligent model
data, eliminating the need to re-create a design from the beginning whenever a change is required. This
capability makes it easy to iterate through a series of designs during the conceptual design phase.
The masses that you create in the conceptual design environment can be integrated into the Revit project
environment and carried through to the final construction phase.
You can use the conceptual design environment to create a conceptual massing family (which can be loaded
into projects), or to create an in-place mass in a Revit project. (See
Forms on page 551.)
The conceptual design environment provides the following features:
■ flexible geometric form-making and manipulation tools
■ an enhanced drawing environment that allows drawing directly on surfaces and reference planes
■ tools to divide surfaces, apply patterns, and create flexible parametric components
■ an integrated workflow with the Revit project environment
For complete details, see Conceptual Design Environment on page 527.
Form Creation
Create accurate solid or void forms using the Create Form tool. Directly manipulate the forms by selecting
a line, vertex, edge, or surface and dragging it to create the desired shape. You no longer need to enter sketch
modes in order to change the shape of a form. (See
Forms on page 551.)
Parameters and constraints are defined directly in the 3D view. They can be interactively tested so that you
can immediately determine whether a design is ready for the Revit project environment.
You can create 3D curves using the traditional spline tool, or using the new Spline Through Points tool,
which uses control points that you can drag in any direction.
Graphical Controls
New 3D graphical controls allow you to directly manipulate a form by selecting one of its elements (surface,
edge, line, or vertex) and dragging the control until the form has changed to the desired shape. Press the
Spacebar to change between local and global coordinates.
See Manipulating Forms on page 566.
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