Handling Shared Components

For many design professionals in the construction industry, the BIM approach represents a new way of working in that, while certain building components are created in the model by only ONE specific discipline, they are edited by or required for visualization by SEVERAL different disciplines. The most illustrative example of this is structural systems, which are relevant to the design process for both architects and structural engineers.

This article focuses on these very components, referred to as "shared components," whose manufacturing authority requires coordination among the various departments.

In many cases, the issue simply comes down to determining who models a component first. In this regard, the article presents solutions based on Revit workspaces.

Keywords: Department, collaboration, discipline, model, interdisciplinary, cooperation, plan, responsibility, architecture, structural engineering, MEP, electrical engineering, areas of expertise