Multifamily design has not kept pace with the evolution of design technology.
Most multifamily projects are designed the way they always have been. The Architect creates a simple 2D layout of the building and units. Then, the engineers are brought in to work out the structure, HVAC plumbing and electrical. Still later, sometimes during construction, the process of clash detection is performed where all the parts and pieces are fit together. Quite often this involves costly delays and changes orders and sometimes demolition of what was already built.
In the BIM era, this is an unnecessary waste.
A better approach is to begin with a library of resolved units and unit components- Kitchens, bathrooms, mechanical rooms, etc-
Each one is completely resolved to LOD 400, construction-ready.
The alphabet of unit components can then be assembled into a vocabulary of unit types, in which all the ducting layouts, finishes cabinetry and fixtures have been fully resolved and vetted for clashes.
The units can then be assembled into a building in a “plug and play” fashion.
In this way, the design team begins the design process with all the repetitive aspects resolved, and can spend the valuable time working out the truly prototypical design elements such as the facade, common areas, and site-specific elements.
