Lesson Overview

In this lesson, you learn how to start with a new project, setup your project template, project title-block. It is very important to start your template correctly that you won't have any complications during your project. You also will learn, how to create and draw foundations, footings/ foundation walls, and pilasters.

What we need to achieve in this class:

• Create a new project using specified project template
• Modify a project template title-block to reflect project specific information such as project name, address and etc.
• Create foundations
• Create footings/ foundations wall
• Create pilasters

Step 1:

Starting a New Project

• On the Menu Bar, Click on Revit Logo Dropdown Menu.

• Hover over "New" with your mouse or Click on Solid Brlack Triangle to open "Create a Revit File" dialog box.

• As you see, you have several Options. Click on "Project"

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Step 2:

• Select "Architectural Template" on "Template File Dropdown"

• Make sure "Project" is selected in "Creat New" panel.

• Click "OK" to create new project.

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Step 3:

• On the Menu Bar, Click on Revit Logo Dropdown Menu.

• Hover over "Save As" with your mouse or Click on Solid Brlack Triangle to open "Save Current Project or Family" dialog box.

• As you see, you have several Options. Click on "Project"

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Step 4:

• "Save As" dialog box opens.

• Navigate to your "H Drive"

• Create a New Folder"

• Name your project as you desire. It is important to use conventional naming to make sure you can easily recognize your projects inside your "H Drive"

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Step 5:

Creating Floor Levels

Before starting with your basement floor plan, you need to make sure, that your First Floor starts from 100'-0". It is nothing wrong to start with 0'-0", but most architectural drawings start with 100'-0"

To do so, we need to draw a Section cut through the floor plan. Go ahead and Select "View" panel and then click on "Section".

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Step 6:

• "Double Click" on newly created section to open the section view.

• Select "Level 1", click on "Edit Type" on level properties dialog box.

• Change Elevation Base from Project Base Point to "Survey Point".

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Step 7:

• Open "Manage" tab, click on "Coordinates"

• Then select "Specify Coordinates at Point".

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Step 8:

• Select "Level 1" to open "Specify Shared Coordinates" dialog box.

• Change "Elevation" to 100'-0"

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Step 9:

• Rename "Level 2" to "Top of Wood"

• Rename "Level 1" to "Finished Floor"

• Copy "Finished Floor Level" and rename it to "Top of Foundation".

• Set "Elevations" as shown in the image.

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Step 10:

• Open "Architecture" tab, click on "Level" to create "Basement Level".

• Click on the lower left side of your screen, below "Top of Foundation".

• Drag your mouse to the right side of your screen and click to finish new level creation command.

• Rename new level to "Basement".

• Change elevation to 91'-4 1/2"

• Copy Basement level and rename new level to "Top of Footing".

• Change elevation level to 91'-1/2".

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Step 11:

Creating Structural Foundation Walls

• Slect "Structure" tab

• Click on Dropdown menuof Wall and select "Wall: Structural"

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Step 12:

• Select "Edit Type" in Wall Properties dialog box.

• Select Duplicate and give a new name as "8" Concrete Foundation Wall".

• Click "OK"

• And select "Edit Structure" in "Type Parameters".

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Step 13:

• Open "Material Browser" dialog box by clicking on "Material" for Structure (1).

• Scroll down to select "Concrete, Cast-in-Place grey".

• Click 3 times "OK" to confirm these changes.

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Step 14:

• Change "Base Constraint" to "Top of Footing"

• Change "Top Constraint" to "Top of Foundation".

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Step 15:

Creating Structural Footings

• Select "Structure" tab.

• Select "Foundation Wall"

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Step 16:

• Select "Edit Type" on "Wall Foundation" properties dialog box.

• Click on "Duplicate" to create your own 16" wide x 8" deep footing

• Give a specific name to your new footing such "Bearing Footing 16"x8""

• Change the Width and Foundation Thickness to 16" wide and 8" thick.

• Click (3) time "OK" to confirm changes.

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Step 17:

Change the "View Range"

• Type "VR" on your Keyboard

• "View Range" dialog box opens.

• Change the "Top" to Level Above: Finished Floor".

• Set "Cut Plane" to 7'-4"

• Set "Bottom" and "View Depth Level" to "Unlimited".

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Step 18:

Change the "Visibility/ Graphic"

• Type "VG" on your keyboard

• Scroll down to "Structural Foundation" on "Model Categories" tab.

• Click on "Lines" to change the visibility to "Hidden"

• Clock "OK" to confirm changes.

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Step 19:

Creating Foundation Pilaster"

• Select "Structure" tab.

• Click on "Wall: Structural" in dropdown menu.

• Select "Edit Type" in "Wall Properties" dialog box.

• Click on "Duplicate" to create a new Type called "Foundation Pilaster - 6" Concrete".

• Click "OK"

• Select "Edit" Structure and change wall thickness to 6".

• Click (3) "OK" to confirm changes.

• Then start to draw pilasters, but do not forget to set the top and bottom constraints to "Top of Footings" and "Top of Foundation".

Understanding "View Range" in Revit":

Revit has its own way to show/hide objects in floor plan view range. It could get a challenge to see your desire view, if your View Range is not setup correctly. The main idea of view range in Revit is to tell Revit, at what height, objects need to be cut through (imaginary horizontal cut), how far above the cut line, and how deep below the cut line needs to be shown in the actual floor plan view. The image below shows what Top, Cut Plane, Bottom, and View Depth mean. In architectural floor plans, we usually cut everything at 48" above the finished floor level. This means, if you have any wall cabinets, which are located above 48", you won't be able to see them as hidden lines. To make sure that you see the wall cabinets in your floor plan view, you just set your "Top" between 5'-0" and 7'-0". If you have any difficulties creating your desire view range, post and new thread in the discussion forums.

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