Housing and Innovation in Revit (HIR)

Request for Proposal: Housing & Innovation in Revit (HIR)

Introduction and Overview

As Brooklyn establishes itself as a technology and innovation hub, projects to modernize Downtown Brooklyn and the MetroTech area are being set into motion regularly. New York University (NYU) plans to expand its Brooklyn campus to reflect its consistent desire to foster innovation, engineering, and a successful college experience. To that effect, NYU has requested that your organization remodel the Jacobs Academic Building (JAB) at the Tandon School of Engineering.

The current industry-standard software for Building Information Modeling (BIM) is Autodesk Revit. The ultimate goal is to present the university with a building model that will include classrooms, lecture halls, a recreational space, dorms, and facilities to enhance the students’ quality of life. Your final submission will include an Architectural, Electrical, and Plumbing Plan.

The Housing & Innovation in Revit (HIR) endeavor is a pivotal step in solidifying NYU’s place in Brooklyn and providing students with added living space, resources, and an ever-growing campus.

Figure 1: The Washington Square Arch, widely regarded as the main symbol of NYU.

Specifications

The new JAB building that you design must meet the high standards and aesthetic expectations of the university. NYU has provided the following guidelines for the building.

The completed building must have at least six floors. The lot is approximately 200 ft by 200 ft and bound by Jay Street and Johnson Street. The campus expansion must include:

• Classrooms
  • Ten 40-student classrooms
  • Eight 20-student classrooms
  • Two 100-student lecture halls
• One recreational space
• Dorm rooms to accommodate 100 students
• One facility of choice
  • Restaurant/cafeteria, gym, tennis court, etc.

Additional rooms may be placed in the building as long as the above requirements are met. Additionally, electrical and plumbing schematics must be completed for one recreational space, one dorm room, and one classroom. This includes all electrical wiring and plumbing pipes. Using these schematics, the cost of operation must be calculated for the entire facility. The campus must also achieve a LEED accreditation of at least Gold (four categories of the six available categories). The LEED accreditation system is explained further down the page.

Figure 2: Exterior of the Jacobs Administrative Building on Jay Street.

Building Code

The new campus must adhere to the General Engineering Building Code as outlined below:

• Fire Code
  • Each floor must be equipped with sprinkler heads and emergency evacuation stairs.
    • It is mandatory to include the sprinkler system in the plumbing plan of the classrooms.
  • Fire alarms must be placed in each classroom, dorm hallway, and recreational space.
    • Electrical wiring for the fire alarms is not necessary.
• Wheelchair Accessibility
  • Each walkway must be at least 6 ft wide
  • At least one bathroom stall per floor must be wheelchair accessible.
• Security
  • Every entrance and exit must be guarded by a 24/7 security guard with a desk and tap-in system. This can be illustrated in your design by having a security desk with turnstiles or a system to scan IDs.
  • Entrances to dorm areas must have a turnstile in addition to the standard security guard.
• Structural Rules
  • All doors must be at least 6 ft 8 in tall and 3 ft wide.
  • All walls must be at least 8 ft tall (from floor to ceiling).

LEED Accreditation

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification program encouraging environmentally-conscious design. To receive LEED certification, building projects satisfy prerequisites and earn points to achieve different levels of certification. Teams choose the prerequisites which best fit their project goals. The six categories of the LEED checklist correspond to principles of design, construction, and maintenance. LEED Silver certification requires completion of at least two categories; LEED Gold, at least four categories; and LEED Platinum, all six categories.

For the purposes of this SLDP, the building project will adhere to the Streamlined Checklist below. All prerequisites from a category must be incorporated into the building design to count toward certification. Achievement of each prerequisite will be accomplished through drawings, cost estimates, and explanations of the design. There will be a few design features which cannot be demonstrated in Revit, but they must be discussed thoroughly in your final LEED Accreditation Report to satisfy the prerequisites. Extra credit will be awarded for LEED Platinum certification

Streamlined Checklist:

1. Location and Transportation
   1. Diverse land use (p.16) – Design provides space for goods and services not directly related to the college campus. (Examples: cafe, gym, multi-purpose spaces for the public, etc.)
   2. Disability access – Detailed features are provided for Americans with Disability Act. (Examples: reserved parking, wheelchair-accessible ramps)
   3. Bicycle and EV facilities (p.22) – Bike racks and electric vehicle charging stations labeled in drawings.
   4. Reduced parking footprint (p.26) – Realistic dimensions for parking spaces with minimal allocated space for a parking lot if the facility of choice is a parking area.
2. Sustainable Sites
   1. Open space (p.36) – Inclusion of green space on the campus grounds. (Examples: gardens, park space, rooftop vegetation, pond)
   2. Rainwater management (p.37) – Reducing stormwater runoff and built land impact on hydrologic cycle. (Examples: rainwater retention pond, rainwater storage, rainwater reuse)
   3. Heat island reduction (p.39) – Minimizing paved and rooftop surfaces. (Examples: vegetative surfaces, trees, shade from energy generation systems)
   4. Light pollution reduction (p.41) – Detailed placement of outdoor lighting fixtures, maximizing security and minimizing light pollution.
3. Water Efficiency
   1. Water quality management – Real-time quality monitoring system, shutoff system for cases of contamination.
   2. Water use reduction (p.51) – Use of low flow appliances and minimal irrigation, details for all water uses. (Example: sprinklers, sinks, toilets)
   3. Water heating and cooling (p.60) – Intelligent placement of high efficiency systems.
   4. Advanced water metering – Real-time quantity monitoring system of all water use. (Examples: irrigation, indoor plumbing, reclaimed water, boiler usage)
4. Energy and Atmosphere
   1. Optimize energy performance (p.74) – Use of low energy systems. (Examples: lighting, refrigeration, appliances)
   2. Advanced energy metering (p.77) – All electrical use runs through a single meter.
   3. Demand response (p.79) – Energy use changes throughout the day.
   4. Renewable energy production (p.80) – Location and connection to the electrical system. (Examples: solar, wind, thermal)
5. Indoor Environmental Quality
   1. Air quality management (p.107) – Ventilation and monitoring of air. (Examples: carbon monoxide detectors, exhaust vents, air filtration system)
   2. Interior lighting/daylight (p.129) – Enhanced interior lighting. (Examples: dimmers, daylight, window shades)
   3. Thermal comfort (p.127) – Enhanced temperature control for individual comfort. (Examples: localized heating and cooling, circulating fans, radiant flooring)
   4. Acoustic performance (p.136) – Sound absorbent surfaces are greater than the ceiling area. (Examples: acoustic tiles, acoustic wall panels)
6. Innovation (p.140)
   1. Connected building – Design the campus for internet connectivity and connected devices. (Examples: Wi-Fi router, networked registers, inventory systems)
   2. Intelligent inventory – Real-time monitoring of inventory, if applicable. (Examples: shelves with sensors, database connected to registers, exit door scanners)
   3. Security and safety – Enhanced security technology. (Examples: automatic police contact, automatic fire contact, notifications)
   4. Sustainability – Focus on innovative green technologies not included in other categories.

Examples mentioned in the Streamlined Checklist can be found on Revit City or BimSmith

Power/AC/Heat Calculations

Using the information from electrical and plumbing schematics:

1. Calculate the total power usage for the operation of the building per day.
2. Calculate the energy costs for a typical year.
3. Determine the total A/C and heating requirements.
   1. To do this, research the power, heat, and AC calculations of buildings that are similar in size and efficiency ratings as your building design
4. Tabulate this data neatly in a table, graph, or chart that presents the information clearly.
   1. The standard unit of measurement for these power measurements is the kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Microsoft Project

You must create two separate Microsoft Project schedules; one SLDP Schedule to manage the progress of your design process and one Construction Schedule outlining the theoretical construction schedule of your building design. YInstructions for how to access Microsoft Project can be found on the Software Requirements page of the manual. You can learn Microsoft Project by completing the MS Project Skill Builder assignment.

The SLDP Schedule must include all tasks related to the project design from the start of the project to Submission. The Microsoft Project schedule should include the following:

• Minimum of 20 tasks, not including Milestones.
• Milestones, which should be clearly indicated on the project plan (Duration of zero days).
• The person responsible for completing the task (Resource names).

The original and updated SLDP Schedules should be included in the Milestone Presentations.

Use the "Copy Picture" function to include the project plan in the presentations. Do not take a screenshot.

• Gantt charts must be displayed alongside the tasks list (fit onto one slide).
• Gantt charts must clearly show a progress line.
• Clearly state during the presentation whether the project is on-time, behind schedule, or ahead of schedule.

For help in planning the project, review the manual page Planning Project Scheduling & Costs.

The Construction Schedule must include:

• Clearing site
• Laying foundation
• Studs and structural members
• Wall construction and window installation
• Painting
• Electrical wiring and lighting installation
• Plumbing

You can model the schedule after similar sample construction projects.

Drawings

The following paragraphs discuss the drawings required for the project using Revit. No other software will be accepted for submission. Revit is free to download using your NYU email, and all computers in the EG1004 Model Shop and NYU Tandon computer lab have full copies of the software.

Consult the Revit-How-To Guide to create your college campus expansion. The How-To Guide contains useful examples for designing your building, but do not copy the instructions for your project as they only serve as examples of the features available in Revit.

Other helpful resources include the Autodesk Revit Knowledge Network. The Linkedin Learning Architectural & Mechanical Guides are also very useful for any questions you might have.

Each floor of your campus must have an accompanying drawing. It must be fully dimensioned and include all aspects of the room design including:

• All door and window openings
• Material choices
• Furniture
• Lighting fixtures

All electrical and plumbing drawings must include:

• Wiring, outlets, switches, and light fixtures
• Sinks and showers
  • Sanitary pipes, hot water pipes, cold water pipes
• Toilets
  • Sanitary pipes

All of the floors must be created in one project file. To design all of the floors in the same file you will need to add levels. First, click on an elevation view, then, click on "Level" in the Datum panel of the Architecture tab in the Ribbon. Then, you can draw the level elevation with your cursor. You can change the elevation of the level by editing “Elevation” in the Properties tab and applying the change. You can see how many levels you have by looking at Floor Plans in the Project Browser Tab. Do not create new files for each floor. You will only be allowed to submit a single Revit file for Submission.

Model

Design your campus using Autodesk Revit as your primary design tool. Create a convenient layout to accommodate the items listed in Specifications. Once the design is complete, generate a walk-through video of the campus. You can create a walkthrough by clicking on the View tab and then clicking on “Walkthrough” from the 3D View dropdown in the Create tab Additional 3D printing details can be found in the 3D Printing and Logo Guide.

Figure 3: Example of a classroom in Autodesk Revit.

Cost Estimate

Three separate tables (construction, operation, and labor) for cost estimation must be created using the following guidelines:

• Cost of Construction: Using the wholesale price of all materials and components in your design, calculate the total cost of construction of your building design (not including labor). Tabulate a bill of materials and generate a complete cost estimate for the entire building.

• Cost of Operation: Calculate the total cost of operation per day and per year of the new campus expansion. Tabulate energy usage and associated costs into a neatly organized table, as described in the Power/AC/Heat Calculations section.

• Labor: Calculate the total cost of labor for the construction of the building. Do not include the cost of labor for operation. Refer to the Construction Schedule to create this estimate. Neatly tabulate the costs into a table.

Engineering Notebook

While working on your project, you are expected to keep a record of all work done, as well as future plans and goals. In order to complete a Benchmark assessment, show your Engineering Notebook to the Lab/Open Lab TA completing your assessment. For Milestone 1, Milestone 2, Milestone 3, and Final Submission you must have it approved by your Recitation Professor and be prepared to make it available to an Open Lab TA in a Word Document (DOC or DOCX) format. A guide to writing the notebook, as well as a basic overview of its expectations and frequency at which you should log in your notebook, can be found on the Keeping an Engineering Notebook page.

Extra Credit

HIR groups can receive extra credit for:

• Achieving Platinum LEED certification in their building design.
• Completing Benchmark A, Benchmark B, or Submission early.*
• 3D printing an architectural plan of a floor without fixtures floor plan. Make sure that all furniture and non-architectural components are removed before exporting. This can be done by making a copy of the floor being printed and filtering out other components into another Revit file. Export the file with only the architectural components. To export a floor plan from a Revit file to an STL file, begin by opening the Architectural plan. Open the 3D view and clip the 3D view using a section box to include only the desired floor. Then, go to File → Export → CAD Formats → STL. The following window should appear (Figure 4). Change the units to mm and select Save. The Revit-How-To Guide contains more information regarding how to 3D print a floor plan.

Figure 4: Conversion to STL

The 3D Printing and Logo Guide contains information on the 3D printing requirements and guidelines.

Refer to the EG1004 Grading Policy for exact point values. Creativity and innovation are always rewarded. Original designs will receive extra credit.

Milestones, Benchmarks, and Deliverables

As you work on your project, you will be required to present periodic reports on your progress. We call these Milestones. All of the items assigned in each Benchmark are called deliverables. These deliverables often consist of a combination of written submissions, presentations, and demonstrations. Benchmark assessments evaluate the progress of your project.

Note: You are only allowed to get a benchmark and commission approval from a TA at the end of Lab or during Open Lab times.

Preliminary Design Investigation

The Preliminary Design Investigation (PDI) is extremely important, as it lays the groundwork for your project. You will be outlining your project idea, inspiration, and goals.

The PDI must include:

• Cover Page
• Project Overview
• Goals & Objectives
• Design & Approach
• Cost Estimate
• Project Schedule
• Relevant Pictures

An example PDI template can be found here. The PDI is due by Benchmark A and can be approved by any Open Lab TA. Do not forget to include the items listed above. Use this link to access the HIR PDI Rubric.

Milestone 1

See How to Give a Milestone Presentation for the format of a Milestone presentation.

Milestone 1 is a 5-minute presentation of your Preliminary Design Investigation. Without simply replicating your report in presentation format, take the key points to present in a concise and clear manner. The section formatting should be similar to that of the report. It is important that you outline your project goals and show that your project is realizable. This includes:

Milestone 1 Deliverables:

• Presentation:
  • Project description
  • Design approach
  • Mission statement
  • Cost estimate (construction and labor costs only)
  • Microsoft Project schedule (design schedule only)
    • Click here to access the guide on how to transfer a file
  • Progress update: current state of the project
  • Brief explanation of what LEED categories are being tackled
    • All four required categories
    • Give a few examples on how it will be accomplished

Look Ahead: What tasks are planned between now and Milestone 2?

Benchmark Assessment A

Benchmarks evaluate the progress of the project. Benchmark A is due at the end of Model Shop Session II. There are penalties for not completing this on time. Refer to the EG1004 Grading Policy for more information.

To pass Benchmark A, the design must complete all of the following:

• Preliminary Design Investigation
• One recreational space Revit design
• One 40-student classroom Revit design
• One 20-student classroom Revit design
• Submit an .STL and a .gcode file of the team logo through the 3D Printing Submission portal on the EG website
  • The 3D Printing and Logo Guide contains information on the 3D printing requirements and guidelines.
  • The protolab schedule is available on the 3D Printing and Logo Guide
• Updated Engineering Notebook

Milestone 2

See How to Give a Milestone Presentation for the format of a Milestone presentation.

Milestone 2 is a project progress update. You must explain all changes and developments made thus far, particularly in regards to Benchmark A. Include whether or not you were able to complete your Benchmark A requirements, and if not, explain why. Also, highlight any changes you plan on making to your design or project, in general. Your Milestone 2 presentation must include:

Milestone 2 Deliverables:

• Project description
• Design approach
• Design changes since Milestone 1
• Mission statement
• Revit drawings:
• Dimensions must be included
  • 1:240 scale
  • Floor plan
  • Front elevation
  • Most detailed side elevation
  • Isometric view
• Cost estimate (construction and labor costs only) (previous and current). What changes were made?
• Microsoft Project schedule (project schedule only) (previous and current). What changes were made?
  • Click here to access the guide on how to transfer a file
• Progress update: current state of the project (time, budget, etc.)
• Explanation of all four LEED categories being tackled
  • Include screenshots of your Revit model showing some of the implementations

Look Ahead: What tasks are planned between now and Milestone 3?

Benchmark Assessment B

Benchmark Assessment B is due at the end of Model Shop Session III. There are penalties for not completing this on time. Refer to the EG1004 Grading Policy for more information.

To pass, complete all of the following tasks:

• One recreational space Revit design
• All classroom Revit designs
  • 20-student, 40-student, and 100-student
• Facility of choice Revit design
• Electrical and plumbing for one dorm room
  • Some of the LEED requirements should be shown in the Revit model
  • Ideas that cannot be shown in the Revit model should have a more detailed explanation:
    • Examples of other building projects implementing something similar
    • Explanation of the technology required
    • Justify this decision over more common solutions
• Have an .STL and a .gcode file of the team logo approved by a ProtoLab TA through the 3D Printing Submission portal on the EG website
  • The 3D Printing and Logo Guide contains information on the 3D printing requirements and guidelines.
• Updated Engineering Notebook

For extra credit, groups can 3D print a floor plan. Submit .STL and .gcode files of a single floor plan through the 3D Printing Submission portal and receive approval from a ProtoLab TA to get it printed before Commissioning.

Milestone 3

See How to Give a Milestone Presentation for the format of a Milestone presentation.

Milestone 3 will be the last project progress update. You must explain all changes and developments made thus far, particularly in regards to Benchmark B. Include whether or not you were able to complete your Benchmark B requirements, and if not, explain why. Also, highlight any changes you plan on making to your Revit design or project, in general. Your Milestone 3 presentation must include:

Milestone 3 Deliverables:

• Presentation:
  • Project description
  • Design approach
  • Design changes since Milestone 2
  • Mission statement
  • Revit drawings:
    • Dimensions must be included
    • 1:240 scale
    • Floor plan
    • Rendered isometric 3D view
    • Front elevation
    • Most detailed side elevation
    • Plumbing drawing
    • Electrical drawing
  • Cost estimate (construction, labor, and operations costs) (previous and current). What changes were made?
  • Microsoft Project Schedule (Project and Construction Schedules) (previous and current). What changes were made?
    • Click here to access the guide on how to transfer a file
  • Progress update: current state of the project (time, budget, etc.)
  • Explanation of all four LEED categories being tackled
    • Include screenshots of your Revit model showing some of the implementations

Look Ahead: What tasks are planned between now and the completion of the project?

Commissioning

Projects must be commissioned before Submission. Refer to the syllabus for Submission deadlines. There are penalties for not completing this on time. Refer to the EG1004 Grading Policy for more information.

To pass, the design must complete all of the following:

• Approved and updated Engineering Notebook. The Engineering Notebook can be approved by any open lab TA. Make sure significant progress has been made and recorded since Benchmark B.
• Revit drawings (1:240 scale)
  • Floor plan for all floors
  • Plumbing system (recreational space, one classroom, and one dorm room)
    • In addition to traditional appliances, like sinks, include fire alarms and sprinkler systems.
  • Electrical system (recreational space, one classroom, and one dorm room)
  • Front elevation of your project
  • Most detailed side view of your project
  • Be sure to also include each of these requirements in your LEED Accreditation Report
• Model of building (3D Revit) (1:240 scale)
  • Walk-through video
• A LEED accreditation report
• Have an .STL file of the team logo printed through the 3D Printing Submission portal on the EG website
  • The 3D Printing and Logo Guide contains information on the 3D printing requirements and guidelines.
  • The protolab schedule is available on the 3D Printing and Logo Guide
• All 3D prints must be approved by a Protolab TA
• For extra credit groups can 3D print a floor plan.

LEED Accreditation Report

A LEED accreditation report is required for Commissioning. The report should be about 5-10 pages long. A recommended outline of the report is given below:

• Cover Page including a title, project name, and group member names
• Introduction
  • Short explanation of what LEED is
  • Explain why LEED certification is beneficial
  • Explanation of the project
    • Include screenshots of your Revit model
  • Level of LEED certification being tackled
• Overview
  • Checklist showcasing what LEED categories are being tackled
    • Can be showcased through a table, checklist, or other form of graphic
• LEED categories
  • Explanation on how each of the requirements for the category are being implemented
    • Examples of other buildings (only to be done if implementation cannot be showcased through Revit model)
    • Explanations of how requirements that cannot be illustrated in the Revit model would be implemented
  • Screenshots of Revit model
  • Drawings showcasing some of the LEED requirements being implemented

Final Presentation

The Final Presentation will be a technical briefing, similar to the Milestones, but also serves as a sales presentation explaining why your company should be selected instead of the competition.

Your Final Presentation must include:

• Company profile
  • Company name
  • Employee profile, role(s), and qualifications
  • Mission statement
• Problem statement
  • Why is the project happening?
  • What does the audience need to know?
• Project objective
  • What is the purpose of your project?
  • Who does your project help?
  • What problem does your project solve?
• Project description
  • Specify LEED certification
    • Examples of LEED implementations in Revit
  • Revit drawings
    • All floor plan drawings
    • Dimensions
    • 1:240 scale
  • Views of exterior of building: front elevation, side elevation, isometric elevation
    • Dimensions
• Market and product viability
  • Does your company have competitors?
  • What makes your project unique?
  • How does your design compare to competitors - cost, quality, features?
  • Is the project versatile?
  • What is the price of your project?
• Conclusion
  • Reiterating project purpose
  • Highlight project features
  • Future goals of the company
  • Why should your company be awarded this contract?
• Video pitch
  • Price of project
  • Walkthrough animation of building in Revit
  • Embedded into Final Presentation
• Problem statement
• Solution overview
• Company description and qualifications
• Drawings
  • Specify LEED certification
• Microsoft Project schedule
• Construction schedule
• Walk-through video
• Why should the company be awarded this contract?

Submission

All SLDPs must be submitted online. Please visit this page for the link to the Project Submission form and each project’s individualized login information. To submit, login to the EG1004 website using this special login information. Submitting with an NYU account or any other account will generate an error. Components may be resubmitted at any time before the deadline. Please note that submission times are based on the most recent submission.

Please note the deliverables for this project are as follows. If any of the following items are omitted, there will be a penalty. Be sure to click "Submit" at the bottom of the form and allow sufficient time for uploading. The following list includes deliverable items that are required:

• Submission deliverables:
  • Final presentation
  • LEED accreditation report
  • Initial sketch
  • Final drawings of Revit design
    • All floors must have an accompanying drawing
  • Model
  • Walk-through video
  • Final Microsoft Project schedule
  • Final construction schedule
  • Final cost estimates (include all costs - construction, labor, operations)
  • Table with power, A/C, and heat tabulations
  • Resume(s) (no fictitious resumes will be accepted)
  • Final Engineering Notebook

You may resubmit at any time before the deadline. Please note that submission times are based on the most recent submission. Multiple members can update different parts of the form at the same time to expedite the uploading and submission process. Just make sure that whoever submits refreshes the form and confirms all necessary files have been saved to it.

Late Submission

Late submission is not allowed. If a project does not Commission or receive Partial Commission by the deadline set forth in the syllabus, the project will not be allowed to submit and will receive a 0 for the project grade. To receive Partial Commissioning, two TAs must evaluate the project and determine its degree of completion according to the Commissioning requirements and the project will be given a grade accordingly. Please refer to the EG1004 Grading Policy for more information.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I use a 40-student classroom as a 20-student classroom as well?

A: No, each type of classroom must have a unique design. However, all ten 40-student classrooms can be the same design as each other. The same applies to the 20-student classrooms and 100-student lecture halls.

Q: What's the largest number of floors I can create?

A: The largest number of drawings you feel confident creating before the end of the semester. 100 floors = 100 drawings.

Q: Why am I getting an error when I try to add sanitation pipes to my plumbing plan?

A: Check the Plumbing section of the Revit How-To guide!