Design Options in Revit are a powerful and essential feature that allows architects, engineers, and designers to explore, manage, and present multiple design alternatives within a single project file. This functionality streamlines the design process by enabling direct comparison and iteration without the need for separate project files.
Understanding Design Options in Revit
At its core, Design Options provide a structured way to develop variations for specific parts of a building model or the entire design. Instead of creating numerous duplicate project files, all alternatives are contained and organized within the same Revit model.
The Core Concept: Design Option Sets
A design option set is a collection of possible solutions for a particular design problem. For instance, you might create an option set for "Façade Designs" or "Lobby Layouts." Each design option set contains one primary option and one or more secondary options, specifically designed to explore alternate designs and facilitate direct comparison. This structure allows you to tackle different design challenges independently while keeping all related solutions organized.
Main Model vs. Design Options
In Revit, your project is fundamentally composed of the Main Model. These are all the elements that are common to every design option or are not part of any option at all (e.g., the site context, shared structural components, or elements that are definitely part of the final design regardless of other choices).
Elements that are specific to a particular design alternative are placed within a Design Option. This clear separation ensures that the core project remains consistent, while specific parts can be experimented with.
Primary and Secondary Options
Within each Design Option Set, options are categorized as either Primary or Secondary:
| Feature | Primary Option | Secondary Option |
|---|---|---|
| Role | The default, preferred, or initially chosen solution for an option set. Only one per set. | Alternative solutions within the same option set. Can have multiple. |
| Visibility | Typically shown by default in views when the option set is active, or if no specific option is chosen. | Needs to be explicitly selected to be visible in a view for presentation or editing. |
| Selection | Revit designates one option as primary by default upon creation, but you can change it. | Any option other than the primary one. |
| Finalization | Often the one accepted and integrated into the Main Model at the project's conclusion. | Can be promoted to Primary or accepted into the Main Model if chosen. |
Why Utilize Design Options? Key Benefits
Leveraging Design Options in Revit offers significant advantages throughout the project lifecycle:
- Efficient Exploration: Rapidly test various design ideas, from different layouts and material choices to structural schemes, all within one consolidated file.
- Clear Client Communication: Present distinct alternatives to clients with dedicated views and sheets for each option, aiding informed decision-making.
- Enhanced Collaboration: Different team members can work on separate options simultaneously without interfering with each other's work or the Main Model.
- Streamlined Data Management: Avoids the clutter and confusion of numerous "Save As" versions of the project file, centralizing all design data.
- Improved Cost & Performance Analysis: Facilitate the comparison of different options against budget constraints, energy performance goals, or structural efficiency.
- Reduced Errors: Changes made to elements in the Main Model automatically affect how they interact with elements in all associated options, reducing inconsistencies.
How Design Options Function in Revit
The process of using Design Options involves a few key steps:
- Enabling and Creating: First, you enable Design Options in your project. Then, you create new Option Sets (e.g., "Exterior Walls," "Roof Shape") and add multiple Design Options (e.g., "Scheme A," "Scheme B") within each set.
- Editing and Adding Elements: You can move existing elements from the Main Model into an option or create new elements directly within a chosen option. It's crucial to ensure you are in the correct option for editing.
- Visibility Control: Revit allows you to control which option is displayed in any given view. Through the "Design Options" dialog or View Properties, you can specify whether a view shows the Primary option, a specific Secondary option, or is set to "Automatic" (showing the Primary by default). This is vital for creating documentation for each alternative.
- Swapping and Comparing: Easily switch between different options in your working views to compare them side-by-side or on different sheets.
- Finalizing the Design: Once a design is chosen, you "Accept Primary" for that option set. This action integrates the elements from the selected primary option into the Main Model, effectively removing the option set and its alternatives, leaving only the finalized design.
Elements that are not part of any Design Option are always considered part of the Main Model and are visible regardless of which option is active in a view.
Practical Applications and Examples
Design Options are incredibly versatile and can be applied to various design scenarios:
- Façade Variations: Explore different window patterns, cladding materials, sun-shading devices, or balcony designs.
- Interior Layouts: Compare multiple kitchen arrangements, office cubicle layouts, furniture plans, or restroom configurations.
- Structural Systems: Showcase different bracing patterns, column grid layouts, or roof truss designs.
- Site Planning: Present alternate landscaping designs, parking arrangements, pedestrian paths, or building orientations.
- Material Palettes: Offer various finish schemes for rooms, lobbies, or building exteriors.
Best Practices for Effective Management
To maximize the efficiency and clarity of using Design Options:
- Clear Naming Conventions: Use descriptive and consistent names for your option sets and individual options (e.g., "Entry Canopy - Option 1," "South Façade - Brick & Glass").
- Isolate Options: Where possible, design optional elements to be self-contained within their respective options. This minimizes complex dependencies with the Main Model and other options.
- Utilize Dedicated Views: Create specific views and sheets for each design option you intend to present. This ensures clear documentation and prevents confusion.
- Regular Review and Cleanup: Periodically review your active design options. Delete unused or rejected options to keep your model lean and manageability high.
- Understand Dependencies: Be mindful of how elements in the Main Model might host or interact with elements in Design Options, and vice versa.
Further Resources
For more in-depth learning and detailed instructions, consult official Autodesk resources:
Revit's Design Options feature is an indispensable tool for exploring design alternatives and making informed decisions throughout the project lifecycle.
