The Challenges of Specifying Specialty Ceilings
Before an interior space can be built, it first needs to be designed. However, architects and designers find themselves under constant pressure to do more with less time and money. Between modeling from scratch and fixing errors in the specifications, more time is spent elsewhere than on meaningful design.
Specialty ceilings are intricate assemblies and often complicated to design but with the right assistance, they become integral in driving adoption, referral, and early ACT specification. High-design ceilings are a perfect addition as the focal point of a space but instilling confidence in the design's feasibility among project stakeholders can often cause challenges in the design phase.
Designing with Revit®
Programs like Revit®, a construction documentation software, have streamlined and revolutionized the design of specialty ceilings, but its out-of-the-box functionality can often leave little to be desired the more complex a design becomes. There are existing plugins and add-ins that can simplify the process, but the industry lacks a comprehensive solution that can impact earlier specifications and adoption of a truly unique ceiling system.
Interior Designers need speed and functionality in order to have the freedom to explore creative expression but cannot afford to get bogged down in multiple plugins. Architects are also critical users of Revit, managing the entire project and are responsible for accuracy of integral construction documents while focusing on design efficiency and meeting owner/contractor deliverables. Finally, BIM Managers, while typically not focused on the design, must ensure that the technical aspects of the firm’s digital tools are safe and effective to use to drive efficiency and productivity of the firm.
Each of these groups deserve a tool that can accommodate each of their specific needs and encompass a holistic approach to specifying specialty ceilings.
Plugin and Play
What used to take hours now takes minutes with USG Ceiling Technix™. This first-to-market ceilings family suite is a Revit® plugin that makes designing and specifying ceilings faster, easier, and more accurate, leading to time-savings and increased efficiency in one easy-to-use plugin. This new tool is available as a plugin download for Revit® and allows architects to access key product data and documents directly within their Revit® models.
Users can adjust the finish, ceiling offset, levels of acoustical performance, and desired shape of USG ceiling products with ease. Once selected, the algorithms within USG Ceiling Technix™ do all the work automatically, freeing up time for more meaningful design considerations.
Modifications Made Easy
After a space has been created, the tool allows for updates in product layouts as well as options to increase the acoustical qualities of the space. USG Ceiling Technix™ automatically updates the architectural specification to reflect any changes made in the design. This effectively streamlines the export of product requirements, like sustainability, edge & grid details, acoustics, and finishes.
No longer will designers have to manually coordinate or input product data themselves—once the change is made in Revit®, the design can then move on to the specification stage of the project.
Set the Standard for Specification
During testing of this plugin, design professionals involved in the pilot program allowed their models “to be realistic and honest for the client,” provided a method to “help production and streamline the process,” and was overall helpful in “transmitting and sharing…information to the contractor.”
The design community stands to gain a valuable resource with the USG Ceiling Technix™, offering them the opportunity to design, iterate, and specify with ease. With valuable time back on their schedules, architects and designers will be empowered to specify the best possible solutions.
USG Ceiling Technix™ represents a first-of-its-kind digital tool created to give design professionals valuable time back in their process and the ability to design with confidence. With seamless integration into Revit® that will not bloat your model, this new tool can make all the difference during ceiling design and specification.
