Revitalization of a Heritage: A 1966 School Building Digitization

Key Challenges

• Aged and Distorted Plans:

The initial PDF drawings were physically deteriorated and dimensionally distorted, making interpretation extremely difficult.

• Ambiguity in Details:

Essential architectural and MEP elements were unclear or missing, with irregular scaling across the sheets.

• Accuracy Expectations:

The client expected 100% alignment between the Revit model and original PDFs, despite quality issues.

• Field Verification Dependence:

Coordinating with the client for constant site verification and measurement updates added complexity to the workflow.

Approaches and Solutions

• Dimensional Reconstruction:

The team overcame the limitations of unclear PDF inputs by applying a manual redrafting strategy in Revit, ensuring high precision.

• Agile Problem Solving:

Google Maps was used innovatively to cross-reference and estimate building layout dimensions, supplementing missing data.

• Collaborative R&D:

A rigorous research and validation process was put in place. Frequent communication with the client ensured timely field-verified measurements.

• Discipline-Specific Modeling:

Separate focus was given to architectural and MEP components, with integrated clash detection and review to deliver a cohesive model.