Wall Features in Revit Building 9.0

This article addresses some features that may not be so well-known when working with walls in Revit Building 9.0.

We begin by modifying the profile of a wall. By selecting a wall segment in an axonometric view, you can click “Edit Profile” on the Options bar, whereby Revit takes you into sketch mode. The frame of the wall can be altered. For instance, I will delete the top sketch line and then click “Lines” on the Sketch bar and draw a partial ellipse connecting the top two endpoints. You can select any one of the drawing commands such as spline or arc. Make sure that the magenta lines do not overlap and do form a closed loop.



Select “Finish Sketch” on the Sketch bar to exit this mode. The wall will update with the new shape. This feature also entails having a closed loop profile inside of the outer wall profile lines, which results in a wall opening. The opening does not have to be orthographic or rectangular in nature.



The original profile of the wall can be restored by selecting the segment in the view and on the Options bar hitting “Remove sketch”.

The next feature we will address concerns multi-component wall types such as Exterior Brick on CMU. It is well-documented that you can add layers to wall types and modify their structure to add sweeps, reveals and to assign layers to a component that has been split in a vertical section. However, you might not know that you can also adjust the extent of each wall component. To do this make sure you are in the Edit Assembly dialogue box of a multi-component wall type. Make sure the preview of the wall is shown in section. Then hit the “Modify” button. Select the bottom or top edge of a component in the wall section preview. Scroll out until you see a lock icon.


Unlock it and then hit “OK” until you are back into the view. Create a wall section in plan and then go to that section view. Set your detail level to fine and then select the wall in section. Notice two blue arrow grips at the bottom of the wall.


You can stretch these grips up or down. The component that you unlocked in the Edit Assembly dialogue box will be able to move by itself. In this case it is the brick layer.


Note that you are adjusting the overall profile of the wall which will be reflected in all views. Go to an axonometric view to clearly see this.


The next feature only affects the wall in section. By clicking on “Edit Cut Profile” on the Tools pull down menu, you can select the face of a wall component or the boundary between faces. The two options are shown on the Options bar when activating the command.



I will select “Boundary between faces” and then select the brick layer. Revit then goes into sketch mode. Draw lines between the faces that do not form a loop. It is advisable to work in thin lines mode when doing this.



Note the blue arrow that indicates the side of the line that you wish to keep. Click “Finish Sketch” and then the profile of the wall will update to show the cut.

 

This page last edited on Thursday, June 03, 2010