Software ‘learns’ from previous design work to dramatically accelerate and improve production of BIM deliverables
Skema is a new conceptual design tool which integrates into Revit. In the UK, the software was first demonstrated at AEC Magazine’s NXT DEV event (the presentation can be seen here).
Using the Skema Software Suite architectural design professionals can create designs that repurpose the best of a firm’s previous successful design work with the full flexibility to morph those design elements to fit new concepts.
The software suite is composed of Skema AI, the conceptual design platform, and SkemaBIM, a BIM knowledge reuse engine. Together the tools are reported to dramatically accelerate and improve production of BIM deliverables.
Skema AI preserves the logic in previous Revit layouts so that designers can copy and paste them into new designs, and then squeeze or stretch them into new shapes and sizes to resolve the design concept of the building. Skema AI’s knowledge agent is designed to enable the senior designer to efficiently pursue work for the firm.
The company claims that SkemaBIM generates a ‘bulletproof BIM model’ in minutes, instead of months. The SkemaBIM engine combines the power of AI and full Revit Integration to generate LOD 350 models that can directly leverage the work from previous BIM projects, with a view to allowing a design team to focus on creating better designs rather than repetitive model creation tasks.
“When designers can rely on automation to rapidly complete time-consuming tasks, then they can focus more time on the aesthetic and qualitative elements of building design,” said Richard Harpham, co-founder of Skema. “Skema is a tool designed to assist senior designers and to help firms make a big leap in efficiency and productivity.”
The initial version of Skema was limited to modular residential buildings. Now, Skema AI breaks free of modular design constraints to cater to buildings with geometric variation and non-orthogonal buildings.
“Skema makes Revit better. We’ve applied our team’s deep Revit knowledge and expertise, coupled with a keen understanding of what issues frustrate and slow down a design team when producing BIM deliverables,” said Marty Rozmanith, chief technology officer and co-founder of Skema. “Skema captures and reuses previous design knowledge to improve design workflows by augmenting what Revit does well.”
According to the company, designers have learned how to use Skema in a few hours and then to quickly create designs using the tool. TVS, one of Skema’s customers, held a charette for a design pursuit within the Atlanta-based firm’s Lifestyle studio earlier this year. Designers reportedly created designs for a mixed-use multifamily project in one day.
“Skema is set to redefine how architects and interior designers approach design, doing so in a way that seamlessly integrates into existing workflows,” said Michael Hodge, Digital Studio Principal, TVS. “Skema enables the generation of editable BIM data that can be easily used downstream in the design process – in other words, it fits into the way we already work.”
Skema.ai launches this month and requires a simple signup to be among the first to get access to Skema AI and SkemaBIM.
