What drawing and design software do we use to deliver our projects at AWA?

Investing in cutting-edge software packages not only benefits our clients but our staff and those we partner with on projects too.

With some of the best tools available to the industry at our fingertips, we enable our team to provide deliverables to the latest codes, standards and expertise to enable efficient collaboration with our clients, architects and construction teams. Keep reading for an overview of the software we use…

Drawing & Draughting

For our drawing work, our team generally uses both Autodesk AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit. AutoCAD allows us to produce accurate and detailed drawings with a 2D representation of our structural requirements for a project. Revit allows us to provide an output of traditional ‘2D’ drawings in the same standard recognised manner, however, the method for the creation of these is vastly different, as the software utilises a 3D environment, with the building of structural models.

The type and requirements of a project or client generally dictate which package would be most appropriate to be used. The benefit of Revit is that the 3D environment for a project enables the user to see things more easily, whilst any change to the model will update all 2D information relating to the area (details, sections, elevations etc) so there are no updates missed.

When we work on projects where our collaborators (architects, mechanical engineers, electrical engineers etc) are using Revit, the program becomes powerful in enabling much better coordination. Revit models will be shared between disciplines and integrated together to promptly highlight any clashes or incomplete coordination. This allows us to generate accurate information and iron out any potential issues prior to the commencement of works on site.

Design & Analysis

Our design team uses Tekla Tedds and Tekla Structural Designer to carry out accurate structural analysis and design, from simple 2D frames to complex 3D finite element analysis. Our software allows us to complete engineering design tasks efficiently, and produce calculation package outputs in a clear and professional format.

Once our structural models are created, changes can be swiftly made and the analysis updated accordingly, whereas the process would be timely if performed by hand.

We also use the MasterSeries Building Design Suite. This is a 3D design programme that has the functionality to help create designs for multi-material building projects. The suite offers a broad range of tools that our team pick and choose from to create a final output.

With both Tekla Structural Designer and MasterSeries being 3D software, we can share information between these and Revit, to enable an even more efficient design process, as per the below where both Revit (left) and MasterSeries (right) were used on a recent AWA project.