How 3D Models Benefit Designers, Clients, and Projects

CMA continually seeks new and innovative ways to design structures. The use of 3D printing is a rapidly evolving technology. It’s one we frequently utilize to create working, realistic models to bring a building to life. “The biggest benefit is being able to visualize the big-picture composition. You can catch a lot of things that may just feel a little off, such as massing ratios or how one element joins to another,” says Mike Sroufe, BIM Specialist. “There are things that you just can’t see without a 3D printed model.”

But how does it work?

3D printing begins with a digital 3D model. Once the building is created digitally in 3D, the 3D printing program “slices” the digital model, dividing it into thin individual layers. “The printing is the easy part as the machine does all of the work,” says Mike. “It’s building the digital model that’s time consuming.”

One of the things that Mike and the team love about 3D printing is the client’s excitement about their model. “Clients want to show off their building,” Mike smiles. “And if a client isn’t excited about their design, I think we’ve failed as architects.”

3D modeling particularly comes in handy when the design needs to be outside the ordinary. “A warehouse is pretty straightforward, so an extruded plastic rectangle really isn’t going to help us,” Mike explains. “But think about a building that has interesting roof lines, curves, cantilevers and walls that step in and out; those are hard to visualize as a 2D drawing on paper.”

Overall, Mike loves that 3D printing gives him the chance to visualize his projects at all times. It has been a perfect aid for a recent challenge designing a structure to be erected on a slope. “The building is currently under construction. As it’s starting to take form, I feel like I’ve already seen it,” he says, pointing to the model. “Because I have–I see it every day.”