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Multifamily construction has become the single fastest growing segment of the architectural industry in recent years. Driven primarily by rising market prices, increased construction of multifamily housing is a trend that looks to continue well into the future.
In response to this growing demand, AVAware has announced the upcoming release of the AVAproject Multifamily Module - an optional add-on package for AVAproject that provides a powerful set of tools and features specifically designed to ease and assist in the detailing, estimating and management of multifamily construction projects.
The AVAproject Multifamily Module utilizes the same user interface model with which AVAproject users are already familiar. Openings Lists are handled much the same way as Hardware Lists, and the use of Openings Groups should be extremely intuitive to users already experienced in the use of AVAproject Hardware Groups. In fact, the entire module represents an extension of the existing functionality along with the introduction of several powerful new tools.
Part One - The Openings List
Just as the division 8 'Hardware List' and division 10 'Accessory' and 'Partition' lists allow users to maintain lists of products that are used repeatedly throughout a project, the 'Openings List' allows users to do the same for standard opening types that are referenced throughout a given project. Standard openings can be established based on the architects' definitions or by the estimator to facilitate the repetitive entry of common opening types.
The 'Openings List' utilizes the same column library as the AVAproject Openings Schedule and even allows the use of Openings Schedule view styles.
A new 'Opening Short Code' column is displayed in the first position of the table. This column functions identically to the 'Short Code' column in the Hardware List, providing a means to unique identify each opening in the table. As is the case with hardware list items, changes made to items in the Openings List are instantly reflected throughout the project where those items are used.
Part Two - The Openings Groups or "Suites"
As the name suggests, Openings Groups are groups of the openings that can be reused throughout a project. Most commonly, these "groups" are used to define standard "suite" or "unit" configurations within a multifamily project.
Once again, the layout of the 'Openings Groups' is similar to that of the Openings Schedule. In fact, it's nearly identical with only a few minor adjustments.
An 'Openings Group' is essentially a small Openings Schedule in its own right. Openings can be assigned opening numbers or quantities, just as they can on the Openings Schedule proper. Since these groups of the openings are designed to be reused throughout the project, the opening numbers assigned in the groups will eventually be combined with those defined in the schedule; more on this later.
The 'Opening Short Code' column in the Opening Groups allows openings that have been predefined in the Openings List to be used in the creation of the groups - just as one would by referencing hardware items defined in the Hardware List, in the creation of Hardware Groups.
Part Three - The Openings Schedule
The AVAproject Openings Schedule features several important additions to its column library in respect of the multifamily module, the most notable of which are the 'Openings Short Code' and 'Openings Group' columns.
As one might expect, they provide access to standard openings appearing in the Openings List, as well as the predefined Openings Groups. Either one can be used on a given line of the Openings Schedule.
When an 'Openings Group' name is selected in the corresponding column, it indicates that all the openings in that group are to be added to the Openings Schedule at that position. In the Openings Schedule, these rows are identified by highlighting them with a light purple background color.
Since all of the opening details are taken from the group, the only other columns that can be populated are the 'Qty' and 'Opening Number' columns. Most often, the opening number will correspond to the suite number or the installation.
By default the opening groups are shown on the Openings Schedule in a "collapsed" state, meaning that a single line of the schedule is used to indicate the use of the entire group of openings. The result is essential a "Suite Schedule" listing all the suite numbers with a project along with their corresponding Opening Group definition.
With a single click, however, the group references can be "expanded" to show each and every individual opening - right inside the Openings Schedule.
Note: The 'Opening Number' defined in the Opening Schedule for the entire suite is automatically combined with the opening numbers defined for each individual opening with the Openings Group. This results in a unique opening number for each opening within the project.
"Mirror" or "Reverse" Suite Configurations
It is quite common to see "mirror" versions of suite configurations occurring in multifamily projects. The layout is essentially identical to an existing configuration, just backwards.
AVAproject is able to handle the definition of mirror versions of Openings Group automatically. Users need to provide an alternate name for a given Openings Group to identify its mirror.
AVAproject does the rest, automatically reversing the handing of each individual opening within the group.
These powerful new features along with a variety of enhanced reporting and exporting tools make the AVAproject Multifamily Module an essential add-on for any distributor servicing the multifamily construction segment.
Release of the AVAproject Multifamily Module is slated for the beginning of 2023 to accompany the upcoming release of AVAproject. In the interim, early demonstrations are available on request for existing users of AVAproject.
For additional information on the AVAproject Multifamily Module, please contact your AVAware support representative, or visit the AVAware website at: www.AVAware.com
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