“Rendering is dead. We need to visualize, explore and discover from any and every angle.”
Richard Lopez | VDC Manager | Hensel Phelps
Who’s Richard?
I work in Denver Colorado as the VC manager for Hensel Phelps Construction. I have an architectural background and although not licensed to have worked on a variety of large projects in the design build industry. I’ve also worked in the reseller space doing Revit training. I’ve been working with Hensel Phelps since the spring of 2010.
Primary job function at Hensel Phelps is to train staff and work with project teams to really dial in the architectural models. This means a lot of collaboration with superintendents. I also work a lot on the marketing side helping to prepare visuals and high and marketing images for proposals. I’ll typically prepare a lot of interior renderings for medical projects, high-end office buildings and hotel/hospitality. The bottom line is we need to show what it’s going to look like it before it’s built.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/omegalopez713
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-lopez-60aa574
Why Enscape?
Previous to using in Enscape I prepare a lot of walk-throughs in game engines. Not just for architectural work but also to review structural models. But once I started using Enscape, I’ve never looked back. Using Enscape, I’m able to quickly and easily give the project team an overall idea and then very quickly and easily focus in on the details. With very little effort I can produce fantastic results.
What’s been surprising is that even the superintendents are buying into using Enscape. They know how gaming works. They’re using these kinds of tools with their kids and even their grand-kids. The superintendents are not holding back, they’re really engaging.
In some ways using Enscape is better clash detection then some other purpose built class detection tools out there. Enscape is much more immersive, while the other tools are not. I get that being able to simply push a button to find clashes is a great idea. But in the real world it’s much more subtle, where you simply need to walk around and find problems. That’s where Enscape really shines.
I’ve also stopped using other rendering tools and now rely on Revit. Images from Enscape are very fast and look amazing and I don’t have to spend time in post-production. I zoom around live with the marketing team and when they see an image they’d like to have for rendering we just stop and I save an HD image in about 15 seconds.
The owners really love it too. In one particular case, I was working on a very high-end 42 story building and the finishes were very important to the owner. We were paying particular attention to very fine details and how materials wrapped. Even the edges of tile and grout had to match reveals in the wall which ultimately could be followed up to tiling in the ceiling. Everything had to be resolved before design was complete.
By using Enscape, we were making changes in Revit and visualizing the results on-the-fly. As we were in the meeting the owner exclaims, “This is amazing! What program are you using?” What I didn’t tell anyone was that I had no training. I’d downloaded the Enscape trial the night before. That’s how easy it is to use Enscape. At the end of the meeting, the owner states, “Wow you guys are doing exactly what we want.” There’s no better validation of success.
Being able to make changes in the Revit model and immediately see the results in Enscape is one of the reasons Enscape makes more sense than a “clash detection” program. We’re working on the construction model live in Revit. The other benefit is that people are willing to spend more time in Revit. Getting the model, the lighting and and the materials right is a worthwhile investment when you can see the results side-by-side with to your Revit model. It’s not about rendering, it’s about real world.
Using Enscape has been a great win for me. No more Exporting. No more Showcase. No more Max. No extra material libraries. No more complicated workflow. I think Enscape is a total game changer and I’m not kidding when I say I could see Enscape replacing Navisworks.
How I keep coming back to this but it’s really important. Clash detection isn’t just about clashes and you can’t push a button to figure things out. The great thing about Enscape is that it makes the project discoverable. You can walk around in the real world and discover problems that aren’t clashes.
The real beauty of Enscape is that anyone can pick it up and use it. I hope that never changes.
Thanks!
Really glad we were able to chat. I’m really looking forward to see Enscape develop in terms of features and functions. But I’m also looking forward to seeing Escape develop in terms of passionate user community. These guys really deserve to be successful, so anything I can do to help get out the word is great.
Phil Read – Read|Thomas – Author
LinkedIn – www.linkedin.com/in/readphil
Read|Thomas – www.readthomas.com
hello@readthomas.com