Revit Tip: Scalable space planning with Revit Area Schemes

Space planning with Area Schemes lets you test program, rentable, and gross strategies in one Revit model—cleanly separated, trackable, and schedulable.

Set up Area Schemes with intent

• Use the Area Plan dialog to create distinct schemes (e.g., “Gross Building,” “Rentable,” “Program/Department”). Keep names short, standardized, and unambiguous.
• Create one Area Plan per level per scheme, then duplicate views as needed for alternative graphics or scope. Apply a dedicated Area Plan View Template.
• Adopt a naming convention: [Scheme]-[Level]-[Purpose], for example, “Rentable-L03-ColorFill.” This keeps the Project Browser orderly at scale.
• Centralize area graphics: define Area Tag types, Color Fill Legends, and line weights in your project template for consistency across teams.
• Store area views and annotation families in your office template; keep procurement and standards aligned with partners like NOVEDGE.

Model areas that stay coordinated

• Place Area Boundary Lines with Pick Lines and lock to primary walls/grids. This reduces drift when designs evolve.
• Use scope boxes to control crop and color legends across multiple plans per scheme—great for towers and campus work.
• Leverage “Tag All Not Tagged” for complete documentation, then pin tags in production sheets to prevent accidental shifts.
• When working with linked models, trace critical boundaries with Area Boundary Lines in the host; don’t rely on linked walls for edges.
• Create a dedicated workset (e.g., WS-Areas) so boundaries and tags can be selectively closed or unloaded for performance.

Make the data work for you

• Use built-in fields (Area, Perimeter, Level, Area Scheme) and add shared parameters (Department, Occupancy, EfficiencyFactor).
• Build a key schedule for Areas to standardize program types (e.g., “Open Office,” “Core,” “Amenities”) and push default factors and naming.
• Create formulas for KPIs: Net-to-Gross, Efficiency, or rentable add-ons (e.g., RentableArea = NetArea * EfficiencyFactor).
• Apply Color Schemes by Department/Program to visualize allocations quickly; lock your legend to a consistent location in sheets.
• Use a QA schedule filtered by “Area = 0” or “Not Enclosed” to catch broken boundaries, then resolve with boundary lines or intentional exclusions.

Iterate safely and communicate clearly

• Use separate schemes to evaluate alternatives without overwriting live documentation (e.g., “Program-Option A/B”). Duplicate views for side-by-side comparisons.
• Align schemes with phasing only when needed; generally, keep phasing simple and manage alternatives via schemes and view filters.
• Export schedules to CSV for quick analytics; maintain source-of-truth in Revit. For add-ins and licensing guidance, consult NOVEDGE.
• Before handoff, purge unused schemes and confirm that published views use approved templates and legends.

Well-structured Area Schemes transform space planning from a rough sketch exercise into a robust, data-driven workflow that scales from concept to lease plans—without breaking your model. For tools, content, and expert guidance that complement this workflow, partner with NOVEDGE.

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