ESD Solutions completed steel frame detailing for a commercial building, initially expected to be a routine job. But like many structural steel projects, the complexity revealed itself quickly—specifically in the roof design.
The Challenge
The biggest issue surfaced early: conflicting roof pitch data from the architect and Revit model.
- Architectural drawings listed two different roof slopes
- The Revit model showed a third value entirely
- The roof pitch impacted over 80% of the structure, including beams, braces, and columns
Getting the pitch wrong would’ve meant cascading errors throughout the steel model—costly to fix both in the shop and in the field.
Our Solution: Parametric Steel Modeling
We tackled the problem with flexibility and speed by:
- Making all roof members and braces parametric during the modeling stage
- Sending an early RFI to clarify discrepancies
- Updating the model in real time across three design changes
- Avoiding full rework by leveraging our smart modeling approach
By adjusting the slope in one place, all affected components updated automatically—saving hours of redrawing and reducing the risk of coordination issues.
The Result
We spotted the issue early, during our first review of the project, and quickly sent out a Request for Information (RFI) to clarify the situation. It took three rounds of changes to finalize the roof pitch. However, thanks to our proactive approach and the flexible model we set up, we minimized the time spent making revisions.
Even though we worked at an hourly rate for this client, we always strived to be efficient and finish the work quickly. Our goal was to make the process as smooth as possible, keep costs down for the client, and deliver the highest-quality work.
Need Accurate Steel Frame Detailing for a Commercial Building?
At ESD Solutions, we specialize in adaptive modeling and fast coordination for commercial structures. From roof pitches to framing complexity—we catch issues early and adjust fast.
Contact us today to discuss your project or view more examples in our portfolio.
