Autodesk Architectural Desktop: Mass Modeling

By Ed Goldberg
Autodesk Architectural Desktop Release 3 is a very complex program, but it is relatively easy to learn and the best way is to
experiment. So do these simple exercises and then go out on your own. Countless users have discovered tricks and methods that the
software's developers never imagined the program could do.
If you have been seeing the term "CAAD" (computer-aided architectural design) lately, it's because "CAD" no longer captures what
software can do. AutoCAD Architectural Desktop software offers powerful CAD capabilities and at least three significant buildingdesign tools:

The Mass Elements system

The Space Planning system
ObjectARX, which implements "intelligent" objects to create a building model
For this tutorial, we'll look only at Mass Elements.

Mass Modeling: A Quick Primer

Mass modeling replicates the methods architects use in designing large buildings, in which their initial design studies are
often first modeled in clay or wood. These small models show the relationship between parts of the building, indicate scale,
and reveal how light and shadow react with the building facades. Mass modeling is meant to be a quick process, akin to
using the building blocks we all played with as children.
With Mass Elements, Autodesk Architectural Desktop Release 3 takes the concept of mass modeling one giant step further.
Not only can you model the concept, you can also automatically take that model through to document creation (in this
exercise, however, we're not going to get that far).

Getting Started
You can access Mass Elements in three ways:

From the Mass Elements toolbar

By selecting Concept > Mass Elements > Add Mass Elements from the main menu toolbar
By right-clicking in any viewport and, when the contextual menu appears, selecting Concept > Mass Elements > Add Mass
Element (the program makes great use of contextual menus, which are tied to the objects)
Now let's complete the following exercise using Mass Elements.
1. Start a new drawing using an Aec [imperial] massing template.

View Larger Image

Figure 1: Activate toolbars by right-clicking in any empty toolbar area.

Figure 2: The new push-pin option helps save screen real-estate by minimizing
automatically when not in use.

2. Activate the Mass Elements toolbar; see Figure 1.

Right-click in any empty space in the upper toolbar (1).

Select ARCARCHX from the contextual menu (2).
Select Mass Elements (3).
3. After the Mass Elements toolbar appears, place it at the top of the screen.
4. Select the Mass-Group tab at the bottom of your work area, and select the left viewport.
5. Select the Box icon from the Mass Elements toolbar, which opens the Add Mass Element dialog box; see Figure 2.

Figure 3: Use the Array command to create multiple floors.

6. Place a 10'x10'x10' Box Mass Element in the viewport, and press Enter twice.
7. Select the box shape and right-click.
8. Select Element Modify from the contextual menu that appears. The Modify Mass Element dialog box then appears.
9. Change the Width setting to 80', the Depth to 40', and Height to 9', then press OK.
10. Change the viewport from Isometric (default) to Front view.
11. Select the Array icon, and create a Rectangular Array with the settings shown in Figure 3. Change the viewport back to SW Isometric
view.

Figure 4: Array provides a quick way to create a four-story building.

You should now have an 80' x 40' four-story building (see Figure 4).
12. Select the Polar button, select the top box in the four-story model, activate the box's grips, and move it towards the rear of the fourstory model.
13. The command line now reads STRETCH. Enter 20' on the command line, and press Enter.
14. Move down one box, and repeat the process, moving it back 10'. Don't change the third box.
15. Select the bottom box, and move it back 10' as well.

Figure 5: Using grips, you can easily adjust each box.

Figure 6: Use the Object Viewer to quickly visualize your Mass Model.

You should now have the form shown in Figure 5.

16. Select all the boxes and right-click.
17. Select the Object Viewer from the contextual menu.
18. In the Object Viewer, press the Gouraud Shaded icon, and the Perspective icon. Also make sure that you select the SW Isometric
View from the drop- down list (see Figure 6).
Conclusion
You have created a simple mass model, but they can become very complex. When you have the mass model you desire, you can use
Autodesk Architectural Desktop Release 3 to quickly convert it into contract documents.
Next month we'll take this technique further.