Creating a high-quality content library is essential for teams working in Revit. With over a decade of experience in the AEC industry and a deep understanding of Revit, I've seen firsthand the challenges and rewards of building and maintaining such a library.

Recently, I shared our approach to building a quality content library at the London Revit User Group (LRUG). It’s a pretty simple formula, but one that we’ve seen work time and again with our customers.

Following the six steps below will make your life as a BIM Manager much easier and help your team in Revit work more effectively and efficiently.

The Foundation of Good Content

Revit’s efficiency hinges on the quality of its content. Think of your content library as a collection of LEGO pieces—having the right pieces easily accessible is crucial for building something remarkable.

Step 1: Consolidate Your Existing Content

You’re not starting from scratch. Your team already uses content from various sources like network drives, template files, old projects, and online resources. Begin by gathering all this content in one place, whether it's a network drive or a content management system. List and prioritize these sources to streamline the consolidation process.

Step 2: Establish a Review Process

Once your content is aggregated, set up a review process. Determine the core requirements for your content, such as geometry, parameters, and file size. Aim for good enough rather than perfect. Define what’s unacceptable and prioritize content that meets your core requirements. Establish who will review the content, what the review checklist includes, and where approved content will be stored.

Step 3: Keep It Simple

Simplicity is key to an effective content library. Make naming conventions intuitive and keep categorizations straightforward. Whether you organize by Revit category, project types, or rooms and spaces, choose one or two categorizations that are most important and stick to them. Revit is already complex enough; your library should be easy to use and manage.

Step 4: Roll It Out

Introducing your new content library to the team requires a thoughtful approach. A simple email or Teams announcement isn't enough. Schedule dedicated sessions like CPDs, lunch & learns, or webinars to demonstrate the library to your team. Preview the library with power users first to address any concerns. Keep the initial training short and focused on common use cases to help your team start using the library immediately.

Step 5: Get Feedback

Regularly check in with your team to understand how the content library is working for them. Use team-wide surveys, user group interviews, and usage analytics to gather feedback. Encourage team members to suggest new content and improvements.

Step 6: Keep Improving

Building a quality content library is an ongoing process. Continuously seek feedback and look for new content sources. Make incremental improvements to existing content and adjust your review process as needed. Train new team members on the library and any CMS you're using. Celebrate progress and ensure your approach is sustainable.

Creating and maintaining a quality content library is a journey, not a destination. By following these steps and leveraging tools like Kinship, you can build a library that enhances your team's efficiency and effectiveness in Revit. Stay committed to continuous improvement and enjoy the benefits of a well-organized content library.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out to me at jose.fandos@kinship.io. Happy building!