What’s new in Revit 2021

Revit 2021 comes with many new features and improvements. I have highlighted some of the multidiscipline Revit features in this post.

User Interface feature

As soon we open Revit 2021 for the first time, we notice an improved Home screen with an User Interface Wizard to help us set up the ribbon based on our discipline and focus on the tools that matters to us. You can also modify the user interface in the Option menu.

Generative Design

Revit 2021 comes with a Generative Design tool designed to help us taking advantage of computing power and quickly generate and explore design alternatives which can helps us to solve design problems.

With this new tool, you will be able to specify constraints, set your goals and inputs and then automatically generates design iterations directly from the model.

Credit: Autodesk

Change the appearance of a Schedule

In Revit 2020 there is a tool called Stripe Rows but we can’t choose the color and it is not visible when placing the schedules on sheets.

In the Appearance properties of a schedule in Revit 2021, there is a new feature that allows us to add stripped rows and choose a color making it easier to visualize schedules. There is also a check box to turn on the stripe rows on sheets.

Enable View Filter

In the Visibility/Graphic Overrides dialog, under Filter tab, we can turn a View Filter on and off without needing to delete it from the list using the Enable Filter command. It differs from the Visibility command which turns on and off all the elements in a view.

Slanted Walls

When selecting the walls, there is a new parameter added called Cross-Section. This parameter allows us to change from Vertical to Slanted walls. When set to Slanted, the Angle from Vertical parameter becomes available. By default, the angle is set to 0 degrees. You can add a positive or negative angle which will slant the wall to exterior or interior.

The windows and doors hosted in slanted walls can be modified by changing the Orientation parameter from Vertical to Slanted.

Real-time realistic views

The new Realistic visual style provides a better visualization and better navigation. See image below.

PDF and image linking

In Revit 2021 allows us to link PDF files and images. With this new enhancement, the linked file can be reloaded when the referenced file is modified.

The Manage Links dialog has been updated as well and now includes a PDF and an Image tab. Now we can use this dialog to find the image/PDF in the file using the Show button, place an instance of an image/PDF using the Place Instance command and add a new image/PDF using the Add… tool.

Rotate Text in Tags Enhancement

The family parameter Rotate with Component in the family editor has been added to more tag categories including furniture and specialty equipment for example. For a full list of the categories check Rotate Tag with Component.

Get Autodesk Content

During the installation, Autodesk is not providing all content. Users can download the out-of-the-box content using the Get Autodesk Content tool on the Insert tab.

Conclusion

This is some of the new features in Revit 2021. To learn more about these features and much more, check the Autodesk website.