Creating Area Plans in Revit: Letting the Software Draw Boundary Lines

As we conclude this lesson, let's examine a critical decision point in Revit area planning: whether to allow the software to automatically generate boundary lines or maintain manual control. I'll demonstrate both approaches using our previous lesson's project as we create area plans for rentable and gross building calculations, starting with the gross building option.

The effectiveness of automated boundary generation varies significantly based on your building's geometry and your project requirements. For complex buildings or projects requiring precise control over area calculations, manual boundary creation remains the gold standard. However, for straightforward geometries where some flexibility is acceptable, Revit's automated approach can streamline your workflow considerably. The key is understanding when each method serves your project best.

Let's proceed with the gross building level one configuration and accept Revit's automated boundary generation. Notice how the software interprets our building geometry—in this instance, the relatively clean architectural forms work in our favor, producing logical boundary definitions with minimal intervention required.

You'll observe some apparent overlaps and gaps within the building area boundaries—this is normal behavior and shouldn't cause concern. These visual anomalies don't impact area calculations, as demonstrated when I place an area element. The software correctly interprets the intended boundaries and calculates areas accurately. Additionally, because we allowed Revit to generate the boundaries automatically, it simultaneously created the associated area elements, eliminating several manual steps from our workflow.

Applying this same methodology to level two of the gross building yields consistent results. The automated boundary creation paired with automatic area generation maintains efficiency across multiple levels. However, note that these spaces require further subdivision to prevent double-counting in your area calculations—a common requirement regardless of your boundary creation method.

From my professional experience, I often find that the modifications required to automatically-generated boundaries can exceed the time saved by the initial automation. However, for buildings with straightforward geometries like our example, this approach can significantly accelerate your area planning process. The decision ultimately depends on your project's complexity and accuracy requirements.

Now let's examine the rentable area option, which demonstrates different boundary interpretation logic. Using level one as our foundation, we'll again allow Revit to generate boundaries automatically and observe how the software handles interior space definitions.

The rentable boundary generation creates interior boundary lines using intelligent interpretation of architectural elements. Notice how the software uses the drip line or window face as the boundary reference—this aligns with standard area calculation methodologies and provides a solid foundation for rentable area computations. Should your project require different measurement standards, these boundaries serve as an excellent starting point for manual refinements.

Let's explore additional customization options through the Area and Volume Computations dialog. Accessing this through the Room and Area panel reveals several critical configuration options that impact your area calculations across the entire project.

The default computation setting focuses on area calculations only, though volume calculations are available when project requirements demand three-dimensional space analysis. Room area computation options include measurements to wall center, core layer, or core center, though the standard wall finish option typically satisfies most professional requirements and aligns with industry standards.

The area schemes section reveals the foundational structure of Revit's area planning system. Beyond the default gross and rentable schemes, you can create custom schemes tailored to specific measurement standards. For instance, if your project requires BOMA (Building Owners and Managers Association) compliance, you can establish a dedicated scheme with appropriate naming conventions and detailed descriptions. This might include the specific BOMA standard year and any project-specific variations, creating a comprehensive documentation trail for your area calculations.

This flexibility in area scheme creation allows you to accommodate multiple measurement standards within a single project, supporting complex commercial developments where different tenants, regulatory requirements, or financial calculations may demand varied area computation methods. The result is a more robust and professionally comprehensive area planning workflow that adapts to real-world project complexities.