At LRA, we understand the excitement that comes with new Revit releases. Each version brings the promise of enhanced tools, features, and workflows. However, as MEP engineers collaborating closely with architects and developers, we take a deliberate and thoughtful approach to Revit upgrades to ensure seamless coordination across disciplines. Here’s how we manage the process and how we can work together to make these transitions as smooth as possible.
No one wants to see this dreaded message.
1. A Collaborative Ecosystem
At LRA, we must use the same Revit version as our architectural partners to maintain compatibility. When an architect upgrades to a newer version of Revit, we are required to follow suit to ensure a shared platform for collaboration. This often means managing multiple versions of our templates, families, and workflows to accommodate ongoing projects in older versions and new work in the upgraded version. While we handle this complexity thoughtfully, proactive communication about upgrade plans helps everyone stay aligned and avoid unnecessary disruptions.
2. Revit Release Cycles and Template Management
Autodesk generally releases new versions of Revit in April of the previous year. For example, Revit 2025 was released in April 2024. While the new version may be exciting, LRA maintains our templates in the previous year’s version of Revit to maximize compatibility and stability. For example, our 2024 template is created in Revit 2023, ensuring it works seamlessly with ongoing projects and provides a consistent foundation for future work.
This approach means we don’t immediately leap to the newest version of Revit but instead upgrade templates thoughtfully and in line with project needs.
3. The Challenges of Backward Compatibility
One of the realities of Revit is its lack of backward compatibility. Once a project is upgraded to a newer version, it cannot be opened in an older version. To accommodate ongoing projects, we retain the previous year’s version of Revit alongside the current version, allowing us to manage diverse project requirements without disruption. However, this dual-version workflow underscores the importance of aligning upgrade schedules across disciplines to minimize complexity.
4. Stability Over Speed
While new versions of Revit offer exciting new features, early releases often come with bugs that can disrupt workflows. At LRA, we prioritize stability and reliability over speed, choosing to upgrade only after these initial issues have been addressed. This cautious approach ensures that our projects remain on track without being impacted by unforeseen software challenges.
5. Add-Ins and Their Timeline
Much of our work relies on specialized add-ins that enhance Revit’s capabilities for MEP design. These add-ins often lag behind Autodesk’s release schedule, requiring time for developers to update them for compatibility with the newest version. Upgrading too quickly can mean losing access to critical tools, so we wait until these updates are available before transitioning to a new version of Revit.
6. A Call for Collaboration
To ensure smooth project coordination, we encourage our architectural partners to consider a similar, deliberate upgrade schedule. Sharing your upgrade plans with LRA early allows us to align our workflows, templates, and families with your version of Revit. This proactive approach minimizes the challenges of managing multiple versions and ensures all disciplines remain on the same page throughout the project lifecycle.
For example, if you plan to upgrade to the latest version of Revit shortly after its release in April, letting us know in advance allows us to prepare accordingly. Aligning schedules and communicating early helps avoid unnecessary rework and keeps projects running smoothly.
Balancing Coordination and Consistency
At LRA, we balance stability, collaboration, and efficiency in our approach to Revit upgrades. By maintaining templates in the previous year’s version, waiting for stable releases, and ensuring add-in compatibility, we aim to provide reliable, high-quality support for your projects.
We value your partnership and look forward to working together to make these transitions seamless. By sharing upgrade plans and aligning schedules, we can continue to deliver the coordinated, dependable designs you expect.
Sincerely,
Your LRA BIM Team