This will be a fast-paced and informative series of tutorial videos, geared for all architects, designers, structural engineers, fabricators and design Students and will focus on using Computational Design in the context of a building model.

To view the complete course and download a workbook, visit the Bentley Learn Server.

1: Introduction and Set Up Bentley colleague, Mary Chib, will demonstrate how to get started by creating a new WorkSet and design file, and then placing your first node on the graph, the baseCS node. She will follow with a series of videos that take you step by step through the creation of a parametric mass model.

https://youtu.be/RTl8a2CdeGA

https://youtu.be/71y_EXzM4v0

2: Creating a Simple Form Model In this video, Mary Chib, will create a simple massing model using three points as controllers, an arc and a form. You will learn how to place geometry nodes on the graph, how to link nodes together and how to use numerical inputs to define geometry.

3: Controlling Geometry with Sliders In this video, Mary Chib, will add sliders to the model to interactively control the height and width of the mass model. Slider nodes are used to create variables in your model. You will learn how to place slider nodes on the graph and set up their required parameters.

https://youtu.be/qimR1OAkk-0

Lists are another powerful tool in GenerativeComponents. They allow you to create multiple instances of geometry with a single node.

A List is a method for creating replication in a GenerativeComponents model. By creating a list of values in an input field you will generate multiple geometry.

For example, in this tutorial you will input a list of Distance values in order to generate planes that represent the floors of the building. You will create a number of planes from a single Plane node.

https://youtu.be/1ypeDWxhNh8

4: Using Lists to Replicate Geometry In this video, Mary Chib, will turn the mass model into a stacking model with the addition of floor planes. She will show you how to create multiple floor planes from a single plane node utilizing a list as an input. You will learn the proper syntax for inputting a list on a node.

There are many Functions available in GC. Functions perform some predefined process on an input and return a result. The purpose of a Series Function is to create a list from a given start number, final number or limit, and an increment. In GC script the Series is defined as Series(start, limit, increment). These inputs generate and return a list of numbers from the start to the finish, at intervals specified by the increment.

5: Using a Series Function to Generate a List Functions such as this can be defined with a node using the FunctionCall node. You will learn how to place a FunctionCall node on the graph and set up the required inputs to generate the list output.

https://youtu.be/zHqlrm3d4Lw

https://youtu.be/XTuYJ6_9Lvg

6: Maintaining a Neat and Orderly Graph In this video, Mary Chib will help you maintain a neat and orderly graph by demonstrating how to move, align, and colorize your nodes.

7: Creating a Sloped Mass In this video, Mary Chib will make some changes to the basic stacking model, adding additional controllers to slope the inside face of the mass.

https://youtu.be/mqHWR9mFqGU

Having completed this playlist, you should now have an understanding of some of the basic concepts of parametric design.

You have created a parametric model for a simple building mass. You have used control points to create the basic geometry. You have created variables and used them to control some of the parameters of the building such as the overall height and width of the building. Finally, you have used a list, created with a series function, to replicate floor plates within the mass.

You now have a basic massing script which could be used again and again to create different building massing geometry.

Parent topic: Getting Started with Computational Design