Introduction: Managing Complexity in Modern Design

Contemporary architectural and engineering projects demand rapid exploration of multiple design directions. Owners and stakeholders expect to see a range of viable solutions for spatial layout, materiality, structural systems, and building envelope performance before making a final decision. Without a structured approach, managing these competing alternatives can lead to file proliferation, confusion, and wasted effort.

Revit provides a robust framework for handling this complexity through its Design Options feature. Rather than maintaining separate project files for each design idea, teams can contain all viable alternatives within a single Revit model. This approach streamlines the decision-making process, improves collaboration across disciplines, and ensures that every option reflects the most current project context, linked models, and shared coordinates. When used effectively, Design Options become an essential tool for iterative design within a structured BIM workflow.

Core Concepts and Workflow Fundamentals

To use Design Options effectively, it is essential to understand the hierarchy and vocabulary that Revit uses to organize alternative design solutions.

Option Sets and Options

An Option Set is a container that groups related design alternatives. For example, a lobby design might have an Option Set named "Lobby Layout." Within that set, you create individual Options, such as "Option 1 - Open Plan," "Option 2 - Central Core," and "Option 3 - Perimeter Seating." Revit supports an unlimited number of Option Sets and Options within a single project, though practical performance limits exist.

Each project also has a Main Model. Elements assigned to the Main Model are not part of any Design Option and are always visible unless manually hidden. Elements belonging to a specific Option are only visible when that Option is displayed in the active view.

The Primary Option

Within each Option Set, exactly one Option can be designated as the Primary option. The Primary Option represents the default choice for documentation, scheduling, and export purposes. When a view is set to display the "Automatic" setting for Design Options, it shows the Main Model elements plus the Primary Option from each Set. This rule makes the Primary Option the default for contract documents, while secondary options remain available for review and comparison.

Visibility States in Views

Every view in Revit has a Design Option setting. You can configure a view to display one of three states:

  • Automatic: Displays the Primary Option for each Set.
  • Specific Option: Displays a single, manually selected Option.
  • Show All: Displays all Options simultaneously, with each Option color-coded for clarity. This state is useful for presentations and design reviews.

Understanding these visibility controls is critical for creating accurate documentation sets and productive design review views.

Establishing a Structured Workflow

A consistent, repeatable workflow prevents confusion when multiple team members are creating and editing alternatives. The following sequence outlines the standard process for implementing Design Options on a project.

Creating Option Sets and Options

  1. Navigate to the Manage tab and click Design Options.
  2. In the Design Options dialog, click New to create an Option Set. Revit automatically creates a corresponding Option (named "Option 1") inside the new set.
  3. To add more Options within the same set, select the set and click New again.
  4. Rename each Option to reflect its design intent, such as "Steel Frame Scheme" or "Concrete Core Scheme."

Once sets and options exist, you can assign project elements to a specific Option.

Assigning Elements to Options

There are two primary methods for populating a Design Option:

  • Creating Elements in Context: Select the desired Option from the Design Options toolbar. Click Edit Selected to enter an editing mode that belongs exclusively to that Option. Any new elements created while in this mode are automatically assigned to that Option.
  • Moving Existing Elements: Select elements that currently reside in the Main Model (or another Option). Right-click and choose Add to Set. In the dialog, choose the target Option Set and the specific Option. The element is removed from its current location and moved into the chosen Option.
Important Consideration: Elements in one Option cannot host elements from another Option. For example, a wall in Option 1 cannot host a window from Option 2. All hosted elements must be placed while editing the same Option that contains the host.

Editing Inside an Option

When working inside a Design Option, the rest of the model is visible but locked. You cannot select or modify Main Model elements or elements belonging to other Options. This isolation prevents unintended changes while allowing you to design within the full context of the building. The Design Options toolbar provides a status indicator showing which Option is currently being edited.

Accepting and Finalizing Options

At the end of a design phase, the project team selects a preferred direction. To finalize an Option:

  1. Open the Design Options dialog.
  2. Select the Option Set and choose the desired Option.
  3. Click Make Primary.
  4. Optionally, delete unused Options to reduce file size and simplify the model.

Making an Option Primary does not delete the other Options. Secondary Options remain in the file and can be reactivated or promoted later if needed.

Advanced Visualization and Presentation Strategies

Design Options are not simply a back-end management tool; they offer powerful visualization capabilities that aid in client presentations and internal design reviews.

Color-Coding Options with Visibility Graphics

When a view is set to Show All, Revit automatically assigns a color overlay to each Option. You can customize these colors in the Design Options dialog under the Graphic Overrides tab. Use distinctive colors (such as red, blue, and green) to clearly differentiate alternatives during team reviews.

Using Filters to Refine Display

For more granular control, create view filters that target the Design Option parameter. This technique allows you to apply halftone, transparency, or line weight adjustments to specific Options while keeping other elements bold. For example, you could create a filter for "Option 2" that applies a 50% halftone, making it easier to compare against the Primary Option in a single view.

Creating Presentation Views

Duplicate a floor plan view and set it to display a specific non-primary Option. Assign this view to a sheet for side-by-side comparison with the primary scheme. This approach is effective for owner presentations where each alternative requires its own sheet. You can also use this technique for rendering: 3D perspective views can be configured to show any Option, allowing for photorealistic comparisons of material palettes and forms.

Quantification and Documentation Using Schedules

One of the most powerful aspects of Design Options is the ability to generate accurate quantities and material takeoffs for each alternative without leaving the project file.

Adding the Design Option Field to a Schedule

Any element-based schedule can include a Design Option column. To add this field:

  1. Open the schedule properties.
  2. Click Fields and add Design Option to the displayed fields.
  3. Sort or group the schedule by Design Option to see separate quantities for each scheme.

This technique works for wall schedules, door schedules, room schedules, and material takeoffs. It allows the cost estimator or project manager to compare quantities between a steel frame option and a concrete frame option directly from the same schedule.

Filtering Schedules by Option

Schedule views can be filtered to show only a specific Option. This feature is useful when creating documentation packages that need to reflect a secondary Option. For example, if the basement level uses a different structural grid, a filtered schedule can show only the elements belonging to that specific Design Option.

Exporting and Sharing Quantities

When exporting schedules to Excel or other external tools, ensure that the Design Option field is included. This practice maintains data integrity and prevents confusion during cost analysis. If secondary Options are no longer needed for quantification, delete them to clean up the schedule outputs.

Collaboration and Worksharing Considerations

Design Options are fully compatible with Revit's worksharing environment, but they introduce specific considerations that teams must manage to avoid conflicts.

Borrowing Elements in Options

When a user enters an editing mode for a Design Option, Revit automatically borrows the elements within that Option. Other team members cannot edit that same Option until the first user syncs to central and relinquishes their borrow. This behavior is similar to editing worksets, but it applies specifically to the Option's element set.

Communicating Active Work

Use the Worksharing Display mode to see which team members are currently editing a specific Design Option. This visualization helps prevent coordination delays. It is a best practice to communicate with the team before starting work on a shared Option, especially during fast-paced design development phases.

Synchronization Best Practices

Encourage frequent Synchronize with Central operations when working inside Design Options. Because Option-specific edits can conflict with broader model changes, shorter sync cycles reduce the risk of complicated reloads and loss of work.

Limitations of Design Options

While Design Options are a powerful feature, they are not appropriate for every scenario. Understanding their limitations helps you choose the right tool for the task.

Performance Impact

Large numbers of Options and Option Sets can significantly increase file size and degrade model performance. Revit must manage visibility, schedules, and calculations for every Option in the file, even if they are not displayed. As a rule of thumb, limit the number of active Options to what is necessary for the current design phase. Archive or delete obsolete Options before moving to later stages.

Hosting and Dependency Restrictions

As noted earlier, an element in one Option cannot host an element in another Option. This restriction becomes problematic for MEP systems that rely on consistent hosting across lighting fixtures, diffusers, and equipment. For building services design, it is often better to use separate models or phased worksets to manage alternatives, rather than Design Options.

Linking and Phasing Constraints

Design Options do not apply to linked models directly. If your design alternative involves swapping out an entire linked building mass, Design Options are not the right tool. Similarly, Design Options interact with phases in a specific way: elements in a Design Option can be assigned a phase, but the Option itself is independent of the project phasing. This distinction can cause confusion when modeling construction sequences alongside design alternatives.

Alternatives to Design Options

Based on the limitations above, it is valuable to recognize when other Revit workflows provide a better fit.

Revit Groups

For modular, repeating design alternatives (such as hospital patient rooms or hotel floors), Revit Groups offer a more efficient workflow. Groups allow for a single instance to represent a layout, and changes propagate to all instances. This approach is faster for repetitive geometries than creating multiple Design Options for each occurrence.

Linked Models

When whole-building massing or structural system alternatives are required (for example, a steel superstructure versus a concrete superstructure), consider using separate linked models. Linking provides complete independence between the alternatives and avoids the performance overhead of multiple Design Options. The main model can display either link as needed.

Phasing

If the alternatives represent a time-based progression (such as a renovation sequence), use Phases rather than Design Options. Phases are designed to show the lifecycle of elements over time, while Design Options are intended for simultaneous, competing design ideas.

Best Practices for a Structured Process

Adopting these best practices will ensure that Design Options remain a productive tool rather than a source of model bloat and confusion.

  • Define a naming standard. Use clear, descriptive names for Option Sets and Options. Avoid default names like "Option Set 1" and "Option 2." Instead, use names like "Facade Study - Curtain Wall" and "Facade Study - Precast Panel."
  • Limit concurrent Options. Maintain no more than 3-5 active Options per Set. Archive older Options to a separate project file or remove them entirely once a decision is made.
  • Use Show All sparingly. While Show All is useful for reviews, it can cause slow performance in complex models. Use it in dedicated design review views, not in your main working views.
  • Communicate with the team. In a workshared environment, check with team members before editing an Option that they might be actively using. Clear communication prevents sync conflicts and lost work.
  • Clean up before submission. Before issuing a permit set or construction documents, delete all unused Options and Option Sets. This step reduces file size and eliminates the risk of including incorrect design intent in the final documents.

Applying Design Options to Real Project Scenarios

To illustrate the versatility of Design Options, consider three common use cases encountered in practice.

Scenario 1: Lobby and Core Design

An architecture firm is designing a high-rise office lobby. They need to present three spatial layouts and two material palettes to the client. The project manager creates one Option Set named "Lobby Layout" with three Options (Open, Central Core, Perimeter Seating). A second Option Set named "Lobby Materials" contains two Options (Stone Veneer, Glass Panel). The team can combine these sets to present six distinct design permutations without leaving the main project file. Schedules for finishes and quantities are automatically updated for each combination.

Scenario 2: Structural Grid Alternatives

A structural engineering firm is evaluating a warehouse floor plan. The owner wants to compare standard steel joists against a long-span steel truss system. The engineer creates a single Option Set named "Roof Framing." Option 1 contains the standard joist layout, while Option 2 contains the truss layout. The engineer uses schedule filters to compare steel tonnage between the two Options, providing a data-driven recommendation to the client.

Scenario 3: Envelope Performance Study

An architecture firm studying building envelope options for a school uses Design Options to compare triple-glazed curtain wall units against a high-performance insulated metal panel system. The energy modeler links the Revit model into an analysis tool, which can read the different Option configurations. The team presents side-by-side energy performance data alongside construction cost estimates to guide the final decision.

Conclusion

Revit's Design Options feature provides a structured, integrated method for managing design alternatives within a single project environment. By mastering the core concepts of Option Sets, the Primary Option, and visibility controls, project teams can explore a wider range of solutions without sacrificing model efficiency or data accuracy. When combined with thoughtful naming conventions, regular cleanup, and clear communication in workshared environments, Design Options become an indispensable tool for delivering better-informed, more innovative projects. While limitations exist, understanding when to use Design Options versus Groups, Links, or Phases ensures that you are always applying the right strategy to the design problem at hand.