SHoP Detail Library

Architecture firms rebuild the same 2D details over and over because nobody can find the last good version. The Detail Library made that search trivial.

Problem

At SHoP, every project team was writing its own construction details — or worse, recreating details that already existed somewhere on another project’s file server. There was no authoritative index of the firm’s 2D details, no way to search across projects by keyword or phase, and no consistent route to pull a known-good detail back into Revit with the right line styles. The Technical Director’s office hours were the de facto library — and they were saturated.

Approach

Designed the UX and content pipeline for the Detail Library: a keyword-searchable database of 1,800+ construction drawings across 18 built projects. Every detail carried metadata (phase, interior/exterior, senior-technical-staff review status) and could be downloaded individually as PDF, DWG, or as a Revit drafting view with SHoP-approved line styles and family content already in place. Led UX/UI design, asset creation and management, and project coordination. Built on FileMaker Pro with a content pipeline that added details as project phases completed, so the library grew without ongoing manual curation.

Outcome

• 1,800+ construction drawings, 18 projects, keyword-searchable
• 12% increase in documentation-phase productivity
• Technical Director office hours: 16 hrs/week → 14 hrs/week (direct result of the library)
• Library assets usable directly in Revit with approved line styles and family content
• 4-week build, small team (Alex UX/UI, Andrew Sullivan BIM management, Steve London software)