Phasing and design options are two of Revit’s most powerful — and most underused — features for managing project complexity. Phasing handles time: existing conditions, demolition, and new construction in a single model. Design options handle design alternatives: two facade options, three lobby layouts, or a value-engineering alternate, all coordinated within the same project file.
Phasing: How It Works
Every element in a Revit model has two phase parameters: Phase Created (when it was built) and Phase Demolished (when it was removed, or “None” if it still exists). Revit uses these two values to determine how an element appears in any given view.
Go to Manage — Phases to see and edit the project’s phase sequence. By default, Revit creates two phases: Existing and New Construction. You can add as many phases as the project requires — Demolition, Phase 1, Phase 2, Fit-Out, and so on — in chronological order.
Phase Filters
A Phase Filter controls what a view shows and how. Each view has a Phase and a Phase Filter assigned to it. The phase filter defines rules for how elements in each state (New, Existing, Demolished, Temporary) are displayed — shown as new, shown as existing, shown as demolished with override graphics, or not shown at all.
The standard phase filters cover the most common scenarios: Show All (all elements at all phases), Show Complete (only elements that exist at the view’s phase), Show Demo + New (useful for demolition plans), and Show Previous + Demo + New (the classic existing/demo/new drawing). You can create custom phase filters for unusual requirements.
Practical Phasing Workflow
Model existing conditions first, with Phase Created set to Existing. Then create your demolition elements — walls to be removed, floors to be opened — and set their Phase Demolished to the demolition phase. Model new elements with Phase Created set to New Construction. Create views for each phase with the appropriate phase filter, and your existing conditions plan, demolition plan, and proposed plan all update automatically from a single model as design develops.
Design Options: How They Work
Design options let you maintain multiple design alternatives within one model. Go to Manage — Design Options to create an Option Set (a decision to be made, such as “Lobby Layout”) and individual options within it (Option A, Option B). Elements are assigned to a specific option; elements not in any option set are “Main Model” elements visible in all options.
Using Design Options in Views
Each view has a Design Option setting that controls which option is visible. Set a view to show Option A of the Lobby Layout to get a plan that reflects that alternative. Set another view to Option B for a direct comparison. Sheets can be duplicated for each option, giving the client a like-for-like comparison without managing separate files.
When a design decision is made, accept the chosen option — Revit integrates those elements into the Main Model and deletes the rejected alternatives. This keeps the file clean and the model history clear.
Combining Phasing and Design Options
The two features work together. A phased refurbishment project can have design options for the fitout of Phase 2 while Phase 1 is already under construction. The model reflects both the time dimension (phasing) and the design uncertainty dimension (options) in a single coordinated file.
Conclusion
Phasing and design options are the features that separate a Revit model built for a single issue from one that serves a project through its entire lifecycle. Master both and you can handle renovation, demolition, staged construction, and value engineering alternatives without ever leaving the model or managing duplicate files.