Revit 2025 – New Structural Features and Updates

It is that time of the year once again to review the latest new features, updates, and improvements to Autodesk Revit! Over the years, Autodesk have slowly added greater functionality to the rebar modelling and detailing tools. In this release we see the introduction of rebar splicing (laps) which has been greatly anticipated. Improvements to the analytical model are also showcased including improved analytical automation and robust methods of editing and controlling the model. We also see the steel detailing journey continuing in Revit 2025 with the ability to use the split tool on fabrication elements.

In order to understand some of these new features we will look ahead into the future of Revit and how these new and improved tools will help deliver the vision of structural BIM for the future!

Reinforcement and detailing

The most significant feature in this release is Splice Rebar. The toolset to produce rebar laps and splices, are very intuitive to use, and provide a large amount of functionality. All the rebar splices remain parametric to the rebars. For example, if the rebar positions or diameters are changed the splice length will update.

The parametric splices are controlled with a new system family, Rebar Splice. The system family supports various parameters that enable the offsetting of bars in a lap along with the lap lengths based on multipliers (for example 40*d). Staggered laps are also supported as well as end to end splices where couplers can be placed.

The placement of the laps can be for single rebar sets or for a multiple selection. The laps can be based on maximum stock lengths of bar or can be placed by the user picking positions on the rebar sets. Alternatively, splices can be placed at the intersection of elements such as grids, reference planes model lines. In fact, you can the edges of most elements within Revit!

In the image below you can see the system family built in parameters for the new rebar splice family. Here you can configure various rebar splice types which will be stored in your template or transferred to other projects with project transfer.

You can also use a new filter property to colour the rebars that exceed the permissible stock length. In the below image you can see the new properties that allow checking minimum and maximum rebar lengths.

This is an easy method to check which rebars need to be spliced.

Rebar constraints can now be disabled, either a single selected constraint or all the constraints on the rebar. This can be useful when you want to freeze the rebar in a particular element and ensure that the rebars do not update if the formwork changes.

There is also a new filter that can be used to display rebars that have had the constraints disabled.

Rebar Bending Details were introduced in Revit 2024 and have had an enhancement which enables the user to position and manipulate the various text and dimensions. You can simply use the tab key to select the individual dimensions and annotations. In the example below, each dimension and angle have been manually positioned to avoid the clashes and overlaps that we had in older releases.

Related to the bending detail is a new schematic bending detail that is placed as a tag. Similar to a bending detail, the schematic detail can be configured as required and the user can also move each annotation or dimension to suit. Additionally, the dimensions of the schematic detail can be edited to suit the tag.

When producing drawings, the presentation of rebar now supports multiple rebar sets. In the image below, each rebar can be selected for display by the user in all the selected rebar sets. This is a huge timesaver to produce typical RC plans and elevations. Also, the multi rebar annotations have been aligned using the new multiple align options for text and tags.

Analytical Modelling Improvements

In Revit 2023 the analytical model became independent from the physical model in order to give engineers the flexibility to create an early design before committing to the physical model. This is a useful workflow when using multiple analysis tools as you can produce a single model that can be linked to multiple analysis tools.

The functionality has been enhanced in Revit 2025 with the ability to use tools such as split and trim to add the model production. Another major feature is the ability to constrain nodes to grids which enables rapid changes in early design.

In the above image you will notice that we now have control over the Local Coordinate System for analytical members and panels. This is important when hosting loads and transferring the model to other analysis tools.

The Analytical Automation via Dynamo player has also been improved which will now correctly connect walls and ensure that floors are represented correctly.

Steel Detailing and Connections

The steel connection modelling capabilities were introduced back in Revit 2019 and delivered a series of tools to facilitate the modelling of structural connections. Recently it was announced that Autodesk Advance Steel entered maintenance mode which means no new features will be added.

In Revit 2025 we now have the ability to split members that have steel connections applied. Essentially, when a steel connection is added to a Revit element the element is converted to a fabrication element. This means that it behaves differently, and it looks like this is the first step in creating a series of steel fabrication tools that give more functionality. I am sure that we will see additional toolsets in the coming years that will eventually replace Advance Steel.

Summary

Once again, I feel that the structural team have had a larger share of the new features and are starting to make some real progress with reinforced concrete detailing and analytical modelling. It will be an interesting couple of years to see where the analysis and steel detailing takes Revit!

LawrenceH