Derry Ltd: A Decade of Revolutionising System Sizing and Coordination with MagiCAD

Derry Ltd is a Mechanical, Electrical, and design and build firm working across schools, hospitals, offices, hotels, industrial buildings, and leisure facilities. Back in 2016, Derry Ltd shared how MagiCAD for Revit’s connection tools and component library enabled them to design and coordinate faster than out-of-the-box Revit. Now, nearly ten years on from their first license purchase in 2015, Derry Ltd has expanded their MagiCAD investment with additional licenses to support their growing team.

Mechanical Design Engineer Nick Arins shared how MagiCAD for Revit has transformed Derry Ltd’s approach to building services design, particularly on The Botree Hotel project, a luxury five-star development with 199 bedrooms, suites, restaurants, a nightclub, and bars. Over a decade of collaboration with MagiCAD Group, the software has streamlined complex multi-system coordination and eliminated time-consuming manual processes.

Tackling Complex System Sizing and Manual Replication

Before using MagiCAD, Derry Ltd faced a key challenge in managing system design on large projects.

Nick explains the biggest hurdle: “On a project of this scale, the biggest challenge would have been the sizing of the systems in one software and then trying to replicate within Revit.”

This manual replication was time-consuming and increased the potential for coordination issues, as it required the design team to manage data across disparate programmes.

A Unified Platform That Drives Productivity and Accuracy

Derry Ltd chose MagiCAD for Revit because it offers a single platform to handle both the design layout and the necessary system calculations. The software was used extensively on The BoTree Hotel project for sizing and coordinating the low-temperature hot water, chilled water, gas, domestic water, and ventilation systems.

Key features used to overcome their challenges included System Sizing, along with tools for standard connections, drainage connections, segment spacing, and eccentric reducers.

Design, Size, and Coordinate in a Single Platform

Since implementing MagiCAD, Derry Ltd has seen clear, measurable benefits in project delivery and efficiency. Nick explains the impact: “MagiCAD substantially reduces design time by being able to initially draw, then size and co-ordinate systems in a single piece of software.”

By consolidating these tasks within one platform, the team eliminated the need to redraw systems across multiple programmes. This unified approach allows them to work more efficiently, respond to design changes quickly, and deliver projects with greater confidence in system coordination.

Support You Can Rely On

Derry Ltd also benefits from the responsive and knowledgeable support provided by the UK team.

The ongoing, proactive support includes arranging multiple training sessions to show new tools and refresh existing knowledge, which is particularly useful for new starters.

This combination of powerful tools and trusted local guidance ensures that Derry Ltd can fully leverage MagiCAD’s capabilities to keep complex projects on track.

A Decade of Transformation in Building Services Design

Reflecting on the overall impact, Nick describes MagiCAD as an essential part of their workflow:

“MagiCAD has revolutionised our building services design process, streamlining coordination and system sizing within one platform and eliminating the need to redraw systems across multiple programmes.” – Nick Arins, Mechanical Design Engineer, Derry Ltd

With its power to unify design, ensure accuracy, and boost productivity, MagiCAD has become an indispensable tool for Derry Ltd, helping them manage complex projects and deliver high-quality results across demanding projects.

Derry Ltd’s decade-long use of MagiCAD for Revit demonstrates how a single platform can transform system sizing and coordination, enabling teams to manage complex projects efficiently. For MEP professionals facing similar challenges, this case shows the tangible benefits of combining design, calculation, and coordination in one integrated solution.