The Revit project base point is the origin (0,0,0) of the project coordinate system (Autodesk: Project Base Point and Survey Point). It also holds the angle between the model's two norths: Project North and True North.
This article explains the two norths and Revit's three origin points, then walks through four tasks step by step: setting Angle to True North, rotating True North, rotating Project North and changing a view's Orientation. All steps are in Revit 2027. To learn Revit properly by discipline, see the Learn Revit course path.
| Task | Tool | Affects |
|---|---|---|
| Record the site's real north | Angle to True North on the project base point, or Rotate True North | Views oriented to True North, shadows, solar studies |
| Turn the model to fit the sheet | Rotate Project North | Plans oriented to Project North |
| Choose how one plan is displayed | The view's Orientation property | That view only |
| Set the project's measuring origin | Drag the project base point or enter N/S, E/W | Coordinates reported from the project base point; the model stays put |
The two norths in Revit: Project North and True North
According to Autodesk, every Revit model has two north orientations (Autodesk: About Project North and True North):
- Project North is the drawing's north, usually following the main axis of the building. It governs how you sketch in plans and how views sit on sheets.
- True North is the real-world north of the site.
A new model starts with both aligned to the top of the drawing area. Autodesk advises modelling with Project North pointing up and defining True North only once reliable survey data is available.
In Revit, True North drives solar studies, shadows, rendering and energy analysis, so a wrong True North Revit setting gives shadows in the wrong direction. Construction plans usually stay on Project North so walls run square to the sheet.
Project base point, survey point and internal origin
Revit has three origin points. All three coincide in a new project.
| Point | Symbol | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Internal Origin | Red and green arrows | The fixed internal origin; hidden by default in all views |
| Project Base Point | Circle with a cross | Origin (0,0,0) of the project coordinate system; holds Angle to True North |
| Survey Point | Triangle | Real-world site marker, origin of the survey coordinate system |
According to Autodesk, the project base point and survey point display only in the site plan by default. Turning all three on in Visibility/Graphics is covered in importing CAD into Revit.
Selecting the project base point
- In the Project Browser, open Floor Plans (Site Plan) › Site.
- Hover over the symbol where the two centre lines cross. Read the status bar at the bottom left.
- If it says Site : Survey Point, press
Tabuntil it says Site : Project Base Point. - Click to select.
The four parameters can be entered in Properties or in the fields next to the symbol:
| Parameter | Meaning |
|---|---|
| N/S | North–south coordinate of the project base point relative to the survey point |
| E/W | East–west coordinate |
| Elev | Elevation |
| Angle to True North | Angle between Project North and True North |
Moving the project base point does not move the model
In Revit 2027, dragging the project base point leaves the model where it is. Only its coordinates relative to the survey point change. Autodesk notes that when you move the project base point, only the coordinates based on it change (Autodesk: Move the Project Base Point).
To return the project base point to its start, right-click it and choose Move to Internal Origin. Autodesk's help page still uses the older name Move to Startup Location; the Revit 2027 menu reads Move to Internal Origin.
Once placed, pin the point with Pin (PN). According to Autodesk, pinning the project base point disables Relocate Project and Rotate Project North (Autodesk: Define the Project Base Point).
Setting Angle to True North
This is the quickest way to record real north when the angle is known.
- Open the Site plan and select the project base point as above.
- In Properties, click the Angle to True North field.
- Type the angle, for example
30, and pressEnter.
According to Autodesk, setting Angle to True North is the same as using Rotate True North. After step 3, a plan oriented to Project North does not change at all. Only views whose Orientation is True North turn by the angle entered.
Place a north arrow on the site plan so readers can check the direction after rotating.
Alternative: the Rotate True North tool
This tool suits rotating graphically, for example to an existing property line (Autodesk: Rotate True North).
- Open the Site plan and set the view's Orientation to True North.
- Draw a reference plane or a north arrow along real north as a guide.
- Click Manage › Project Location › Position › Rotate True North.
- Enter the angle in Angle from Project to True North. Or drag the rotation control at the centre of the model to the guide, click along the guide, then click towards the top of the window.
- Optionally set the Site plan's Orientation back to Project North and delete the guide.
Changing a view's Orientation
Each plan has its own Orientation property: Project North or True North.
- Open the plan. Click an empty area so nothing is selected; Properties shows the view's properties.
- Under Graphics, click the Orientation field.
- Choose Project North or True North.
- Click Apply.
Two things to know:
- A plan with a scope box shows Orientation as By Scope Box, locked. The plan then follows the scope box. Scope boxes are covered in scope boxes in Revit.
- While the active view is on True North, Rotate Project North is greyed out in the Position menu.
Rotate Project North: turning the model to fit the sheet
Rotate Project North turns the whole model in plans oriented to Project North. Use it when the building's main axis is skewed, or when your office uses portrait sheets (Autodesk: Rotate Project North).
- If the model is workshared, have everyone check in and close it.
- Open a plan whose Orientation is Project North.
- To rotate to an odd angle, first draw a reference plane at that angle.
- Click Manage › Project Location › Position › Rotate Project North.
- In the Rotate Project dialog, decide whether text notes keep their orientation.
- Pick an angle, or pick Align selected line or plane and click the reference plane.
- Read the message with the number of elements rotated and click OK. Check every plan.
- If workshared, synchronise with central and tell users to create new local copies.
On the sample model, rotating 90° clockwise gives the message Rotate Project North command has successfully processed 481 elements. The project base point's Angle to True North changes by itself from 30° to 300°, because the site's real north has not changed.
According to Autodesk, the tool affects only plans oriented to Project North; it does not affect drafting views or callouts of plans. Plans oriented by a scope box behave differently: the scope box turns with the model, so walls stay where they were on screen, but room tags turn with it.
Common problems
| Symptom | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Angle to True North set but the plan does not turn | The plan is oriented to Project North | Set that plan's Orientation to True North |
| Rotate Project North is greyed out | The view is on True North, or the project base point is pinned | Set Orientation to Project North; unpin the project base point |
| The project base point cannot be selected | The cursor picks the coinciding survey point | Press Tab until the status bar reads Site : Project Base Point |
| The project base point is not visible in floor plans | By default it shows only in the Site plan | Turn it on in Visibility/Graphics, Site category |
| Dragging the project base point does not move the model | This is correct Revit 2027 behaviour | To move the whole project against site coordinates, use Relocate Project |
| Orientation is locked as By Scope Box | The plan has a scope box | Rotate the scope box, or remove it from the view |
Frequently asked questions
What is the Revit project base point for?
It is the origin (0,0,0) of the project coordinate system, the origin for spot elevations set to Project Base Point, and the holder of the angle between Project North and True North.
How is the survey point different from the project base point?
The survey point is a real site marker, usually from the survey drawing, used to place the model in real coordinates. The project base point is the project's measuring origin, usually at a building corner or a grid intersection.
Is Angle to True North different from Rotate True North?
No. Autodesk states that setting Angle to True North is the same as using Rotate True North. Rotate True North is simply easier when you rotate to a line already drawn.
Does Rotate Project North upset sheets already laid out?
Plans oriented to Project North on sheets turn with the model, so check the views on sheets, text notes and tags afterwards. With a workshared model, everyone must create new local copies.
In short, the Revit project base point is the project's coordinate origin and holds Angle to True North. Record real north with Angle to True North, turn the model to fit the sheet with Rotate Project North, and choose each plan's display direction with its Orientation property.