diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 37b341c..84dd315 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 PRECHECK_ROOT?=${HOME}/mpw_precheck
 SIM ?= RTL
 
+export OPEN_PDKS_COMMIT?=7519dfb04400f224f140749cda44ee7de6f5e095
 # Install lite version of caravel, (1): caravel-lite, (0): caravel
 CARAVEL_LITE?=1
 
diff --git a/docs/source/index.rst b/docs/source/index.rst
index 0a7c0c7..1467d4c 100644
--- a/docs/source/index.rst
+++ b/docs/source/index.rst
@@ -128,18 +128,16 @@
 Building the PDK 
 ================
 
-Make sure you have `Magic VLSI Layout Tool <http://opencircuitdesign.com/magic/index.html>`__   `version 8.3.265 <https://github.com/RTimothyEdwards/magic/tree/8.3.265>`__ installed on your machine before building the pdk. 
+For more information about volare click `here <https://github.com/efabless/volare>`__
 
 .. code:: bash
 
     # set PDK_ROOT to the path you wish to use for the pdk
-    export PDK_ROOT=<pdk-installation-path>
+    export PDK_ROOT=<pdk-installation-path
 
-    # you can optionally specify skywater-pdk and open-pdks commit used
-    # by setting and exporting SKYWATER_COMMIT and OPEN_PDKS_COMMIT
-    # if you do not set them, they default to the last verfied commits tested for this project
-
-    make pdk
+    # use volare to download the pdk
+    # To change the default pdk version you can export OPEN_PDKS_COMMIT=<pdk_commit>
+    make pdk-with-volare