We use BIM at different phases of the project life cycle, from design through construction and operation, to sustainable demolition. High level BIM implementation provides enhanced risk management, substantial productivity gains, shortened construction time scales and significant cost savings over the project life cycle.
As project design and construction plans take shape, our team can analyze alternatives, identify issues and solve potential problems before they occur in real life. This greatly reduces risk, while saving time and money.
Making Well-Informed Decisions, Faster
BIM enables constant information exchange among architects, engineers, specialists, developers, contractors and other parties. It helps teams to make well-informed decisions faster, thereby achieving more effective and efficient design than if BIM were not used.
Our use of BIM helps owners make decisions earlier in the design phase of the project. This allows, for example, the MEP engineer to right-size the equipment. In the past, we would add approximately 25% of equipment to cover any changes that happen late in the design phase. By making these decisions early, we are able to size the equipment properly and leave more space for the owner to rent or sell.
BIM can also be used for clash detection and to eliminate spatial conflicts, such as areas where the electrical and HVAC designs call for equipment to occupy the same space.
Other applications include running scenarios, such as the function of an emergency ventilation system, and energy analysis and modeling. BIM can even model the movement of the sun to assist in conducting daylighting studies and optimizing solar panels.
Faster Response to Design Changes
In the construction phase, BIM enables faster responses to design changes or site problems, and it supports planning and cost management. BIM enables teams to assess constructability; fine-tune and communicate construction sequencing and contractor scheduling; generate material lists and quantities; and establish material delivery schedules and logistics.
BIM can also allow owners and operators to manage, plan and track ongoing maintenance, refurbish, or demolish their facilities more efficiently.
BIM is Green
Through the time-efficiencies achieved with BIM, we can reduce energy use and cost. BIM helps reduce material waste during construction and building management, and it can eventually assist in sustainable demolition. Energy modeling using BIM can also minimize energy consumption over a building’s life.
