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Keith A. Snider
Architect Inc. implemented Building Information Modeling (BIM) as
our primary design and documentation tool in 2005. BIM is a tool
that allows us to design your building with real world parameters
using virtual building elements (e.g. virtual doors, windows, walls,
structural, and mechanical systems). These elements not only include
information about an element’s geometric properties, but also
include materials, fire ratings, cost, manufacturer, and any other
required data for the project. This moved our company away from the
problems inherent within traditional 2D drafting and allowed us to
provide a better building. This change allowed us to spend more time
designing your building and less time in coordination. This is
because 2D drawing systems (like AutoCAD) require constant revision
and effort to coordinate all the different drawings used in the
design process. In 2D systems, each drawing view is its own separate
drawing file with no connection between drawing files. With a BIM
model the plans, sections, and elevations are derivative
representations of the model. In other words, all the different
views are connected to the model. As design progresses and changes
are made to the model, these changes are automatically reflected in
all associated views. Therefore, BIM moves building design away from
abstraction to a virtual representation of your project. This gives
you a more in-depth understanding of your building prior entering
the construction phase. This allows us to resolve conflicts within
the design stage, and allows us to reduce errors through the
construction process.
The second benefit BIM
provides you with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) as an option.
Integrated Project Delivery is a system where the Owner, Architect,
and General Contractor all act in collaboration in building design.
In the traditional Design/Bid/Build system, individual team members
perform their work in isolation and hand over the project from one
member to the other as their work is completed. This system is
inefficient and allows for coordination problems during the
construction process. IPD along with Building Information Models
brings all the team members together through the design process
while allowing individual team members to maintain their traditional
roles and responsibilities.
As the BIM model
develops this feeds real time information the General Contractor.
This allows the General Contractor to accurately estimate
construction cost through the design process. More importantly, as
the design develops and additional team members are added (e.g.
storefront suppliers, structural component suppliers) they are given
access to the model and instead of providing shop drawings to be
reviewed; their design efforts are approved and become part of
construction documents. Through this process, the pre-construction
process of bidding and shop drawings are eliminated and reduces the
construction time of the project. By breaking away from sequential
delivery system, we believe it not only provides a better building
for the community, but it simply provides a better service to our
clients. |
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