Thomas Edison once said, “There’s a way to do it better…find it.”
A number of builders, architects and owners have embraced Building Information Modeling (BIM) over the past several years, and the results are in: BIM is clearly a valuable tool for “building better buildings” on schedule and on budget. By using BIM technology, contractors are saving clients money and time; at the same time, productivity and efficiency on project sites have never been higher. BIM is clearly an industry “game changer.”
At its most basic, BIM is a process that uses computer-generated 3D modeling to create virtual buildings prior to beginning the construction process. These precise models allow architects and contractors to study the entire building virtually before ground is ever broken on the project.
The most immediate and obvious benefit of this tool is the ability to discover design conflicts early in the planning process. If these conflicts are not discovered and addressed until construction of the building is underway, they can add significant costs and lengthen the project schedule.
While many contractors have been preaching for years about their use of BIM to identify design conflicts and provide clients virtual images of their buildings before construction, few of these contractors have unlocked the full potential of BIM. Contrary to popular belief, and the excessive promotion of BIM within industry circles (what I call “BIM bling”), BIM can help contractors accomplish much more than just clash detection. Fully utilized, BIM can inspire an entirely new way of building.
‘Build Smart’
Consistent with our commitment to “build smart,” Suffolk Construction has differentiated itself from other firms that use BIM by using this technology to create a collaborative working environment where in-depth knowledge and information about projects is shared with all stakeholders for better decision-making. Rather than just using BIM to create virtual buildings, we use the technology to engage the entire project team in a collaborative modeling and model review process.
This early collaboration yields a number of results, including more predictability in the building process and accelerated schedules. It also results in a more streamlined installation with fewer constructability change orders and requests for information – all of which lead to lower costs.
At Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, we are working with Steffian Bradley Architects to build the largest medical facility in Western Massachusetts. We were able to transform the coordination process on this project and complete it on schedule. We were also able to absorb a major change order – the addition of an entire pediatric wing – with no adverse schedule impact.
Similarly, working with the architect, ARC/Architectural Resources Cambridge, BIM allowed us to prefabricate beam penetrations six months early at the University of Massachusetts Medical School’s Albert Sherman Center in Worcester. Their early production and delivery to the project site resulted in an easier installation process, saving approximately $600,000 in costs. We could not have accomplished either of these recent successes without a full implementation of BIM.
The value of BIM does not need to end once we deliver our projects to clients. At the completion of the project, we provide our clients system archives and data from our BIM models that our client facility managers can use to manage their on-going building maintenance.
Pushing The Boundaries
There has been a great deal of attention paid to BIM and the value it can provide clients. In reality, using BIM for clash detection only scratches the surface. Contractors, architects, subcontractors, and clients that are committed to “finding better ways” through BIM to design and construct buildings will continue to reap the rewards of greater collaboration, decreased costs, tighter schedules, and increased productivity.
Contractors like Suffolk Construction understand the profound implications of BIM, and will continue to push its boundaries by using it as a collaborative tool that brings people together to solve problems much earlier in the process – when making project changes do not impact cost or schedule. Forward-looking contractors also realize the power of BIM can continue long after successful projects are delivered and building managing begins. If BIM is going to truly revolutionize the industry moving forward, this expansive and innovative approach will lead the way.
