Owner

The advantages of BIM on a project for the owner stakeholder are numerous.The overall efficiency in design creates costs advantages – whether through reductions in change orders (via clash detection or clash avoidance), time advantages (ability to get building online quicker) or longer-term benefits realized using BIM FM in their operations and facilities management systems.

Penn State shared some great experiences on this topic.

Contractor

The advantages to the building contractor are also many.  BIM provides a good estimation during bidding and procurement, coordination and sequencing (including “what if” modeling), conflict avoidance, and helping end users understand and visualize the end product.  Mortenson shared an example of a virtual mockup of an operating room where they actually inserted an image of all medical devices and the doctor (not an avatar) in an operating room until the doctor was satisfied everything was properly placed.  Helping an owner make informed decisions about the project is incalculable.

Architect/Engineer/Designer

With BIM construction documents are produced more easily.  This allows architects to spend more time on the building’s design.  Architects and engineers have more time to collaborate on/speed up the detailing process and evaluate the impact of design substitutes. BIM allows for more performance based engineering which in turn increases reliability which subsequently mitigates risk.  Gregory P Luth & Associates did a nice presentation on the benefits or BIM for the design professional.

Bud LaRosa

Chief Business Performance Officer

In his own words:

My passion for design was sparked at an earlyage; doodling with my jumbo box of 64 Crayola Crayons with that little built in sharpener. LOVE IT… My interest in art inspired me to pursue a career in the graphic design industry.  Doing graphic design in the A/E/C industry allows me the joy of not only doing graphics, but also doing graphics in the construction environment, which is something I’ve always been fascinated with.

I find nothing more rewarding than seeing, from start to finish, a successful project and the reactions it generates. 

When I’m not working my day job, job number two, three + four kicks in… parenting, husband, homeowner, did I mention parenting…  My wife Amy and I have two beautiful kids, Ryan (4) and Nora (1) who are growing by the second, and I mean not only in height but also in memory…, which I’m unfortunately still getting used to.  They are like sponges that spit things back out just like they hear them. I’m always looking at Amy and saying… “Did I just say that… oh crap, I did, sorry.  Ryan, If you don’t say that again, I won’t either”… but it never works.

Playing Hockey during my entire childhood six days a week, I wasn’t able to play on the planet in ways I can now. I enjoy skiing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, fishing. Now that I think of it actually, anything that gets me out and about. 

Motto: Adapt, Improvise and overcome

Lastly, one thing I’ve learned that I try and share with everyone: stop and smell the flowers every once and while, you’ve earned it!

Matthew King, 

04.25.12

To read more about Tocci’s involvement in this project, click here

To read more about Matthew and his role of Senior Graphic Designer and Marketing Coordinator, click here

·        There continues to be a high level of industry activism geared toward extracting the maximum potential out of existing virtual construction software while simultaneously pushing the software industry to provide even more functionality.  For some A/E and CM firms, the software is not keeping pace with business needs and the AEC industry is starting to employ programmers to write scripts and parametric programs to provide enhanced design tools in a VDC world.

·        Lean thinking and integrated processes are here to stay in the industry.  Tomorrow’s builders and designers will be those that can fully embrace collaboration to deliver the maximum client value.  Integrated processes require frequent and intense interaction between building owners, clients, and designers.  Those interactions must be transparent to enable a project team culture of trust and learning.  Each member of the project team must be able to recognize when they have added the most value they can to a design or building element and openly pass the baton to the next team member that can add value to the design / building element in question.  Only integrated and lean thinking will remove impediments to full use of BIM technology

·        As an industry, project teams need to ensure we provide a sufficient amount of focus on the lifecycle cost of the building.  Penn State indicated that 75% of the lifecycle cost is in the O&M phase of the building.  BIM helps ensure clash free installation of above ceiling mechanical and mechanical equipment in tight quarters; however, those installations previously unachievable without BIM are not without added costs of maintenance and operation.  A system installed without proper consideration for maintenance can result in routine maintenance costs 2 times the average cost and corrective maintenance of 4 times the average cost.  These magnified costs may persist on a repeated basis for over 25 years.  Properly considering maintenance needs will insure that the BIM ROI achieved in the design and construction process is not eroded in the future.

·        And last but certainly not least, what was my ultimate conclusion on what we as an industry should be providing as our deliverables? Well built, easy to maintain, buildings, of course!

BOSTON, Mass. – May 1, 2012 – Tocci Building Companies (Tocci), a leader in virtual design and construction solutions for complex building projects in the corporate, healthcare, and academic and hospitality industries, announced today that it has been awarded its second project with Autodesk (NASDAQ:ADSK), a world leader in 3D design, engineering and entertainment software. Housed within the Amoskeag Millyard, a historic area of former mills that has been renovated into office and residential space in Manchester, New Hampshire, the 40,000 SF project will consist of a comprehensive renovation and upgrade to the building’s third and fourth floors as well as the lobby. 

In 2008, Tocci and architect KlingStubbins collaborated on Autodesk’s new headquarters in Waltham, the first true integrated project delivery (IPD) project in New England. The building earned LEED Platinum for Construction Interiors (LEED-CI) Certification and received 14 industry design and construction awards, including the AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice: Building Information Modeling (BIM) award and chosen as the “Best of Year” in Interior Design magazine.

This second alliance between Autodesk, Tocci and KlingStubbins kicks off with Autodesk’s alternative workspace solutions (AWS) process, which was modeled after the success of the team’s work on Autodesk’s Waltham office.  ­­­­­­AWS engages employees through surveys, workshops and focus groups to seek input regarding the final design of their new offices. AWS configurations are characterized by open space and flexible seating arrangements that include areas for collaboration, communication and quiet work, and that are equipped with technology that ties the office and its employees together. While Autodesk has implemented the AWS process on previous projects, this is the first time the builder (Tocci) will participate in the activity.

“The results achieved at our Waltham headquarters spoke volumes about both Kling Stubbins and Tocci’s dedication to utilizing BIM to fully implement our vision of a cohesive and transparent project team,” said Charles Rechtsteiner, business integration manager at Autodesk. “We anticipate a similar end result at our Manchester location, and we are hopeful that the team will deliver a high-quality finished product within a highly collaborative framework.”

Although the overall scope will be determined by the AWS process, the project includes a redesigned lobby area, upgrades to the third floor training room, and updated finishes and lighting in the fourth floor conference room, as well as renovations to common areas on both floors to create a more inviting environment for Autodesk’s 240 employees and visitors to the Manchester office. To accommodate Autodesk’s ongoing business activities, Tocci plans to divide the renovation into small projects within each floor, reducing the footprint of construction at any given time and minimizing disruptions within the occupied space.

“We are very excited that this team – Autodesk, Tocci, and KlingStubbins – are back together for an encore performance,” said Chris Leary, AIA, LEED AP, principal with KlingStubbins.  “So often we start projects with a new team and have to invest a great deal of energy learning to work effectively together.  With this team, we can build on our prior team-building investments from the Waltham projects to achieve even better results with the new Manchester project.”

“Our partnership with Autodesk has enabled us to strengthen our practice of using virtual design and construction to successfully complete technically complex projects on time and within budget. Notably, it reinforces the idea that BIM has created a new sociology on project teams that demonstrates how achieving new levels of collaboration and accountability can deliver outstanding results,” said John Tocci, chief enabling officer of Tocci. “The renovations to Autodesk’s Manchester office will create an environment that supports the 24/7 nature of the facility and modernizes collaborative spaces while respecting the building’s historic attributes.”

About Tocci Building Companies

Nationally recognized as a leader in Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), Tocci Building Companies has been delivering intelligent building solutions for more than a century. Built upon a tradition of successful relationships with clients within working, living and healing environments, the company specializes in lean construction and sustainable building projects throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. For more information, please visit www.tocci.com.

Media Contact:

Susan Shelby, FSMPS, CPSM
Rhino Public Relations
978.985.4541
tocci@rhinopr.com

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The project’s size places it on the standard “to BIM or not to BIM” line. However, Tocci and SLAM each have a mature level of sophistication with BIM authoring software. SLAM also had established relationships with consultants with similar levels of capability, in this case SLAM’s in house structural engineers out of their Glastonbury office, and Fitzemeyer & Tocci, Associates for MEP engineering. This project wasn’t BIM enabled, it was BIM by default.

Even with an expert core BIM team, the project size does create challenges. The project is still at a scale where the subcontractors involved may or may not be BIM-savvy, and the trades we partnered with on this project have a varying level of adoption.

Both Covenant Fire Protection and Youngblood Company have experience modeling, so are able to perform their own modeling scope. However, although Senecal Electric and Renaud HVAC, the other two IPD partners, are the best firms for the project, they have little BIM experience. The scale of the project doesn’t limit the need for BIM-based coordination; it is essential to optimize the limited plenum space.

To resolve the variance in BIM capabilities, Tocci is working hand-in-hand with Renaud to layout the ductwork and mechanical piping, modifying the design intent model authored by Fitzemeyer & Tocci. Similarly, though the work is less complex, Senecal will advise Tocci on cable tray and major conduit layout to ensure that everything “fits”.

Christopher Brown, AIA, LEED AP, Principal of Architecture Studio, is as close to a one-man-show as we’ve ever seen. He shared his thoughts on how BIM scales down for small companies.

The Project: Cushing Academy- Schottland House Dorm

This five bedroom dorm for Cushing Academy reinvigorates a wonderful natural setting with additional boarding house beds and creates a welcoming interaction between the dorm’s common spaces and the dorm parent. The new dorm remembers an unsalvageable barn while keeping its relationship with the existing farm house.

The project a 2,900SF dorm provides housing for 10 female students and provides shared common spaces inside and out.

Starting with BIM

Modeling began with the existing dorm parent house and site topography. Accurate modeling allowed for coordinated site work and alignment of the old and new floors for accessibility.

Sole Architect & Tight Timeline and Budget

As lead architect, drafter, coffee runner I was able to work in multiple planes and sections to provide a complete set of drawings and save hours of 2D drafting for multiple sections. BIM at all scales allows for ease of sheet and set coordination to keep the focus on design and the client’s program.

Extracting Imagery

The project team at Cushing Academy quickly became acclimated to seeing their project in multiple 3D views, even utilizing a movie flyover on an iPad. The BIM eliminated the need to outsource renderings, because we extracted renderings directly from the model. The model created convincing images to present to the local Historical Commission, enabling quick approval of the thoughtful design.

Small BIM and construction

For this project the model continued to be a valuable tool for conveying the design. I provided SKs with 2D and 3D detail drawings to create a visual for both the GC and client. When it came time to finalize interior casework, I sent 3D views to the donor for approval. The virtual reality again created the basis for the client and the donor to make confident decision.

There are essentially two problems with this question.

First, it is quickly becoming irrelevant. Every year as more practices adopt BIM and BIM-based resources become more available, the question shifts from “why?” to “why not?” Not long ago, the industry considered CAD a cutting edge investment. Today, CAD is how we document buildings. In other words, we will need to annually reconsider any size limit we put on BIM.

Second – and less speculative – BIM is not (and therefore shouldn’t be seen as) a “one size fits all” approach. There are options for BIM Uses and levels of implementation, just as there are optimal levels of detail/development for each building system during each project phase. Some examples:

• We recently created a rough model a <10,000SF office layout to support a programming exercise.
• For an <$1M window replacement project, we created a high detailed model (flashing included!) of one window to support design analysis.

The point is that most projects will not need the level of modeling used for Gehry Partner’s Beekman Tower.

With a bit of experience and ingenuity BIM can be as flexible, with vastly more downstream potential, than CAD can. Anything worth drafting in CAD is worth modeling. It would be wonderful to see all the effort put into figuring out how to avoid BIM refocused into faster, smaller, smarter processes.