With the steel team utilizing a design-build framework and 3-D modeling, delivery of the structural steel for Mt. Tahoma High School, Tacoma, Wash., designed by BLRB Architects, Tacoma, cut the construction schedule by three months. Rendering credit: Putnam, Collins, Scott Associates

Applying BIM to Projects

Once a firm has conducted its research and is comfortable with the tools it has in place, the best way to get started is to just do it. Experts recommend that architectural firms carefully select projects for BIM and apply them. One litmus test in determining if a project is right for BIM is whether a firm can deliver a completed project to the owner that is cheaper, faster, better, and safer by utilizing the BIM process.