STREAMLINING CONSTRUCTION DOCUMENTS

While BIM advantages are apparent in multiple realms, perhaps one of its more significant efficiencies is the way it supports project delivery system consistencies, which is most apparent in the construction documents (CD) phase, where the majority of an architect’s time is historically spent.

“Documentation is now a by-product of the design process, rather than being the means to the end as with traditional 2-D CAD workflow,” explains Chapin.

Sharing a typical BIM workflow, Lee relates that his firm’s template is set up to process the BIM models into a regular set of CDs. Plans, sections, and elevations are generated from model views, and those views are placed and labeled on layout sheets where they are cataloged in the cover sheet’s drawings directory. Schedules are generated, listing all the systems and products, such as windows, doors, cabinets, beams and materials—along with their areas, volumes, etc.—and are then added to the layout sheets and cataloged. All plan section symbols are keyed to the corresponding drawing on the layouts, the cover sheet information is updated, the sheet index is compiled, and the title block is constructed.

“Best of all, it all happens automatically with the click of a mouse,” states Lee. “It’s completely integrated so there’s virtually no chance for errors or inconsistencies.”

As changes or new information are added, it’s automatically processed by the template and integrated seamlessly. This high level of automation then frees up the architects to choose to explore more complex designs.

While higher-end, more intricate residential designs require more scrutiny in terms of design tolerances, alignments, precision, and structural and mechanical systems coordination, Office for Architecture’s Joe Kelly, Associate AIA, points out that most conflicts have already been identified and resolved early in the design process. “Nothing is hidden or overlooked, and opportunities to improve the design are more evident,” he says.

As a result, the CD phase usually proceeds at a faster pace, as project team members have already caught mistakes and coordination issues before they reach the construction site.

“The ability to visualize potential conflicts is especially important when the design goals are ambitious because once the installers are in the field your options are usually pretty limited,” asserts Murphy of CAST. “Nothing is more painful than breaking the big open ceiling with a soffit that you didn’t originally intend because the drain pipe has to cross below the air duct.”

SMALLER FIRMS EMBRACING BIM

BIM adoption, while widespread amongst large commercial firms, is making major inroads into smaller architectural practices.

“I would argue that BIM’s efficiencies make it more valuable to the smaller firm or solo practitioner, as a smaller BIM-enabled office can often compete with much larger firms,” states Adler. “Many residential designers are starting to realize this and are making the move.”

In fact, Chapin suggests that there’s a large selection of one-to-five-person design firms, mainly specializing in custom residential and multifamily design, that embraced BIM from the outset. “They were early adopters of BIM long before the acronym became mainstream in the profession.”

Once designers get used to the power of 3-D visualization and the software’s automation capabilities, there’s no turning back.

“I can’t imagine giving it up any more than I could imagine going back to using a typewriter,” asserts Murphy.

Of course, it’s that initial adjustment that does pose a potential stumbling block to smaller firms considering the switch, particularly when multiple projects are already under development in 2-D. As an early BIM adopter, OFA simply decided to draw a line in the sand and declare that from that point, all projects moving forward would be executed with BIM.

“There’s a misconception that BIM is geared toward larger, complex projects and that it’s expensive and unnecessary for everyday home design, but that’s wrong,” says Lee. “BIM is simply a tool for better understanding, developing, and documenting ideas, and because it’s ‘smart,’ it can handle a lot of the workload.”

The fact is that BIM is changing the industry and is driving client expectations and evolving building design. “I think that almost everyone recognizes that BIM is the future and that eventually we’ll all be using it all the time,” asserts Murphy.

That said, Beckmann points out that BIM’s efficiencies really shine through when it comes to repetitive components within a project and across multiple projects. Because smaller, residential designs are very unique in terms of site, size, program, materials, products, and deliverables, it can be challenging to streamline workflow across multiple projects because there are very few reusable details and modeling elements.

Mid-size firms—i.e. 15–40 people—are also challenged in that project teams are larger and office-wide standards are critical to success.

“We’ve found that it’s so important to maintain a template, graphic standards, and training file organization so that our team members are fluent and design and documentation output of the office is uniform,” Beckmann advises.