Over the past several years the building design and construction industry has engaged in a new project execution approach (IPD), facilitated through the use of incredible software (BIM), and driven by business savvy software vendors. The challenge that our industry has is how to reap the proven benefits of IPD and/or BIM for our clients without falling into the trap doors that are sprinkled along the landscape of the project process. One of the greatest benefits of IPD and/or BIM is that it allows us to have an open discussion across all project parties and we can develop, adjust, and adapt the process as appropriate for each client and/or project. In this brief article, we’ll explore some common terminologies that are discussed on a daily basis and one that is not discussed… enough.
IPD (Integrated Project Delivery) – The latest derivative of a project execution strategy pulling all project constituents together at the same level to acknowledge and leverage their individual skills, talents, and perspectives to collaboratively develop the design and oversee the construction and turnover. The strategy can be wrapped and formally organized through a contractual agreement (i.e. AIA C195) or through a traditional contractual basis, yet still implemented with the approach and attitude of IPD (often referred to as IPD-Lite or Design-Assist).
Design-Assist is an intermediate level to IPD, focused on the elimination of duplication of efforts; i.e. bringing the design documentation to a Design Development or GMP level and then engaging construction contractors to develop the fabrication drawings and final coordination models together with the professional engineer’s involvement. The realized goals are to achieve real schedule improvements (buyout, permit, time-to-occupancy, time-to-market); along with enhanced coordination (fewer change orders, lower contingencies, and increased quality through prefabrication and/or shop fab versus field assemblies). An additional benefit to this process is the reduction in waste materials, fewer materials on site, and the associated sustainability attributes of the overall efficiency in the process.
BIM (Building Information Modeling) has been part of the industry for decades. My first exposure to BIM was in the early 90s doing work for the national labs through a software package that documented the design in 3D, integrated piping and valve specifications, and ‘smart’ elements. Old is new. BIM holds an incredible promise of centralizing the design process and documentation which in turn facilitates design (and procurement) optimization, visualization, virtual punch lists, construction sequencing, and facility management. BIM is fulfilled through a wide variety of software tools and their interoperability is both key and a challenge to the industry. The latest challenge is the interoperability of the software applications with the model and the standardization of model element variables and specification information.
GDP (Good Design Process) – This is one of the greatest challenges seen over the past several years and a challenge to us all moving forward. The software tools today with their visualization / rendering capabilities, and analysis tools are fantastic, but can often serve as a distraction from traditional (proven), good design process. The design and construction industry’s most successful projects are those where senior leadership is involved and can bring their experience (often lessons learned…) to the project before drawing/model development is meaningful. Often, the challenge is not ‘how soon can we get in the model?’, but rather ‘what are the challenges and opportunities of this project? what are the concepts and available options?”. This leadership on the project is further enhanced by engaging and demonstrating the process with younger professionals and tradesman for mentoring and carrying on the profession.
While BIM software platforms are quickly maturing for all disciplines and the industry is getting past the learning curve, the realization of the promise of BIM will be achieved. The industry will be transformed through optimization of our design, construction, and operations facility through BIM. Good times.
Chad Wisler, PE LEED AP is a Principal at Vanderweil Engineers, LLC in Boston, Mass.