What are the principal advantages of using a single building information model of the existing conditions as the foundation for modeling proposed additions or renovations?
- Why not create a separate model for the new proposed design?
Using a single model of the existing conditions provides a baseline for consistency and reliability. Principal advantages include accurate data, central information, facilitated coordination, management, integration and efficiency. A separate model would increase the chance of inconsistencies, integration issues, redundancies, and associated challenges involved in management of the workflow of the project.
What sort of complexities are introduced when you construct a building complex in phases?
- What happens at the interfaces between the buildings as the phases advance?
- How can you plan and prepare for these complexities as your create your initial building model?
Potential construction phase issues with a building complex are conflicts with design (architectural, structural, MEP), scheduling delays (for example utility coordination or delays due to sequencing of construction critical path), project management, quality control and inspections. The challenges at interfaces between buildings can include alignment of existing to new structural elements and systems, utility coordination, sequencing, scheduling, continuity of codes/regulations, and visual appearance (either exterior or interior). Planning of the initial building model can mitigate issues by clearly outlining the phases including respective timelines as well as incorporating existing and proposed conditions to better visualize the transitions between phases and final built product.
What are the principal advantages of using a single building information model of the existing conditions as the foundation for modeling several proposed design alternatives for a portion of the building?
- Why not create a separate model for each of the design alternatives?
In your project, which features of the proposed design did you choose to model as design alternatives?
- Why did you choose these building features? And what were the biggest challenges in modeling them as the design alternatives?