While Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) have been a focus of architects and structural engineers for a while now, the time has come for all project participants to get on board with this important trend. Now is the right moment to align yourself with others in the field.

The rules for project delivery have changed. The new BIM and IPD concepts mean that there is a new way of working within a project team no matter what your role. Even more importantly, your firm’s long-term outlook depends on its adoption of these new ways of working. This often requires that information that in the past may have been kept within your firm now has to be shared with other members on the project delivery team. In other words, you must buy-in to the concept of sharing data, even if that translates to exposing critical information.

The new AIA document talks about project stakeholders forming an alliance or a Limited Liability Corporation (LLC) for the project, and that all participating members agree that they cannot sue each other. The reason why they cannot sue is that the members have legally agreed that they are all working toward the same goal and to benefit all team members. But, the bottom line is that even if your project team is not mandating that an LLC needs to be in place in order to participate, important principles are still being adopted.

BIM is all about collaboration and interoperability. Take the time to document requirements that can be turned over when you ask for an RFP and you want someone to respond with BIM project delivery. The sample document below/at right is one that you can use and customize to mandate delivery requirements for your partners.

A new way to collaborate
BIM benefits are rooted in providing more complete and accurate information earlier in the delivery process to reduce the risk of error for all parties.

BIM represents a business process that fundamentally changes the conventional roles of the owner, architect, engineers, cost estimators, program manager, and construction manager. By bringing each of the key team members to the table before the design phase begins, the project parameters and challenges can be identified and addressed much earlier in the project design cycle than with traditional project delivery. The BIM process provides an enhanced ability to control scope, functional capabilities, and cost, while minimizing the cost of design changes and coordination challenges. BIM processes and supporting software technologies should be used during the design, construction, and facility management steps.

BIM will be used throughout the complete building lifecycle from program verification and concept design, through project closeout and ongoing facility management.

A sample BIM/IPD project delivery requirements
Following is an example of topics to include in a stakeholder agreement; the details should address the particular needs of the individual project, but the overall content is good for all projects.

Software
Software must be BIM-based. It must be able to be integrated, interoperable, and compliant with the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC 2x3 or higher) per the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI). This is the new standard for interoperability in order to exchange information across platforms. BIM standards must also be complementary to existing CAD software.

Use of BIM software is mandatory. All project files shall be fully compatible with XXXX products. All architectural design and documentation shall be delivered using the latest release of XXXX, and all structural design and documentation shall be delivered using the latest release of XXXX. All mechanical and electrical design and documentation shall be delivered using the latest release of XXXX.

All other consultants not listed, but contracted by any of the aforementioned disciplines, will supply file types compatible with XXXX products if the data is to be used in the Building Information Model. It is not mandatory that shop drawings be submitted with compatible software, unless the shop drawings will be incorporated into the model.

Additional third-party software may be used as needed if compatible with the model. "Compatible" in this context will apply to any program that will read, and be able to utilize, an exported file type from XXXX software, and/or export a file type that can be imported and used by XXXX software.

Interoperability
All the Building Information Models shall be integrated, interoperable, and compliant with the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC 2x3 or higher) per the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI).

Building Information Modeling and Computer Aided Design (CAD) Standards
Delivery of all BIM design and documentation shall be a supplement to all existing submission requirements. In addition to the signed and sealed paper hard copy required by authorities having jurisdiction, all construction documents, BIM models, and sheets shall be delivered in (.rvt), (.dwg), (.dwf), (.xls) and (.avi) formats, as a minimum.

Computable and Parametric Design
Use of BIM to compute and track Building Information shall include the following:

• Spatial validation and design program areas with color fill floor plan schemes;
• Existing, demolition and new construction phases;
• 3D massing studies and design options;
• Room perimeter, area and volume calculations;
• Schedules of all building and site components sorted by level, category, and type;
• Embed element properties in all fixtures, furniture and mechanical, electrical and plumbing equipment (including but not limited to IES data, loads, circuits, voltage, wattage, lumens, size, type, materials, finishes, insulation, neutral, temperature rating, wiring, BTU, manufacturer, connectors, mounting height, IFC parameters, fire protection, phase, keynote, and assembly code);
• Interference checking reports for all building systems;
• Sustainable design and analysis (as required by owner and authorities having jurisdiction); and
• Comparison of skin to floor area ratios of conceptual design options.

Building Analysis
Use of BIM integration with third-party analysis software shall include the following:

• Structural analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• HVAC analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• Energy analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• Lighting analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• MASTERSPEC specifications format (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• IFC code checking (IFC 2x3 certification);
• Acoustical analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• Seismic design and analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.);
• Geothermal design and analysis (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.); and/or
• Computational fluid dynamics (using the following specific software XXXX, XXXX, etc.).

NOTE: Consider your project’s parameters and determine which analyses are vital to your project.

Visualization Requirements
Use of XXXX software or any rendering program compatible with XXXX software (such as XXXX or XXXX) is required including the following:

• Photorealistic renderings using XXXX software;
• Walkthroughs of building exterior and interior (20 frames/sec or higher);
• Sun studies based on project True North (still, single-day, multi-day); and/or
• Google Earth Visualization in context.

Construction Management Requirements

• Multi-category quantities schedule;
• Multi-category material take-off;
• Cost estimating and value engineering (using XXXX software);
• Program management and project scheduling (using XXXX software);
• 4D BIM timeline for optimum construction sequencing and payment schedules (using XXXX software);
• Clash detection reports for all building systems (using XXXX software); and/or
• BIM fabrication for sheet metal, piping, structural steel, cold-formed steel, wood trusses, etc. (using XXXX software).

Facility Management Requirements

• Deliver as-built BIM 3D models and 2D documentation (document everything that was actually built in the construction phase); and/or
• Provide ongoing file updates during the building lifecycle.

Ownership of Building Information Models and Tangible Documents
Upon the making of final payment to the parties in this section, Owner shall receive ownership of the property rights, except for copyrights (therefore Owner can use the BIM for facility management, but cannot use it to build another building), of all Building Information Models and related documents, specifications, electronic data and information prepared, provided or procured by the Designer, Architect, Engineers, General Contractor, Subcontractors, Vendors or Consultants.

Owner’s Use of Building Information Models and Tangible Documents
Owner shall have the right to use the Building Information Models and Documents for facility management. Owner shall not have the right to reproduce the Building Information Models and Documents for other projects without the written authorization of the party who owns copyrights. All parties shall agree on governing all exchanges under a separate written Agreement.


Rabi Sidawi, AIA, is a senior Building Information Modeling (BIM) application consultant at Applied Software (www.asti.com). In his current role, he provides architectural project planning and implementation, and also trains architects, engineers, interior designers, and construction managers on BIM software including Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, and Navisworks. He was named Authorized Training Center (ATC) Instructor of the Year for 2007. He can be reached at 404-633-8660.