Making BIM the Foundation: HNTB Federal Designs Two Successful Projects Using BIM |
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By Lauren Browne, ConnectPress Editor
The BIM and clash detection process torch was then passed to Turner Universal. Using the BIM model and Navisworks, “it was eye opening for a lot of the field staff see how easy things were,” said Schulz. Schulz gave an example of a site superintendent who found plumbing conflicts that could be resolved virtually instead of on site. “We were able to work out issues without traveling, and have a go-to meeting without spending resources like we would have traditionally,” said Schulz.
The Fort Lee project consists of a new 773,000-square-foot construction by HNTB Federal with collaboration from Balfour Beatty Construction and Hankins and Anderson Engineers. Revit Architecture, Revit Structure, 3ds Max and Navisworks were all used in the project. Early on in the proposal process, BIM helped resolve program documentation issues. “We modeled both the bubble diagram and the net area program to compare the two using Revit’s scheduling capability. We discovered that they did not match and were able to find a correction to the issue early on in the process,” said Schulz. Also in the proposal process, HNTB Federal used the model to show the client a graphical understanding of the model. The model was colored by department, there were color floor plans, floor and ceiling finishes, and you could tell what function the rooms had. “It was a great tool to provide a deeper understanding for the end users and for those who had little experience of what a finished schedule meant and was used for,” said Schulz.
Similar to the Fort Knox project, with 3ds Max and the Revit model, Xbox gaming controllers were used to explore and create walkthroughs through the digital 3D model.
Because the model had been designed so efficiently with BIM in the proposal stage, when it came time for construction, it was also very efficient and allowed the team to stay on track with the project schedule, according to Schulz. With construction not completed yet, the initial buildings from design to completion will be done in 24 months. In total, the full project is scheduled to be completed in 26 months. Also in the construction process, the BIM model was used for a 4D Navisworks sequencing model to help with phasing and sequencing the construction and to understand how the project was to be built.
Not only were the buildings successful examples of BIM, but they also incorporated green design. Both projects received an Army classification equivalent to a Silver USGBC LEED certification. HNTB Federal made a BIM template to document and track LEED points. For example, sustainable building aspects that were used to achieve points were white TPO roofs, recycled material points and many of the “standard points,” according to Schulz. Unique to Fort Knox, the mechanical system was designed for the possibility of a future geothermal well to be used so that the campus can be converted to a geothermal well system. 3ds Max was also used in the Fort Knox project for daylighting analysis, to ensure a design that implemented successful use of daylighting.
 A daylighting analysis study from Fort Lee
On top of the success of the building design, HNTB Federal was selected to receive an Autodesk BIM Experience Award because of its impressive implementation of BIM in such large-scale projects. There is no doubt that HNTB Federal used BIM to its fullest. From the first ideas of design to the construction, BIM was a focus for the projects. “As architects we have to take on the leadership role and initiate BIM. If you don’t have the basics developed in BIM at the early stages the contractor is not as interested in investing their time in something when it can’t be coordinated as well as it could be. Having everyone on the same page with BIM and being able to clash the steel against the mechanical and architectural, you see significant advantages as far as the contractor,” concluded Schulz.
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| Published 2009-09-25 17:35:28 |
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