7 reasons Architects love BIM (and why you’re missing out if you’re not using it!)
Happy clients and a project that runs more efficiently? BIM is the secret behind it.
Perhaps you’re already using BIM as a part of your architectural design process? If so – great! You know the value of staying up to date with technology, and how ultimately, it results in business growth, engaged employees and clients, and a better end product.
If you’re not there yet, maybe you’ve heard about it and done a bit of research. But you haven’t taken the leap yet. Not quite convinced, or perhaps you’re concerned that once you start, it’s a slippery, expensive slope into confusing software that will make things harder, rather than easier.
BuildingSMART
“A BIM is a digital representation of physical and functional
characteristics of a building. As such it serves as a shared
knowledge resource for information about a building forming a
reliable basis for decisions during its life-cycle from inception
onward.”
Our clientele of high-profile, Sydney based architects LOVE the freedom and potential of our BIM services at CMS Surveyors. Here’s why.
1. Visualisation for Client Engagement
Clear communication with clients is one of the most important aspects of any architecture project, but it can also be a huge pain point for architects. Why? Because it’s time consuming and at times, frustrating, explaining your vision through 2D designs and plans that don’t make sense to anyone outside the architecture world.
BIM magics your data into a beautiful, easy to understand 3D model. Imagine being able to walk your client into their precision-made virtual dream home! You’ll gain real feedback and have productive conversations about design choices or changes BEFORE any expensive mistakes.
Architect Magazine
“Not everyone is a visual thinker, able to imagine spaces and experiences from drawings or words alone. Generating architectural sketches, renderings, physical models, and digital models is crucial in winning clients, keeping them happy and up to date on changes, and even helping raise capital and support.“
BIM allows architects to create realistic 3D visualizations and walkthroughs that help clients better understand the design. This enhances communication and enables clients to provide feedback more effectively. And that means you’ll have more time to focus on the design work you love to do.
2. Enhanced Collaboration
Collaboration is the key to success – especially in architecture and building, where precision, resource management and clients needs all go together. BIM (Building Information Modeling) fosters seamless collaboration between architects, engineers, contractors, and other stakeholders. With a centralized digital model, real-time updates, and shared data, architects can work cohesively with the entire project team, streamlining the design and construction process. We love efficiency! Products like BIM 360 by Autodesk make it easy for architects to communicate and enable transparency with larger or remote teams.
3. Clash Detection
Need to know if you and other stakeholders are stepping on each other’s toes? Early in the design phase, BIM’s clash detection capabilities identify potential conflicts between different building systems – interiors, exteriors and depending of the level of detail you choose, even existing infrastructure like sewer lines and electricity grids. Architects can proactively resolve clashes, reducing construction delays, budget blowouts and frustrated, confused clients.
4. Data-driven decision making
Finding it hard to get everyone in agreeance? Data doesn’t lie. BIM opens the door to wealth of data, including material quantities, cost estimates, and human resource management. You can then use this data to make informed decisions that align with sustainability goals, budget constraints, and project requirements. And when you have data to back up your decisions, negotiations with your team, clients and stakeholders becomes much simpler.
“Data is one of the most valuable assets a business can have and potentially has a tremendous impact on its long-term success. That’s why it’s vital to utilize the right tools and technologies to fully leverage all available data and make it as accurate as possible.“
5. Improved Project Documentation
Collaboration is the key to success, but without proper documentation your team won’t have a foundation to work from. Sharing a “single source of truth” has never been easier. BIM generates accurate and comprehensive project documentation, including construction drawings, schedules, and specifications. Having this clear starting point for all parties involved is invaluable, increasing efficiency and precision across your team.
6. Streamline design changes and iterations
They say a change as is good as a holiday, but without BIM in your life, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find that this is true in the architecture world! BIM allows experimentation and testing – quickly, efficiently, and without eating into the budget. Parametric modeling and automated changes across the model mean that you can be creative, efficient and smart, all at the same time.
7. Long term management
Not all projects end when the build is complete. Managing a facility after construction is made much easier with BIM. Whether that’s on you to manage ongoing, or you’re responsible for handing over plans and data to a new manager, the model serves as a valuable resource for asset and maintenance management or renovations.
- Uses could include:
- Heritage building management and restoration
- Facility maintenance and repairs
- Tracking environmental changes in and around the site
Your client will value your long-term view of their project, and they’ll be able to ensure optimal performance of the building throughout its lifecycle.
We can help.
Ready to explore the power of BIM for your architecture business? We’d love to help. Our Sydney-based team of BIM experts are ready to add new dimensions to your project and beam you into a whole new world of efficiency and collaboration!
Interested in learning more?
Find out how CMS Surveyors can support you with your project.
