Leveraging BIM Throughout The

Construct ion ProcessA S p e c i a l t y C o n t r a c t o r ’ s P e r s p e c t i v e

www.adjustableforms.com

E r i c L i n d q u i s tP r o j e c t M a n a g e r

e l i n d q u i s t @ a d j u s t a b l e f o r m s . c o m

Company� Headquarters in Lombard, IL United States. Focused on work in Chicagoland area

� In business since 1930.

� Horizontal formwork till 1998 - Transition to full cast in place (in situ) concrete frames

� Top 20 Commercial Building Concrete Contractor in the US.

� Annual Revenue $30-100M/year (£19M -60M)

� 75-450 employees → Very lean office rela;ve to field opera;ons

� Small company performing large and complex work

Typical Projects

OverviewUtilization BIM as an In-Situ Concrete Contractor

Why Tekla is the preferred BIM software as a concrete contractor

� Reasons for choosing Tekla

� Benefits

How Adjustable Forms Implements BIM in its operations

� Preconstruction Phase

� Construction

� Project Turnover

How can we justify the software in our environment

� As a specialty contractor without leverage

� Contractual Requirements (or lack thereof)

Project Case Studies

� 1K Fulton Offices

� Franklin & Illinois Apartments

� Northwestern University North Campus Garage

Utilizing BIMA Specialty Contractor’s Perspective

� Finding the absolute best product for the intended application.

� Don’t get locked into an ecosystem → Use the tools that help your business most.

� Designer’s BIM or Detailed Data Driven Construction BIM?

� Focused BIM software for structural trades.

� Compatibility through the IFC file format.

� Software companies must play nice.

� Architects/Engineering/General Contractors must be more open minded.

� Remember what the “I” stands for in BIM.

� Emphasis on the aesthetic in the Construction and Design Communities.

� “Hollywood BIM” can stay with the general contractors and marketers.

� Usability and Stability of Software

� Reasonable Hardware Requirements

� Fast and fluid modeling capabilities

� Tekla allows the user to approach a task in many different ways.

� Highly customizable through Open API / Extensions

Tekla StructuresHow AF utilizes Tekla Structures as an In-Situ Concrete Contractor

Preconstruction Modeling

� Quantity Takeoff/Extraction

� Drawing coordination and issues identified early in process. Ask the questions before the

concrete is being delivered.

� Communication Tool: Owners, General Contractors, Field

Construction Modeling

� Refine Preconstruction Model (the hard work is already done)

� Tekla BIMSight

� Schedule Loading (4D Modeling)

� Drawing Coordination & RFI’s > 3D PDF

� Reinforcing Steel Detailing

� Shoring Layout & Drawings

� Safety Systems

Project Turnover

� 3D As-Builts of structural frame

� Prepare for more robust requirements trickling down from ownership.

Adjustable Forms Use of BIMLeveraging BIM as a Specialty Contractor (Who Can’t Control the BIM Process Upstream)

� Q: How can a small specialty contractor

justify investing in BIM?

� Not required by contract (yet…)

� Not fully utilized by majority of

General Contractors

� Competitors aren’t using it (and the

ones who don’t “get it” don’t have

any plans to start)

� A: Integrate the technology into as much

of internal operations as possible.

� Only utilize BIM if faster, more

efficient, and more accurate.

� Avoid “modeling for the sake of

modeling”

� Leverage data across multiple areas

of work.

Preconstruction PhaseBIM Implementation Before We Get the Job

Develop Preconstruction Models

� Design files, models, or none of the above? Did the designer cheat?

� 4D Schedule Loading

� Quan;ty Extrac;on → Export Files → Import to Es;ma;ng → Bid

� Modeling = Minimize impact of unfit numbers from competition.

� Buy-in from GC’s → Coordina;on and logis;cs benefits prior to construction.

Project Case Study1K Fulton Office Facility (Google, SRAM) Chicago, IL

� Existing cold storage facility in

Chicago’s Meatpacking District

� Existing Facility Work

� Supplemental Structural Infills

� Topping Slabs

� Elevator Bay

� New Structure

� Seven Story cast in place frame

� 200,000 sf

Project Case Study1K Fulton Office Facility (Google, SRAM) Chicago, IL

� Scope Revisions after meeting with General Contractor and Ownership.

� Scope Reductions Tagged In Model

� Visualization Settings set to display only bid revisions.

� Absolute clarity

� Scope “equalizer”

Project Case StudyFranklin & Illinois Apartments Chicago, IL

� Foundations under

construction

� Main Contractor Lend Lease

� 290,000 sf

� 26 Story Apartment Tower in

Chicago’s River North

Neighborhood

� 6 Levels of Parking

Construction PhaseRebar Steel Modeling & Model Based Shop Drawings

� Mandate on AF Projects

� Detailers/Fabricators have responded with

widespread investment in Tekla

� Success on multiple projects

� Fabricators embracing BIM

� Modeling → Drawing Crea;on →

Fabrication

� Industry consolidation = tighter control =

better models

� Efficiencies

� Custom Component creation & tools

� Identify congestion zones, installation

issues, & problems.

Project Case StudyNorthwestern University North Campus Parking Garage – Evanston, IL

� Main Contractor: Lend Lease

� 7 Story Parking Garage

� Split into three phases to accommodate

GC logistics.

� Complex Project & Design Issues

� 37 drawng revisions through

� 275 RFI’s

� Additional 2 levels of parking

garage added.

Leveraging BIMEmbracing Technology Improve

Why are you using BIM or investigating BIM Software?

1. Have specific reasons – not just because everybody else is doing it.

2. This is not just marketing software.

3. What part of your business is struggling?

Where to start?

1. Get the right people making the decisions.

2. Start small. Better to be an expert in one area and expand.

Avoid workflow misconceptions.

1. It’s a (fill-in-the-blank BIM software job) so I’m stuck using what the design team uses.

2. I don’t have the resources or a “BIM specialist.” Break down traditional contractor positions.

3. Compatibility across platforms has never been better (IFC, import files, etc)

1 East Progress Rd. Lombard, IL 60148

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