BIM For Owners

While I had always known how BIM is revolutionizing the way engineers and architects design buildings, I had never realized the potential it had as a tool for owners and facility managers.  We all have some experience with BIM and understand its capacity for interdisciplinary integration, and how it can prevent problems and conflicts during construction.  What usually isn't thought of is how BIM can cut costs associated with owners' uncertainty.

Often an owner can have difficulty conveying their desires to designers, architects, and engineers.  The owners meet with a project manager, discuss what they want, the PM then relays the message to the appropriate disciplines.  The engineers design their systems around what the designers and architects request and then a progress report is given to the owner. It is always hoped for that the owner will approve of the design and work can continue. What happens often is that the owner will not like something about the space or layout of an architectural component of the design, and without fully understanding the implications of the requested change, they demand the designers change it. These changes can be very easy to make, but sometimes they can have a ripple effect through all of the other disciplines, jacking up the price of the change and delaying the progress of the project.  If the owner was able to look at a BIM, they would be able to better weigh the importance of said changes, and may opt out of some of them.

As Kayleigh discussed, the use of BIM would greatly benefit facility managers as well.  As we see all around us, large institutions are constantly updating and renovating their facilities. While this is great for the advancement of the institution, this creates nightmares for those who are trying to manage the whole thing. If there was a BIM available for every facility at Drexel, these renovations would run much smoother and would allow the university to more accurately appropriate funds for projects.  The use of BIM would also allow for a complete model of a given building exactly as it stands.  There would no longer be the need to keep several sets of plans with the worry that a given set may be outdated. Not only do I think BIM will save owners and facility managers time and money, I also believe it will increase the life of the building.