How BIM technology benefits clients – Part Two: When modern tech meets history with the Anstey Hall Project

BIM is a zero impact application and therefore beneficial for the entire life of a building, even those with a complex and delicate construction.

Although BIM reduces many complications and promotes advantages in the planning stages of construction, the difficulty remains in the interpretation of the components of features which were originally constructed before modern safety standards or before modern techniques – fireplaces, doors and windows for example.

In this instance, intelligent object recognition steps in, usually with an architect in tow, to measure and interpret the core of these features. BIM then comes in once again to receive this information and incorporate the 2 dimensional data, resulting in a comprehensive 3d map of the building and its constituents.

Digital Barn series by Gemma Design

A recent project by Gemma Design has brought about these very challenges. The Anstey Hall project involves the creation of 12 new bespoke dwellings and the restoration of eight listed timber and brick barns. BIM has been utilised from the first day of engagement, incorporating any 2d drawings already available.

Sensitive restoration in this case, is to be coupled with the addition of internal mezzanine steel frames and new extensions. The client is embracing the use of BIM, to ensure the mezzanine floors are fully independent of the existing structure and to map out the engineering solutions required to achieve this, whilst producing a striking and contemporary finished project.

Early engagement of technology

Applying BIM technology to historic buildings is part of Gemma Designs’ commitment to early engagement with technology. There is at this point in time very little research published on the use of BIM for historic buildings, which makes us feel like pioneers in the industry, although according to those at the ‘coal face’ if you use BIM, you will use it on all of your projects, wherever possible. So not only do we apply technology early on in projects, but we like to embrace the use of innovative technology as it emerges too.

This begs the question, why is there little data published on the use of BIM for historic buildings?

There is no real answer to this question, other than that BIM was initially adopted by industries to aid the modelling and collaboration of trades on new buildings, and since the roll-out of BIM as a tool has been staged in levels, it could be classed as still in it’s infancy.

BIM for all

The purpose of the innovation of BIM technology is to aid collaboration across the architectural, engineering and construction industries. It is a vital tool for accuracy as well. Virtual renovation and reconstruction allows for the structural integrity of the building and for the feasibility to be actualised before costly do-overs become necessary. Using BIM for historic buildings is as pertinent as it is for new buildings.

Read more about how BIM technology has benefited our client in the Anstey Hall project on our blog.

https://www.ribaj.com/intelligence/bim-for-historic-buildings

How BIM technology benefits clients – Part One: Saving time and money

Gemma Design have been appointed as the civil and structural engineering consultants for the restoration of 18^th century barns that form part of the historic grounds of Anstey Hall in Trumpington, Cambridge. The project involves the creation of 12 new bespoke dwellings, including the restoration of eight listed timber and brick barns with new independent internal mezzanine steel frames and new extensions along with four new build contemporary properties.

BIM technology for planning, design and build

The client’s aim is to make use of all available technology and processes in order to deliver the project as close to a full Level 2 project as possible. Many people within the construction industry have come across the use of BIM, but the majority of projects delivered are new-build and do not involve working with historic buildings and particularly timber frames.

The original planning and scheme design for the restoration of our clients’ barns were carried out in 2D by other consultants, but Hill Group took the decision to engage Gemma Design and David Miller Architects to take the project forward within a BIM environment based on their combined expertise in the field. Gemma Design is a forward thinking engineering practice embracing the challenges that working with existing buildings brings. Applying BIM technology to historic buildings is part of our commitment to early engagement of technology on all projects ensures a culture of co-operation and collaboration within our industry.

BIM for collaboration saves time

The first step for the design team was to get together to discuss the employer’s information requirements and put together a project BIM execution plan to ensure a consistent approach. BIM is designed to enable all those who interact with the building to optimise their input and create value from combined efforts. Virtual renovation of the barns will allow for the impact on the structural integrity of the building to be realised before physical construction, thereby reducing uncertainty, improving on-site safety and preventing costly physical changes or fixes.

Everyone was in agreement that we should follow PAS1192:2 for model and document naming and use the AEC UK BIM protocol for content naming. Using this method enabled the design team to incorporate the Uniclass2015 classification system into all content and ensured full collaboration across the team and other systems.

BIM for benefiting the client saves money

The benefit to the client of using BIM over traditional methods for planning is that the clash detection is streamlined, bringing incompatible construction and structural conflicts to light, allowing for fixes to made at the desk and the project to run smoothly once it is under way.  The time taken for measurements of materials and labour required to complete the project is also vastly reduced.

In the next part of this series we will explain how the BIM process is bringing convincing benefits to the new build element of the Anstey Hall development, as well as the historic buildings.

Increasing design productivity with a collaborative 3D BIM approach

The benefits of a collaborative approach to any kind of project have long been recognised. And in the construction industry where so many disparate elements and professions come together to create a single end result collaboration is not only beneficial but saves time, budgets and oversights. The Government recognises this and from 2016 all government funded projects must include BIM. But Gemma Design has long believed that putting the 3D BIM approach to full operational use makes the best use of the technology available and is one of the structural engineering firms leading the way ahead of the government’s deadline to embrace this technology. 

Project profile - Barns Road, Cowley, Oxford

Barns Road was a project that required a mix of load-bearing masonry and steel framed construction for the ideal structural design. The completed project, by developers Haboakus, is to provide 40, one and two bedroom apartments, with a roof garden for residents and a community garden at ground floor level. The Barns Road building will also be the new location for a furniture recycling store, operated by homelessness charity, Emmaus.

Barns Road, Architect's impression courtesy of Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

Haboakus is the joint venture between HAB and GreenSquare. British designer and Grand Designs presenter Kevin McCloud, MBE heads up HAB with projects that focus on sustainable buildings and affordable homes. GreenSquare is a major provider of housing, regeneration, care and support commercial services across Wiltshire, Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire. Barns road is part of a larger regeneration scheme within Oxford City.

Linking design models and data sharing

The engineers at Gemma Design linked the 3D BIM model, used to create the drawings and the analytical model, used for analysing and designing the structure.

Linking the two types of model this way meant that the engineers could then share the data with the steel frame subcontractor, Feltham Construction and the award winning architects, Allford Hall Monaghan Morris.

Three ways design productivity increased

1.      Time saving

All parties involved with the project were receiving real time changes to the models, eliminating the necessity for lengthy email threads or telephone conversations between numerous people.

2.      Increased accuracy

With only one set of data submitted for checking, the accuracy is improved and all three parties are notified of recommendations and changes.

3.      Improved collaborative relationships

The working relationships between the agencies involved in the data link are improved with the introduction of sharing real time data.

Gemma Design - Ahead of their time

Although this collaborative approach is fairly new to the design industry, Gemma Design have been applying it to all their projects since the publication of The Government Construction Strategy in 2011, in which a collaborative 3D BIM approach is required on all of its funded projects by 2016.

Rhys Skym, Technical Director for Gemma Design said,

"We believe the collaborative approach will streamline the processes, both in design and execution, which the construction industry have to go through when a multiple stakeholder project is underway.

The use of BIM encourages project teams to work in a co-operative manner to identify and address problems before they arise on site. This leads to a reduction in errors, cuts down on waste and results in an increase in productivity across the board. This will make working in the construction industry a less confrontational and more enjoyable experience for all."

For further reading on the construction strategy and the Barns Road project, follow the links below:

The Government Construction Strategy 2011

Feltham Group - Barns Road Project

Allford Hall Monaghan Morris

HAB Housing - Barns Road Development

GreenSqaure Group

Kevin McCloud - Wikipedia