Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology has been around for about four decades and most universities now include it in their engineering, architecture and construction management curriculums. This means that new generations of construction professionals will know their way around this challenging software.
That’s good news because BIM offers many benefits to this industry. They include faster and more efficient workflows, more accurate communications, more effective coordination between all team members, fewer change orders and a reduction in wasted materials.
Whether or not an architect or builder embraces BIM, however, tends to depend on the size of their firm. According to the American Institute of Architects’ report The Business of Architecture 2016, a full 96% of large firms and 72% of mid-sized firms use one or more BIM software programs, but just 28% of small firms do.
One of my favorite tools for helping people visualize the benefits of offsite is the LEGO® CLASSIC Creative Brick Box I keep in my office. It includes 200 unique pieces and 484 pieces total, which were mass-produced and placed into the container. Anyone ages four to 99 can take just those elements in the box and create a house, a skyscraper, a boat, a bridge, a plane, a castle, a car, etc. You don’t need any other pieces and your imagination is your only limit.
The analogy is obvious. In the offsite world, the unique elements are the well-thought-out parts of a home that a manufacturer can use to create modules in a variety of styles. The modules are then delivered to jobsites and assembled into homes, apartment buildings, or hotels.
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To BIM Or Not To BIM, Is That The Real Question?
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St Louis Hotel Project Uses Prefab Components And BIM
Gary Fleisher is the Editor in Chief of Modular Home Source and Offsite Builder. Email at [email protected]
To learn more about the Offsite Construction Industry, visit: Offsite Builder, the Construction Magazine for Builders and Developers
