B2 Plotkin BIM Chapter 5: BIM for Architects and Engineers

One of the core elements I focused on from this chapter was how staffing changes overall as a company adopts a more BIM-focused design approach. Table 5-5, shown below, demonstrates a higher focus on more experienced staff, although a total reduction overall in work hours.

It is interesting to note, however, that even though there is a net reduction in hours, this may not actually make a project more profitable when one considers the billing rates of higher paid employees. A project manager costs the company more to employ than probably several interns, but the work an only be completed by an experienced PM, it may be harder to pitch those hourly rates to a client.

Of course, producing a model in BIM will make the overall design process not only more integrated, but smoother in producing the final result. Figure 5-1 shows how the majority of time spent on a project shifts away from creating construction documents when utilizing BIM.

 What I envision is a design firm that ultimately takes into consideration the ideas postulated by chapter 5 to fully integrate BIM at all levels in the work force. Some recommendations include one-on-one training, team charettes, and field trips to fully transferred firms. More intriguing is the idea that entirely new positions will need to be created in firms to facilitate this change. Specialists in BIM must make sure that everyone uses BIM to the proper specifications and respects the model, lest disaster strike and people have to start all over again.