Taking the Plunge: When is the Best Time to Switch to BIM?

The Right Job for BIM

Frequently, firms will resist making the change to BIM because they are waiting for the “right job” to come along on which to roll out BIM. Frequently, it is assumed that this job has to be fairly large to justify the use of BIM. This is erroneous and can lead to major problems.I worked for one firm that decided that a highly complex, 25-floor project was the best initial project for BIM. The results were, at best, problematic. Since this was such a big job, there was a lot more at risk when things went wrong. And things will go wrong with a first BIM project – it’s simply unrealistic to expect otherwise.

Generally, I advise clients to start small with BIM. Essentially, any design job that requires more than floor plans is a good first project for BIM. Any project that has elevations, sections, and schedules – all of which can be much more easily generated and managed with BIM than with a 2D process. Even something as small as a 200-square-foot TI or residential addition would make a good first BIM project.

I also recommend to clients that they do a dry run with a small project that has already been completed. That way, the risks of making errors is effectively neutralized, and a lot of the freshman errors that happen when switching to a new tool will be gotten out of the way before going live on a paying project. Also, the new users will get a feel for how to best get the drawings to conform to the desired standards, something else that will save time when a real project is attempted.

Finally, using BIM will help firms land more work. Some market sectors, particularly healthcare and publicly-funded projects now require the use of BIM. Even for clients that don’t mandate the use of BIM, being able to demonstrate the ability to use a sophisticated BIM tool will give the firm an edge over the competition. Firms that use BIM are perceived as more progressive.