June 26, 2008

Public Works and Government Services Canada

PWGSC tests BIM with rehabilitation of former Bank of Montreal building

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

staff writer

In an effort to get a handle on the potential benefits of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Public Works and Government Services Canada is undertaking a pilot project in Ottawa.

The federal contracting agency will test BIM during the design development phase of a project that involves rehabilitation of a former Bank of Montreal building.

The prime consultant contract has been awarded to Toronto’s NORR Ltd. Architects and Engineers.

Ezio DiMillo, project director, west block rehabilitation program, parliamentary precinct branch, said the team will decide at the end of the design development phase “whether continued use of BIM is the most advantageous approach” on the project.

Construction is expected to get under way in late 2010. A conventional tender is expected at this juncture.

DiMillo said the 4,000-square-metre building was deemed to be “of a manageable size with a sufficiently complex program, both spatially and functionally, to show the power of BIM for the integrated design process.

“BIM is a tool that is meant to simplify complex design problems by integrating the input of the architectural and engineering disciplines onto one virtual platform,” he said.

“It is expected to reduce time and minimize potential design conflicts through the design concept and development stage.”

During design development, the model will be accessible to all team members, DiMillo said. But data input will be managed by a BIM co-ordinator on the consultant team.

The department has been monitoring BIM developments for the past three years and researching the potential impact on its operations.

Consultations have been held with such organizations as the General Services Administration in the United States and leading Canadian architects.

Public Works also has been co-operating with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) on a series of information sessions in the Ottawa area.

It retained two Canadian BIM experts to assist in implementation of the pilot project: Allan Partridge of Edmonton’s HIP Architects who has been presenting sessions for both the RAIC and the American Institute of Architects; and Toronto’s Richard Ziegler Architect, who has been providing modeling services internationally.

Partridge assisted in the development of the terms of reference for the project. Ziegler lent a hand with initial modeling.

If the pilot project is successful, the department hopes to continue its research in this sphere and conduct other pilot projects, DiMillo said. Public Works is believed to be the first department, at least at the federal level, to undertake such an initiative.

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