The building and construction industry is faced with a
multitude of challenges in areas, ranging from design planning, construction
administration and budgeting, to scheduling and facilities management. To add
to this, the demands from owners’ regards to timely completion, cost
efficiency, constructability and energy performance are becoming increasingly
stringent. As a result, multidisciplinary coordination between all the parties
involved in an AEC project right from design planning through to on-site
construction, administration is paramount to meet these demands.
Integrated
Project Delivery (IPD) framework, if implemented
appropriately, can ensure ongoing collaboration between diverse stakeholders,
including the client, the architect, the main contractor, the MEP designer and
the MEP contractor at all the stages of the project from conception to
completion. As defined by the American Institute of Architects (AIA),
Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) is a process that “collaboratively harnesses
the talents and insights of all the participants to optimize project results,
increase value to the owner, reduce waste and maximize efficiency through all
phases of design, fabrication, and construction.”
A crucial element of the IPD approach is
the adoption of building information modelling (BIM) technology. Unlike
traditional project delivery methods, the essence of BIM technology is the
central parametric model that is developed using 3D input, often times separate
BIM models, from different parties involved in an AEC project. By enabling
greater collaboration and information-sharing between different participants,
data-rich BIM models drive
the IPD framework and improve decision-making ability that can positively
impact the project’s outcome. Following are the compelling reasons as to why
AEC project teams must employ a combination of IPD and BIM and how this
approach delivers positive value propositions for all stakeholders:
- The IPD contractual agreements establishes clarity and dismisses ambiguity amongst all the project stakeholders with regards to decision-making, detailed responsibilities of each party, and risk/reward-sharing mechanism for each task. As a result, major participants, including the architects, MEP engineers and main contractors are clear about their respective roles and timeframes.
- Employing parametric BIM models structures the project team in a way that encourages clear, open, and horizontal communication. This facilitates diverse disciplines to seamlessly coordinate during the pre-construction design planning and construction phases.
- IPD necessitates mapping out comprehensive workflows and protocols for developing, sharing and updating the digital BIM models. These plans clearly delineate procedures for intra-discipline as well as inter-discipline design data management and communication.
- Due to an integrated design management structure facilitated by BIM and IPD, the cost and time benefits experienced by the primary project team members spill over to secondary chain participants, including fabricators, installation experts and facility managers.
So, if your firm operates in the AEC industry and is looking for a
highly recommended IPD support services provider to handle initial consultation
to complete project management, contact us.