OUTCOMES & BENEFITS:

With BIM, there are a wide variety of components proved beneficial to this project. Everything from lighting simulations and acoustic analysis to air flow simulations and circulation can be examined and revisited at anytime. Lighting can also be configured for both daylight and artificial lighting studies.

Using BIM as a starting point during the conceptualizing of a project can typically be a little rigid because it demands you to know so much about a project. Yet, with the church decision-making team and the design team all participating in the design of the new facility, everyone watches the creation of the design together and the typical— and oftentimes time and money consuming back and forth of the traditional design process is eliminated, or at least greatly reduced.

Thanks to BIM, the architect, builder, church owner and representative staff members, audio-visual and lighting designers, project engineers and electrical contractors, can all sit down together and hash out the details of the project. BIM typically covers geometry, light analysis, climate zone information, and quantities and properties of building components. Using BIM, an architect can create walls, structural members, doors and windows as features, virtually allowing reality for the customer. For example, a church leader can open the front door and tour the building before the onset of the project onsite. They can even see a representation of the pastor in front of the church and the congregation.

Using BIM in a real-time design session proved to be a much more efficient way of approaching the project for both the client and design team. It ensured the design remained closely aligned with the church's vision, as changes would be made and visualised instantly, and design concepts could be created in just a few days.