A survey on Building Information Modelling (BIM) for commercial office buildings published by the British Council for Offices and carried out by architectural firm HOK reveals that occupiers are missing out on lower costs due to low awareness of BIM and low levels of integrated cross-disciplinary working.
According to the report, whilst BIM is transforming how buildings are designed, constructed and operated, at present the greatest value being realised from BIM in the commercial office sector is through de-risking construction. The BIM process delivers fully coordinated design at an earlier point in the process, significantly reducing uncertainty in the construction phase and allowing faster construction with less waste of material and time.
However, researchers claim that the potential for BIM to add value across later phases of commercial office development, in particular leasing and occupation, is not being utilised and a number of groups, such as developers and occupiers, are missing out on potential benefits of BIM. The report highlights the fragmented nature of the office development industry as the main barrier.
Occupiers particularly stand to benefit from access to a digital model of a prospective property. The ability to view a digital model in this way could greatly simplify the process of evaluating a property and BIM also has the potential to create powerful marketing tools for commercial office developments. These tools would enable potential tenants to proactively explore a building long before the physical structure is complete. The report recommends that lettings agents should be at the forefront of working with occupiers and developers to develop these tools however, at present there is little familiarity with BIM in the agent community.
Richard Kauntze, Chief Executive of the BCO, said: “This new research from the BCO shows that BIM can reduce cost, risk and construction time, and also deliver higher quality more efficient buildings. However if the benefits of BIM are to be realised the commercial office sector must take concerted action.”
