GCs, hence, have the unique role of setting up, managing, and moderating the process of design coordination between multiple stakeholders. The GC’s BIM manager prepares the federated model for design coordination and performs initial clash-detection analyses and groupings, to ensure that the design coordination meetings run smoothly.

BIM managers need to be well prepared to lead multidisciplinary teams of subcontractors. If we re-examine one of the figures originally shown in chapter 4 (now Figure 5.1) and focus on the GC BIM manager’s role, we can see that the GC has an important role in ensuring the efficiency of the design coordination process as a whole, leading most of the process. In order to accomplish this, GCs need to ensure that their representatives in the design coordination process have both technical skills and social skills, as they will need to work with a broad range of personality types and experience levels. For example, a subcontractor may have minimal 3D modeling experience, but you will still need to integrate their model into a federated model for design coordination purposes.

In setting up a project for successful BIM-based design coordination, owners have the key role of establishing the ground rules in terms of project requirements with the GC and designers, which will then trickle down to subcontractors. Owner requirements should be clearly stated in contract language with the GC and reflected in the BIM PxP. The development of a detailed BIM PxP will also set up a framework for the project team in terms of expectations of BIM use in the project, including modeling requirements, file-sharing protocols, and team composition.

The GC’s BIM manager should also consider the following best practices in preparation for BIM-based design coordination:

• The timing of design coordination meeting should be before the issuance of 100% construction documents (CDs): typically between 95% CD and 100% CD.
  
• A successful design coordination meeting requires maximum involvement and accountability, although active participation does not necessarily mean in person. Participants using computers and video conferencing from their offices may be more effective, as taking design detailers away from their machines limits adjustments that could be made on the fly and access to information that is in their own files. (Laptops aren’t always sufficient.) Figure 5.2 shows an example of an online design coordination session.
  
• Always send out a meeting agenda before the meeting to all the participants. Typically, we send out meeting agendas no later than 24 hours before the meeting. Send meeting minutes/action items after the meeting.

  

  
  
• The usual items to check for review items during a coordination meeting include the following:
  
  
  
  • Penetrations through structural framing (look for duct penetrations through floors, locations of mop sinks, and, most importantly, grade beams).
    
  • Correlation between site utilities and building MEPF, especially sanitary and storm (i.e., plumbing that is connected from the building to site utilities).
    
  • Head heights/clearances in parking, especially pertaining to American Disabilities Act (ADA) clearances.
    
  • Ceiling heights, making sure all big-ticket items including large ducts, electrical, cable trays, and plumbing will be concealed within the ceiling. This usually involves subtracting from the floor-to-floor height the depth of structural framing and deepest ductwork and plumbing lines, and making sure the ceiling system will fit to provide the desired ceiling height. This needs to be identified early in the project, before construction starts, to avoid costly and time-intensive rework.
  
  
• Develop a spatial hierarchy during the BIM kickoff meeting. An example is shown in Figure 5.3. The kickoff meeting, in general, should be comprehensive, and the project setup and file-sharing framework should be well organized.
  
• Spend the initial week or two of design coordination on larger and/or critical items or areas of a building or floor, and then move on to the smaller items. Hold productive coordination meetings (preferably less than one hour) by focusing on critical issues instead of minor clashes.

  

  
  
• Have the design team join a portion of the coordination meeting to answer design-related questions.
  
• Ensure that subcontractors are aware of any special requirements from the owner, such as as-builts to be provided in specific formats (e.g., Autodesk Revit^®).
  
• Establish a common insertion point at the start of the coordination process.
  
• Make modeling expectations explicit, including LOD or spatial requirements. For example, ¾” conduit or less does not need to be modeled, but when two ¾” conduits run together, they need to be modeled, as they take up more than 1″ of space.
  
• Remind trades that they are expected to run their own clash detection and work with other trades offline, if necessary. Weekly coordination sessions aren’t meant to be the only clash detections run each week.
  
• Ensure that everyone is aware of the project schedule and that everyone is committed to meeting the coordination schedule, including having resources in place.
  
• Understand the experience level of the trades’ detailers as well as the human resources in place beyond the main point of contact for each trade. It is also important to know if a subcontractor has hired a third party to model and coordinate on their behalf.

Table 5.1 illustrates sample roles and responsibilities of the GC, which can be included in a BIM PxP.

The specific responsibilities of GCs shown in Table 5.1 are further detailed here:

1. Develops BIM PxP
   

   Typically, a GC’s BIM manager adapts a company’s BIM PxP template to each specific project. The BIM PxP outlines the BIM-related processes and procedures, especially with regard to design coordination, and should be approved by the owner. The GC’s BIM manager is responsible for tailoring the plan to meet the owner’s and project’s requirements. This plan then becomes the guiding document for all BIM-related processes and issues during the entire construction phase. When the BIM PxP is being tailored to the project specifically, the GC should set up a meeting with all subcontractors clearly describing expectations and priorities related to BIM in the project. After the BIM PxP is approved, the execution of BIM can begin.

   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   BIM-related role	BIM-related responsibility
   BIM manager	Develops the BIM PxP Maintains the design coordination model (federated model) Main point of contact for designers and subcontractors for BIM issues Runs design coordination sessions during the construction phase with subcontractors and designers Manages subcontractor record modeling and deliverables Manages file-sharing/coordination software
   Project manager	Oversees the entire BIM process Holds team members accountable for nonperformance

   
   
2. Maintains the design coordination model (federated model)
   

   A federated model is assembled from several models created by designers and subcontractors. The base model contains architectural and structural models. Each subcontractor then creates their models for their individual scopes of work (e.g., mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire protection). These individual models are then sent to the GC’s BIM manager to be combined into a federated model, which contains the base model and all the subcontractor models. It is important to note that the level of development (see chapter 3, section 3.2 for a discussion of LOD) typically differs for the base model and subcontractor models. The base model is usually in LOD 300, while the subcontractor models are usually in LOD 400, which is why design coordination models are often said to be in LOD 350 (i.e., some elements are in LOD 300 and others are in LOD 400).

   
   

   In general, each BIM-related role is stipulated in the BIM PxP. The GC is typically required to have at least one BIM employee—a BIM manager—whose responsibility for a project is to maintain the design coordination model. The GC’s main BIM-related role should be that of managing the design coordination process and, at the end of the construction phase, delivering a federated as-built BIM to the owner, including all major trades (e.g., architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection). The BIM manager prepares the federated model for design coordination and performs initial clash-detection analyses and groupings, to ensure that the design coordination session runs smoothly.

   
   
3. Main point of contact for designers and subcontractors for BIM issues
   

   The BIM manager is typically the designers’ and subcontractors’ main point of contact for BIM issues. The subcontractors commence their work once they receive design drawings and specifications from a project’s architect(s) and/or engineer(s). The information in the designers’ drawings are augmented and detailed by the subcontractors, with the development of shop drawings and details needed for installation, ensuring that the engineer’s design intent and prescribed system performance are maintained. The GC manages the process of receiving and distributing these various designs and specifications, including managing requests for information (RFIs)

   
   
4. Runs design coordination sessions during the construction phase with subcontractors and designers
   

   The BIM manager also runs the design coordination sessions during the construction phase. These sessions are usually held on a weekly basis and should follow the model development and submission requirements established in the BIM PxP. To prepare a federated model for design coordination sessions, the BIM manager receives each subcontractor’s model and manages file sharing and software coordination to ensure that each model is integrated with the federated model in a timely manner. Efficient file sharing allows clash detection and constructability analysis to be run smoothly. The GC’s project manager supervises the BIM manager and holds team members accountable for nonperformance.

   
   
5. Manages subcontractor record modeling and deliverables
   

   Assuming the base model (i.e., structural and architectural) is available in at least LOD 300, 3D modeling is done in model-authoring software by each individual subcontractor who will participate in the design coordination process. Subcontractors can use various model-authoring software systems, as long as they are in compliance with the established guidelines in the project’s BIM PxP. If design coordination is being carried out in Autodesk Navisworks Manage^®, for example, then the model-authoring software system should be able to export a file that is readable in Navisworks while maintaining geometry, naming conventions, and color coding.

   
   
6. Manages file-sharing/coordination software
   

   A detailed BIM PxP developed by the GC and approved by the owner will also set up a framework for the project team in terms of expectations of BIM use in the project, including file-sharing protocols and coordination software. To prepare the model for the coordination meetings, the BIM manager records subcontractors’ models and manages file sharing and software coordination to ensure that each model is integrated with the federated model on time. Seamless file sharing allows clash detection and constructability analysis to be run accurately and smoothly. All files and content should be available and accessible at all times by all stakeholders through a platform that is managed by the GC’s BIM manager.

   
   

   The workflow shown earlier in this chapter in Figure 5.1 may vary, depending on whether the team is utilizing software that requires a BIM manager to import each individual model into a federated model (e.g., Autodesk Navisworks^®) or if the team is using software where each subcontractor can upload the model themselves directly into a federated model (e.g., Autodesk BIM 360 Glue^®). Either way, the general workflow is similar and can be adapted to your own company’s needs.

   
   

   The BIM manager should have strong software skills, as they will be “driving” the model in the design co ordination session and, hence, should feel very comfortable with the particular software system being u

   
   
7. Oversees the entire BIM process
   

   Each BIM-related role is stipulated in the BIM PxP. The GC is typically required to have at least one BIM employee—a BIM manager—who is responsible for oversight of the entire BIM process, including maintaining the federated model and managing the design coordination process with all related stakeholders. A large part of the work of BIM managers is related to facilitating effective collaboration and coordination between different project stakeholders. The BIM manager is typically the designers’ and subcontractor’ main point of contact for BIM issues. The BIM manager also runs the design coordination sessions during the construction phase. The BIM manager prepares the federated model for design coordination and performs initial clash-detection analyses and groupings, to ensure that the design coordination meeting runs smoothly.

   
   
8. Holds team members accountable for nonperformance
   

   The GC’s project manager, thought their BIM manager, is in charge of supervising the BIM process and holding team members accountable for nonperformance. GCs need to ensure that their representatives in the design coordination process have both technical skills as well as social skills, as they will need to work with a broad range of personality types and experience levels. For example, a subcontractor may have minimal 3D modeling experience, but the GC’s BIM manager will still need to integrate their model into a federated model for design coordination purposes. Participants should be committed to the coordination schedule established by the GC’s BIM manager. Figure 5.1, shown earlier in this chapter, is an example workflow with specific tasks that the GC outlines early in the process, including pre- and post-meeting tasks. The BIM manager should create a collaboration environment in which all participants are compelled to proactively flag problems (even those that do not necessarily impact their scope of work), bring them to team discussions, propose solutions, and follow up in a timely manner.

   
   

   Following each design coordination meeting, each subcontractor makes corrections to their individual scopes in model-authoring software; new models are then sent to the BIM manager, who checks for any new clashes that might have been generated due to revisions. A revised model is then vetted in the subsequent week’s design coordination meeting. Participants should clearly document major coordination issue histories (times, causes, discussions, progression, solutions, and agreement). The BIM manager is responsible for keeping track of these, but the entire team needs to contribute actively. This process continues until an issue for construction model is agreed upon by all parties.