How to Achieve the Best Design-Build Collaboration

According to the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA), the design-build process, also known as design/construct and single-source responsibility, enables construction companies to successfully deliver projects around the world with superior results. Even though the method is used on such diverse projects as schools, stadiums, office buildings, transportation, and water infrastructure projects, it is still considered to be an alternative project delivery method.

On its Rocky Mountain website, DBIA explains the use of design-build has greatly accelerated over the past fifteen years in the United States, making it “one of the most significant trends in design and construction today.”

On design-build projects, collaboration is essential to success. Using Autodesk Revit® in a building information modeling (BIM) process makes that collaboration easier and more straightforward. When the schedule is tight, efficient collaboration is particularly critical.

Revit helps teams model complex components. Besides Revit, other Autodesk products like Autodesk BIM 360, part of the Autodesk Construction Cloud™ platform, provide all project teams real-time access to information in the same digital platform (a common data environment).

Many companies have found the most productive collaboration begins at the concept phase. It enables a design process for project development and planning at the same rhythm for all of the teams, including specialty contractors. Online connectivity and successful collaboration with and among the specialties in real time improves decision making and helps reduce working time.

For example, using certain Autodesk tools, files can be imported from other programs and exported to industry foundation classes (IFC) format so they can be imported into software to perform calculations. On its support website, Autodesk lists the tools that can import or open IFC files as:

• Revit
• Autodesk Navisworks
• AutoCAD Architecture
• AutoCAD MEP
• Civil 3D

If prefabrication of components is part of the project, it can be more easily coordinated through the use of GRAITEC PowerPack for Revit, which can help with the information needed for plans, sections, details, and bills of materials.

Learn how you can deliver better projects to your customers with the free download “Ways to Deliver Better Projects: PowerPack for Revit.” 

PowerPack for Revit provides extra functionality for efficient interdisciplinary collaboration. It can be used for family management, detailing, reinforcement, and generating improved and simplified rebar schedules.

When it comes to design conflicts, Navisworks can be used to detect and resolve collisions across many disciplines and software programs. Navisworks clash detection can be accomplished during design while specialists continue working on the model using Revit. In this manner, changes and additions can be accessed at once by everyone involved, including the general contractor and owner.

On your design-build projects, successful collaboration can be achieved through using:

• • BIM process with Autodesk Revit;
  • BIM 360 and the Autodesk Construction Cloud platform;
  • PowerPack for Revit;
  • Navisworks.

For easier, more straightforward collaboration on your next design-build project, especially when your schedule is tight, implement the Autodesk and GRAITEC products that can help you build the best project by achieving the best collaboration.

If you are interested in saving half the time you spend with the Autodesk tools you already use, contact Graitec Group today to learn more about your GRAITEC PowerPack options.