One of the biggest advantages a firm specializing in Public Safety architecture can have is the ability to adapt.  Building Information Modeling (BIM) will no doubt test this.  BIM is a process which includes the design, presentation, documentation and life cycle analysis of a project from the initial concept all the way through building maintenance after construction is completed.  While BIM is not the standard for every project, we have found numerous benefits simply by using the BIM software and trying to adapt to its core principles.

While it is true that we design numerous police stations, emergency operations centers and fire stations, each project is unique in how they begin.  Some start with a space needs assessment and bubble diagram, while others start with a master plan.  Still others can start from a sketch done at a meeting!  The problem for the design staff is the ability to consistently portray the design intent no matter what the initial source material entails.  We use a host of software for this task including AutoCAD (line drawings), Sketchup (3D model views and renderings) and Photoshop (graphics and rendering enhancements).

Our transition to BIM has helped this process.  The BIM software we use is Revit Architecture.  This software allows us to accurately model a design while at the same time producing accurate and coordinated drawings.  Instead of putting aside the files that we produced to represent the design intent, we can transfer these files into Revit.  This means that the initial planning and presentation of projects can more accurately represent what the final construction documents describe.  We can use our tools in tandem to render the pretty pictures while concurrently producing drawings that will be further refined all the way through construction documents.

So, it is true that the intensive process of BIM maybe unnecessary for some projects.  Nevertheless, at the core of BIM is the notion of streamlining the sources of information for better coordination and integration.