Why BIM is becoming important for Retail Design?

Across global the retail markets are facing unprecedented challenges from within their sector and also from new e-commerce sectors. Retailers that are successful are aware that this success can be short lived and therefore expansion and roll out of their outlets can sometimes become a limitation for success are aware that Assuming that the challenge is indeed speed to market, for retailers, it is paramount to adopt a design planning process which can help them develop retail ideas that are versatile, clash-free and efficient to build/install within a planned budget. This is where BIM can start to provide significant benefits due to the ease of operation, use of a database of library items and the benefit of repeatability of the design concept.

BIM can be beneficial for the entire retail property development chain from design consultants and architects, to MEP installers and facility managers. If it is used effectively it can lead to faster scale up, design accuracy, higher design flexibility and cost efficiency. Whilst it does take some take and effort to convert conventional CAD drafting processes, blocks and templates to parametric BIM retail design techniques, once done BIM can help retailers to design faster and more accurately. A few of the key benefits of retail design with BIM are discussed in more detail below.

Rapid Development of Design and Construction Documents

Conventional CAD drafting techniques for building design require different trades to create separate drawings, which sometimes stack up too many inconsistent documents as they are incomplete, usually without a lot of information that may be created by other skilled parties, such as quantity surveyors. This information is usually mandatory for building construction and includes specifications, bill of materials, cost modelling and schedule data. Not only does a BIM model provide this data, freeing up QS (quantity surveyor) resource, it also provides information from the 3d model that contains intelligent data related to design intent and construction and facilities management information. The major stakeholders will typically receive the data that is combined within a master BIM model to then extract further use and benefit from the design model.

Although the success of retail BIM projects depends on the acceptance levels of all the project participants to perceive BIM as a future-ready tool, the actual benefit of BIM lies in its ability to assist in extraction of various documents, data and views including plans, sections, elevations, renderings, bill of quantities (BOQ), material costs and time schedule, all within record time. All this results in quicker, on-demand data extraction and generation from BIM models for any construction-related designs or drawings.

Development of Standardized Re-usable BIM Families

To maintain consistency, a retailer may use typical fixtures and fittings across their retail network as retail industry primarily focuses on brand image and brand appearance. Retail design teams, with the help of BIM teams, are able to create standardized libraries of BIM for fixtures and fittings which, with further modifications can be used when designing and planning new outlets, thus enabling retail owners to maintain exclusivity with regards to visual elements, consumer experiences and shoplifting layouts. The design team, keeps BIM libraries updated for various unique outlet chains which help in saving time during conceptual and detail design stages whilst boosting efficiency ratios.

For example, consistency within all the outlets can be maintained by keeping the key retail architectural elements uniform with the help of BIM families which leaves scope for tweaking other architectural details and regional elements.

Creating Store Prototype Models that Can Be Localized

When developing new prototype store designs, BIM proves to be a valuable asset to retailers BIM prototypes not only offer 3D visualisation prowess but also provide a quality database which consists of detailed information on crucial aspects such as materials, fixtures, components, cost estimation and quantity take-offs. As compared to traditional CAD drafting methods, intuitive and elaborate prototypes like these, accelerate the roll out of new store designs.

In summary, using design standards, fixtures, fittings and brand guidelines in a BIM environment as opposed to a CAD environment may incur an up-front cost and time contribution, but the benefit for mass roll out using a library of intelligent components will significantly reduce overall design time and also improve accuracy of project drawings and project data - providing greater certainly for construction teams and also costing teams.

Top 3 Benefits when Undertaking MEP Design and MEP BIM Services from Single Service Provider

Every building project requires MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) design services for heating, cooling, lighting and water services increasingly these aims are met with a more sustainable approach. MEP design services that are designed properly bring the full array of building services solutions to prospective clients and can also benefit from an environmentally friendly approach to design. There are various stages in the MEP design process which is known as MEP design engineering, which is itself supported by a team of documentation and modelling experts to provide MEP drafting, MEP 3D Modelling, 3D MEP clash detection and resolution and BIM MEP modelling for every stage of the design process.

Moving from concept, schematic, design development, tender and construction phases of the MEP design process requires several iterations that need to be managed well and documented effectively to improve understanding and communication of the project at later stages.  Keeping in mind the complexity to coordinate MEP with the architectural and structural direction of the project, it can be best to design MEP in 3D rather than in 2D, as it provides a better picture of what a structure may look like. Also, it takes away the effort of bringing together different 2D views.

While MEP design can sometimes be an afterthought, lagging behind architecture and structural design, MEP BIM models generally form the core element of a BIM model, which is great for visualisation, but also produces construction documents like those created in 2D CAD drafting albeit with much more accuracy and in much less time. MEP 3D Modelling makes extensive use of BIM and is used to increase the coordination process but it also allows designers to review their designs and to adapt them to meet the challenges posed by client needs and environmental or sustainable requirements. Not only does a 3D MEP Coordination approach bring significant improvements to the installation process, improving the transition between design and construction, it also allows designers to visualise, test and revise their design in a working model, making effective use of the virtual design process.

As MEP Design and MEP Modelling are so intertwined, it makes sense to seek a provider that is able to provide both services in some cases.  At present, there are several companies in the market from where various MEP services can be outsourced. Different companies have their own level of expertise in the services they offer but it all boils down to the choice of the clients as to who offers the best possible management of the key aspects such as time, cost and the overall MEP process beginning from design to installation sheets. In the wake of such a situation it is increasingly necessary for companies to offer as design and drafting services under one roof to optimise the level of coordination and cut down the collective time spent on different services.  This has given rise to a few companies beginning to offer MEP Design and MEP BIM services as a part of combined package. Of these, the most popular MEP services on offer from a single company is a package of MEP Design for schematic and tender stages along with MEP BIM services for documentation of these stages but also of further detailed design (spatial coordination) stages typically undertaken by contractors. Here we look at the three prime benefits of undertaking MEP Design and MEP BIM Services from single service provider:

1. Time Saving and Cost Effective: Very often it is seen that an MEP design services firm does not have the luxury of investing in in-house MEP modelling and an extensive MEP Design Engineering team to cater to the various MEP stages involved. Hence, it becomes a need to outsource the MEP design and MEP BIM services from service provides. More importantly, to obtain these services from a single, all-inclusive service provider to increase the level of competency and the set of benefits which are drastically reduced if the services are outsourced from different service providers. The fragmentation can add up a considerable cost, valuable time is lost on part of the clients. Hence, by obtaining these services from single service provider saves a lot of time and the considerable cost as well.

2. Clash Management: More than time and cost savings, undertaking these services from a single service provider can result in improved coordination of MEP services through the production of a coordinated, clash free virtual model. It enables early identification and rectification of coordinated issues, resulting in the reduction of installation time and costs. It reduces waste of man-hours by reducing the requirement for site based modifications.

3. Improved Efficiency and Smooth Transition: One of the most important but underrated features of BIM is automated generation of Bill of Materials (BOMs).  Undertaking MEP design and MEP BIM services from a single service provider ensures the automated generation of the Bill of Materials (BOMs) enabling accurate data management and extraction which will be otherwise obtained from the MEP BIM services provider in case of a fragmented choice of service providers. It also improves the overall efficiency of on-site service installation and the overall quality, detail and accuracy of MEP documentation. Having these services under one roof ensures smooth transition of the process from MEP design to MEP modelling without any delays or undue errors.

MEP design services can be managed in various ways in-house but with external options now also available, the key to finding an outsourcing partner rather than handling the work in-house, will be the ability of the outsourcing partner to efficiently communicate and coordinate with the different levels of design teams to ensure a balanced and smooth implementation of all the aspects of the design and modelling process ideally from a single office and therefore from a single partner.

'Why Outsourcing Architectural Design Development Can Work For You'

How common is outsourcing design development in architecture practices? We think it happens all the time, for big brand-names and small studios alike. It may not always be formal outsourcing, but it carries the same core principles. One way of basic outsourcing is using interns and graduates that work in temporary roles but handling much of the design development work and less of the more demanding creative and conceptual design work. One more sophisticated and organized form of outsourcing is hiring an outside firm, either local or international.

Such a firm effectively becomes a design partner, seamlessly integrating in the company’s architectural design team. An company abroad, for instance, would handle all the drawing/modeling tasks but is not usually in direct contact with the client, nor is it present in meetings and basically works hard to deliver on the lead architect’s requirements. That’s why using “outsourcing” as a term to describe working with interns and graduates is warranted, but as we’ll see, it may often not be the best approach. Almost all companies fit in one of the two categories above as a natural market adaptation to reduce costs with tasks that, by their nature, are fairly easy to delegate. 

This is a common practice nowadays and it is a perfectly fine approach, especially when there are proper communication channels in place between the low level and high level staff. Managing an office and/or a suite of projects is a task in and of itself, leaving little room for the drafting or modeling work. So the question now becomes which one of these work forms is the most optimal? The short answer would be that each company has specific needs and a specific culture, but if we look closely we can easily determine a general trend. 

Whilst the use of interns and graduates may solve a problem in the short term, the need to constantly re-hire and retain them can be a major distraction. Instead, using outsourcing firms for the architectural design development phase means that you are partnering up with highly skilled professionals, with zero overhead costs. Such firms are often specialized in specific domains where they’ve honed in-house systems that allow them to work extremely fast, relying heavily on advanced BIM solutions. Outsourcing firms can also guarantee on schedule delivery since they typically have buffer resources and larger numbers of employees. 

When looking at outsourcing firms, there is little to no distinction between the interaction workflow you will have with local versus international companies. The problem can arise when you limit yourself to a small market, the local one, and you end up constantly swapping providers of outsourcing services and thus rely on new firms to pick up where the previous ones left. The solution is to tap into the international market and chose a quality, reliable partner for long term collaboration. Looking broader as opposed to narrower has the added advantage that you will likely find providers with lower production/management costs that will translate in a much better pricing and therefore a more competive offering. In today’s hyper-connected global economy, communication is a non-issue and offshore collaborations become opportunities instead of challenges, allowing design leads to focus on the core aspects of their businesses.