Structural Engineering
AECOM: Roseisle Distillery
RLF: Irwin Army Community Hospital
ATP Architects and Engineers
S.A. Miro, Inc.
Rutherford & Chekene et al: UC Merced
Bornhorst + Ward Consulting Engineers
The Beck Group: Builds Church 120 Feet Underground
Haynes Whaley Associates: Structural Engineers
Odeh Engineers: MassArt High-Rise Residence Hall
Robins & Morton: Auburn University Basketball Arena
New Complex at USC School of Cinematic Arts
NASA Sustainability Base
UC Davis: Maurice J. Gallagher Hall
Merrick & Company: Lackland Air Force Base
NOAA Research Facility
Figueiredo Ferraz (Brazil)
Breijn B.V. (The Netherlands)
China Construction Design International (CCDI)
Mortenson Construction
GHD
Sundt Construction: Water Reclamation
PBS&J / TLC Engineering for Architecture
HNTB/Turner Universal: Human Resources Center
Stevens & Wilkinson/Beck Group: Courthouse Annex
Grange Insurance Audubon Center
Arup
Good Samaritan Hospital Expansion
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
McCownGordon Construction LLC
The Haskell Company
Stantec
Brandow & Johnston Associates
Cary, Kopczynski and Company, Inc. (CKC)
Glotman-Simpson
Walter P. Moore
Reno C. Negrin Architects
SCA Consulting Engineers
Graef, Anhalt, Schloemer and Associates
Ericksen Roed and Associates, Inc.
Bornhorst + Ward Consulting Engineers
Bornhorst + Ward improves design decisions, enhances project constructability, and gains competitive advantage with BIM.
The Firm
Bornhorst + Ward is one of the leading independent engineering consulting firms in Queensland, Australia. Based in Brisbane, the multidisciplinary firm has completed hundreds of projects along the eastern coast of Australia—including numerous hotels, bridges, and high-rise buildings. On many of these projects, the firm relied on AutoCAD® software. Based on that experience, in 2005 the firm took advantage of an opportunity to use Autodesk® Revit® Structure software for Building Information Modeling (BIM) on a complex, 70-story office building. "Some benefits of BIM were immediate," says Brett Taylor, a Director at Bornhorst + Ward. "Once we created the model, we not only had the floor plan, but also all sections, elevations, and quantities. After a few days, we knew that BIM was the way to go." With implementation support from Autodesk Authorized Reseller AEC Systems, Bornhorst + Ward had standardized on Revit Structure for all new structural projects by early 2007.
The Challenge Owned by the Industry Superannuation Property Trust (ISPT) and Brookfield Multiplex, this project is part of a larger redevelopment plan that includes a $100-million facelift of the adjacent Wintergarden Shopping Centre. The new podium and tower will include three auditoriums, a shopping complex, and a complex helix ramp that leads automobiles from the ground level to an interior parking facility on the fourth and fifth stories. "The ramp was quite a challenge," says Taylor. "Very early into the design process, we had to confirm that our structural model met strict requirements for ceiling height clearances." |
The Solution
"BIM helped everyone make better decisions early in the design process," says Taylor. "Using Revit Structure, our engineers could spin the model and more quickly visualize the appearance of the completed project and all of its components." This capability was particularly valuable on hard-to-model areas, such as the helix ramp. "We met all required clearances and believe this approach will minimize construction problems."
The model proved equally valuable in improving collaboration with the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineers from The Hastie Group—who used Autodesk® Revit® MEP software—and Brookfield Multiplex. "BIM and the 3D model helped us get owner sign-off very quickly," says Taylor.
BIM also improved communication with Brookfield Multiplex’s construction manager. "Within an hour, he learned more about key constructability issues than he did in two days looking at 2D drawings." Bornhorst + Ward used Autodesk® Design Review software to produce detailed section cuts that further illustrated building complexity.
In the early schematic design and design development phases, BIM helped Bornhorst + Ward to more accurately determine the cost impact of different design options. "The quantity surveyor estimated project steel tonnages with the assumption that connections accounted for 15 percent of the total," says Taylor. With assistance from Revit Structure, Bornhorst + Ward showed that the connections accounted for only 5 percent, helping the team identify the best design option very quickly. To meet sustainability goals, the firm had to maintain an overall concrete-fly-ash content of 20 percent. The engineers used Revit Structure software to insert a fly-ash parameter in every model element, thereby facilitating the creation of more accurate fly-ash schedules, as well as high-quality, multicolored 3D views illustrating fly-ash content throughout the project. |
The Result
Bornhorst + Ward completed construction documentation in late 2010. "Our clients are very happy with our work on this project," says Taylor. "They loved the 3D model and really appreciate how it helped them better understand constructability issues." Construction is scheduled to begin in 2011.
Download the Story
 | Bornhorst + Ward Customer Story (pdf - 1251Kb) |
