September, 2005
JOHN PORTMAN & ASSOCIATES TRAILBLAZING FOR DESIGN-ORIENTED FIRMS
Firm Embraces BIM as the Future of the Industry
ATLANTA, GA - September 15, 2005 - John Portman & Associates, Inc. (PORTMAN) announces the success of a pilot program exploring the use of Building
Information Modeling (BIM) technology. The firm designed a large-scale commercial project in China using Bentleys BIM software, and now plans to fully
implement Bentleys BIM solutions for all future projects.
BIM helps architects model the building as it will be built, but it is so much more than just a three-dimensional representation of the buildings
geometry. A Building Information Model has attached intelligence including a spectrum of information from wall types and fire ratings to material
specifications and even numeric control for CNC fabrication valuable information that can be easily extracted into reports. As an architect,
its more rewarding to work in a mode that allows you to immediately visualize and communicate your design to others, explains Kinka Wong, a
project manager for PORTMAN.
PORTMAN is not the first architectural firm to utilize BIM, but, as a leading design firm, it plans to take full advantage of the technology.
The clear expectation is that BIM technology will free us from the tedium of 2D work and allow us to pay more attention to furthering the design, says
Mary Chib, a PORTMAN project architect. Recognizing that working drawings are still key to the construction process, the software allows for the
generation of 2D drawings as a product of the model. Simon Bailey, chief information officer for PORTMAN, elaborates, If a consultant needs a specific
section produced, we can generate in 15 minutes what used to take 2 or 3 days to draw up. Eliminating labor-intensive 2D work will allow for a more
cost-effective use of personnel, and permit the architects to focus their time on design and service activities.
The benefits for clients are readily apparent. Thanks to quick, easy interference checking between drawings and between disciplines, clients will
realize the advantage of better coordinated designs and documents with fewer change orders down the road. Three-dimensional models are more communicative
than typical architectural drawings. Not only will they help architects express the design intent to clients, but clients will also be able to use
the models to help pre-sell or pre-lease space. Potentially, the intelligent model can be an invaluable tool for facility management.
PORTMAN hopes to more fully explore the technological advantages of Bentleys BIM software in the future. While were pleased with how the pilot
program has gone, we havent yet taken advantage of the full capabilities of the product, such as the ability to share and synchronize files among
locations, Bailey relates. The promise offered by advanced product features, such as distributed data storage, parametric design, standards management,
and web publishing should prove quite valuable to us, once we roll out the use of the software company-wide.
Summing up the firms position, Wong says, The industry is going this way. Soon, clients will be demanding BIMs use on their projects. At PORTMAN,
were breaking down the barriers, showing that it is feasible, it is affordable, and, when properly implemented, it will help us deliver better
buildings. Our success with Bentleys BIM solutions made choosing this path easy for us.
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