BIM has been paying off for AE firm NELSON. “Once a team becomes proficient in the BIM process, we see better margins for projects completed in Revit,” says John “Ozzie” Nelson, Jr., President/CEO. “We see more RFPs that require Revit.” Creating Revit models opens up doors in analysis, data integration, facilities management, and advanced visualization, he says.
Perkins Eastman is starting to see results from its investment in BIM. “Our most recent in-house analysis of project labor costs on comparable CAD/BIM projects is showing an increase in BIM projects over CAD projects,” says Chair/CEO Bradford Perkins, FAIA, MRAIC, AICP. “Many of the other benefits of a BIM workflow are not so easily quantified, but they are real enough to give us confidence that BIM is paying off.”
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIANTS 300 BIM FIRM RANKINGS
Alex Ivanikiw, AIA, LEED AP, Senior Vice President at Barton Malow: “The real benefit is how the use of BIM enables collaboration, which in turn builds a real sense of trust and teamwork.” When subcontractors had trouble using the BIM model for submittal approval and materials fabrication, Barton Malow created a BIM 101 seminar to educate them in these processes, says Ivanikiw.
BIM projects have been profitable for Syska Hennessy Group, but there’s always room for improvement, says Co-president Gary Brennen, PE, LEED AP. SHG was “committed and fully invested in the early adoption of BIM,” but the MEP software still lags behind the architectural and structural components. “We were aware of that going into the process,” he says.
Structural engineering firm Magnusson Klemencic Associates is producing 100% of its projects as BIM models. “After many years of investment, we are finally turning the corner on implementing BIM in an efficient and thoughtful manner,” says MKA President Ron Klemencic, PE, SE.
The key to successful BIM implementation: “A project team with the experience and knowledge of what to model and how to model it,” says Klemencic.
“Allowing owners to better visualize the project has become an influencing factor during the presentation process,” says Doug Davidson, President, New South Construction. In 2011, over 45% of New South’s projects used BIM.
“There’s no question that BIM has paid off in our role as engineer of record producing construction drawings and as detailing engineer,” says Robert Otani, PE, LEED AP, Vice President of Thornton Tomasetti. The firm’s Construction Support Services practice uses BIM to produce digital fabrication drawings, connection engineering, and erection engineering for steel contractors. “The technology is constantly changing, and the engineers need to stay ahead of the curve,” says Otani.
KJWW Engineering recently standardized on Revit BIM in all 11 offices. President Paul VanDuyne, PE, says it was much more difficult to develop the MEP and technology components of the firm’s BIM platform than it was for structural engineering and medical equipment planning. “Now we are completing projects in close to the same time frame as previously with 3D, and in some cases faster,” he says.
EwingCole now uses an internal “cloud” for team members, who are now able to work on BIM through higher-end processors and central servers, says President Mark Hebden, AIA, LEED AP.
EYP Architecture & Engineering adopted BIM in 2006, and it has become a core competency. One unexpected benefit: “BIM integration has created more opportunities for younger tech-savvy staff to collaborate with senior technical team members,” says John Pocorobba, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP, Chief Operations Officer.
“It becomes apparent which market sectors are embracing BIM,” said Greg Lyon, Vice President and Director of Business Development at Nadel Architects, whose BIM work focuses on hospitality and retail clients.
“BIM implementation has been a long-term effort and a considerable one,” says Phil Harrison, FAIA, LEED AP, CEO of Perkins+Will. The firm has overcome the technical and training issues and is now “focusing on innovations and efficiencies,” he says.
Shepley Bulfinch has been using BIM since 2009 and now uses it for all projects. President Carole Wedge, FAIA, LEED AP, says BIM implementation has led to a “deeper exploration about how we approach our work, including how we draw and how we schedule our projects.”
According to Graef CEO John Kissinger, “We were early adopters. It was more difficult than we thought, but it is ingrained in all areas of our practice now.”
SmithGroupJJR began transitioning to Revit in 2005, and is now demonstrating a return on its BIM investment. On a daily basis, the firm peaks at around 310 concurrent users on Revit Architecture, Revit MEP, and Revit Structure.
President Steven Straus says Glumac made “an enormous investment” in BIM training and software development. “BIM is a new technology that is improving coordination,” he says, “but the software is not ready for prime time.”
“Not all contractors we work with are leveraging BIM. This means we have to spend more time preparing drawings in BIM than we normally would,” says BRPH President/CEO Brad Harmsen, AIA.
The chief conclusion from this survey: BIM is here to stay, but be prepared to invest staff time and money to perfect it. +
TOP 25 BIM ARCHITECTURE FIRMS
Rank | Company | 2011 BIM Revenue ($) |
1 | HOK | 398,217,301 |
2 | HDR Architecture | 327,690,000 |
3 | Perkins+Will | 274,336,000 |
4 | Skidmore, Owings & Merrill | 204,000,000 |
5 | HKS | 200,000,000 |
6 | Cannon Design | 173,000,000 |
7 | SmithGroupJJR | 150,540,000 |
8 | RTKL Associates | 140,000,000 |
9 | Hammel, Green and Abrahamson | 76,740,000 |
10 | EYP Architecture & Engineering | 72,681,105 |
11 | Corgan Associates | 67,575,000 |
12 | Flad Architects | 65,100,000 |
13 | HNTB Architecture | 63,244,852 |
14 | Fentress Architects | 58,824,000 |
15 | DLR Group | 49,500,000 |
16 | BSA LifeStructures | 45,316,495 |
17 | PageSoutherlandPage | 44,918,630 |
18 | ZGF Architects | 40,352,152 |
19 | Ennead Architects | 39,341,000 |
20 | KMD Architects | 35,143,453 |
21 | Cooper Carry | 34,000,000 |
22 | Perkins Eastman | 32,500,000 |
23 | LS3P Associates | 32,211,134 |
24 | FKP Architects | 30,000,000 |
25 | Harley Ellis Devereaux | 28,740,000 |
TOP 25 BIM ENGINEERING FIRMS
Rank | Company | 2011 BIM Revenue ($) |
1 | Jacobs | 355,021,036 |
2 | URS Corp. | 275,000,000 |
3 | Stantec | 181,300,000 |
4 | SSOE Group | 103,506,950 |
5 | Science Applications International Corp. | 92,695,000 |
6 | Thornton Tomasetti | 83,314,632 |
7 | KPFF Consulting Engineers | 60,000,000 |
8 | Burns & McDonnell | 50,000,000 |
9 | KJWW Engineering Consultants | 43,784,892 |
10 | Bard, Rao + Athanas Consulting Engineers | 32,000,000 |
11 | H&A Architects & Engineers | 29,883,975 |
12 | TLC Engineering for Architecture | 27,290,274 |
13 | STV | 26,646,000 |
14 | Glumac | 26,408,740 |
15 | Magnusson Klemencic Associates | 25,845,578 |
16 | Middough | 25,000,000 |
17 | R.G. Vanderweil Engineers | 24,912,000 |
18 | Michael Baker Jr., Inc | 24,000,000 |
19 | Syska Hennessy Group | 23,500,000 |
20 | Smith Seckman Reid | 21,360,000 |
21 | Bergmann Associates | 18,420,000 |
22 | ccrd partners | 16,700,000 |
23 | Rutherford & Chekene | 16,568,000 |
24 | Paulus, Sokolowski and Sartor | 15,500,000 |
25 | L.R. Kimball | 14,200,000 |
TOP 25 BIM CONSTRUCTION FIRMS
Rank | Company | 2011 BIM Revenue ($) |
1 | Turner Corporation, The | 5,458,100,812 |
2 | URS Corp. | 4,150,000,000 |
3 | Hensel Phelps Construction | 2,230,890,000 |
4 | Mortenson | 2,220,000,000 |
5 | Balfour Beatty US | 2,070,776,637 |
6 | McCarthy Holdings | 1,897,000,000 |
7 | Holder Construction | 1,651,000,000 |
8 | Whiting-Turner Contracting Co., The | 1,282,424,019 |
9 | Lend Lease | 1,264,115,151 |
10 | Hoffman Corp. | 1,165,887,387 |
11 | Walsh Group, The | 1,128,436,530 |
12 | PCL Construction Enterprises | 1,100,346,901 |
13 | JE Dunn Construction | 1,097,865,953 |
14 | Clayco | 820,000,000 |
15 | DPR Construction | 691,319,178 |
16 | Swinerton | 653,859,000 |
17 | Gilbane Building Co. | 622,414,000 |
18 | Suffolk Construction | 621,498,214 |
19 | Structure Tone | 606,850,000 |
20 | Pepper Construction Group | 566,300,000 |
21 | Weitz Co., The | 560,000,000 |
22 | Manhattan Construction Group | 549,029,000 |
23 | Austin Industries | 547,065,203 |
24 | Power Construction | 530,000,000 |
25 | Brasfield & Gorrie | 504,676,926 |
Related Stories
Architects | Apr 10, 2023
Bill Hellmuth, FAIA, Chairman and CEO of HOK, dies at 69
William (Bill) Hellmuth, FAIA, the Chairman and CEO of HOK, passed away on April 6, 2023, after a long illness. Hellmuth designed dozens of award-winning buildings across the globe, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Headquarters and the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi.
Contractors | Apr 10, 2023
What makes prefabrication work? Factors every construction project should consider
There are many factors requiring careful consideration when determining whether a project is a good fit for prefabrication. JE Dunn’s Brian Burkett breaks down the most important considerations.
Mixed-Use | Apr 7, 2023
New Nashville mixed-use high-rise features curved, stepped massing and wellness focus
Construction recently started on 5 City Blvd, a new 15-story office and mixed-use building in Nashville, Tenn. Located on a uniquely shaped site, the 730,000-sf structure features curved, stepped massing and amenities with a focus on wellness.
Smart Buildings | Apr 7, 2023
Carnegie Mellon University's research on advanced building sensors provokes heated controversy
A research project to test next-generation building sensors at Carnegie Mellon University provoked intense debate over the privacy implications of widespread deployment of the devices in a new 90,000-sf building. The light-switch-size devices, capable of measuring 12 types of data including motion and sound, were mounted in more than 300 locations throughout the building.
Affordable Housing | Apr 7, 2023
Florida’s affordable housing law expected to fuel multifamily residential projects
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed into law affordable housing legislation that includes $711 million for housing programs and tax breaks for developers. The new law will supersede local governments’ zoning, density, and height requirements.
Energy Efficiency | Apr 7, 2023
Department of Energy makes $1 billion available for states, local governments to upgrade building codes
The U.S. Department of Energy is offering funding to help state and local governments upgrade their building codes to boost energy efficiency. The funding will support improved building codes that reduce carbon emissions and improve energy efficiency, according to DOE.
Steel Buildings | Apr 6, 2023
2023 AISC Forge Prize winner envisions the gas station of the future
Forge Prize winner LVL (Level) Studio envisions a place where motorists can relax, work, play, shop, or perhaps even get healthcare while their vehicles charge.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
New tool from Perkins&Will will make public health data more accessible to designers and architects
Called PRECEDE, the dashboard is an open-source tool developed by Perkins&Will that draws on federal data to identify and assess community health priorities within the U.S. by location. The firm was recently awarded a $30,000 ASID Foundation Grant to enhance the tool.
Architects | Apr 6, 2023
Design for belonging: An introduction to inclusive design
The foundation of modern, formalized inclusive design can be traced back to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) in 1990. The movement has developed beyond the simple rules outlined by ADA regulations resulting in features like mothers’ rooms, prayer rooms, and inclusive restrooms.
Market Data | Apr 6, 2023
JLL’s 2023 Construction Outlook foresees growth tempered by cost increases
The easing of supply chain snags for some product categories, and the dispensing with global COVID measures, have returned the North American construction sector to a sense of normal. However, that return is proving to be complicated, with the construction industry remaining exceptionally busy at a time when labor and materials cost inflation continues to put pricing pressure on projects, leading to caution in anticipation of a possible downturn. That’s the prognosis of JLL’s just-released 2023 U.S. and Canada Construction Outlook.