Ryder Architecture and BIM

by Peter Barker
Architectural Director, Ryder Architecture
Operations Director, BIM Academy

Why Ryder adopted BIM, what benefit they've seen, and what they hope to achieve by joining forces with the University of Northumbria to form BIM Academy.

Timeline

There is a long heritage of innovation within the practice. By embracing advances in technology and an ethos for integrated working, we continue to pursue our aim of delivering excellence through our people, our service and our architecture.

Much of the practice's early success was due to the collocation of all the principle design disciplines under one roof. This led to improved communication, problem solving and shared understanding which was combined with a rigorous approach to design. We like to think that our adoption of BIM over the last decade has continued this tradition of integrated design.

Engineering Research Station, Ryder and Yates, 1965

Ryder were one of the early adopters of AutoCAD in the late 1980's, introducing best practice and knowledge from the shipbuilding industry. We continued to refine and improve our CAD systems through the 1990s but by 2003 we felt that we were no longer getting the best out of 2D CAD systems and began looking for better solutions. We acquired our first Revit licenses that year and began pilot testing. Our initial view was that Revit was a useful 3D visualisation tool capable of producing high quality renders which would assist in client communication. At the same time, we gained an early insight into the potential of Navisworks through our US-based partner company, HKS, who had adopted the program for clash detection and flythroughs.

After a couple of years using Revit as a secondary design tool, we began to understand its broader potential and grasped its ability to serve as a powerful information database to deliver real efficiency on projects. This coincided with increasing pressures within the UK industry to reduce costs and deliver greater value to ever tightening programmes.

Speaking as one who experienced firsthand the transition from the drawing board to 2D CAD in the late 1980s, the shift to 3D BIM has been far more fundamental and significant. 2D CAD essentially replicates the single line graphical processes of the drawing board and, with a few exceptions, involves the use of unintelligent unrelated objects. This method of working has been unable to keep up with the demands of a very risk averse industry which demands greater certainty in design, cost and programme whilst accommodating increasing levels of complexity and depth in the information to be delivered.

We were aware that other emerging BIM technologies may offer equal or greater value and therefore undertook a comparative assessment of alternatives but ultimately selected Revit in 2005 as our preferred solution on the basis of its functionality, stability, technical support and level of industry adoption.

We then conducted a series of trial projects within one team in 2005-06. These involved the use of Revit on live projects from RIBA Stage C to Stage F. By the time of our third Revit project on the award-winning Durham Johnston School, we had the confidence to deploy the programme company-wide and embarked on a programme of training for all technical staff.

14-19 Centres for Redcar and Cleveland Council 2006

Victoria Hall Student Accommodation 2006

Durham Johnston School 2006

We were faced with the prospect of converting over 120 staff to a new method of working, many of them expert AutoCAD users. A training programme was rolled out through 2007 using a mixture of external training and internal workshops. This was supported by the creation of a Revit (later BIM) workgroup recruited from advanced users within each team. This group combined their technical knowledge with an enthusiasm, curiosity and willingness to support their peers. During our deployment we recognised the need to address the cultural as well as the technical challenges and we ultimately succeeded due to the drive and support from senior management who encouraged and nurtured this growing skill base within the company.

Based on emerging case studies in the US and our own experience on trial projects, our board took the decision in 2007 that all new projects would be delivered using Revit Architecture from January 2008. Our decision to adopt a staged implementation rather than a 'big-bang' adoption stood us in good stead. Whilst we noted that there is a generation of graduates who immediately embraced the new technology, some staff experienced in AutoCAD required more encouragement and support when facing those very real project deadlines which do not recognise changes in technology. The lesson we learnt is that there is never an ideal time to make the change on a project but when you do make sure the staff have the training, support and encouragement they need. Another tip – ensure that those who have the training are given the opportunity to put this into practice on a live project as soon as feasible otherwise the knowledge will be lost.

By 2008, we had entered our 'lonely BIM' phase during which we were realising benefits through efficiencies in the organisation of information, our responsiveness to design development and project resourcing. We were able to extract data more reliably, create design options more quickly and add value through improved visualisation of the design.

However, with a few exceptions, the lack of design and construction partners working in the same way began to stifle opportunities for improved design coordination and we began to actively seek out those who were starting to work the same way. We also began to educate our clients and contractors to recognise the possible rewards of BIM. We began to understand that a major shift in improvement would not occur until the industry as a whole adopted, rather than being led by designers alone.

In 2009, this began to change when we were appointed as architect and lead consultant for the redevelopment of Manchester Central Library. Manchester City Council has been progressive and forward thinking in recognising the potential of BIM. Through their support, the project has provided the opportunity for the use of multidisciplinary BIM in the design, construction and operation stages and is also the subject of an ongoing case study by University of Salford. The project has also disproved the speculation emerging in some parts of the industry that BIM cannot be applied to refurbishment projects.

Revit Model of Manchester Central Library generated from 3D survey model and point cloud laser scan

By 2009, we found that we were unable to progress our investigation of the wider aspects of BIM at the rate we needed by using those staff who were now proficient in Revit but committed to projects. We therefore decided to recruit a dedicated champion to lead this initiative. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Teesside University, we recruited Nahim Iqbal as BIM Development Leader to manage research and development in the wider aspects of BIM and how these could be applied to our business.

Following structured research into a range of technologies, Nahim tested their relevance and capabilities on live projects, and then managed implementation and training. We have now broadened our skills in design coordination, project planning, environmental analysis, pedestrian modelling and visualisation and are developing capabilities in cost and facilities management.
Here are some aspects of BIM we have applied and benefitted from during our journey so far:-

BIM Protocols
Do not underestimate the need for diligent forward planning and adherence to protocols when embarking on a BIM project. A well-researched BIM Execution Plan (BEP) is a prerequisite to establish the expected outputs from the BIMs (including those downstream of the design process), file sharing formats, levels of detail, and model structures for interoperability.

The Ryder BIM workgroup developed our BIM protocols which includes a template for a BEP.

Ryder BIM Protocols

Concept design
In our early years of adoption, Revit was perceived as a concept design and visualisation tool but considered at that time to be less intuitive than other tools such as Sketch Up. Our opinion has now reversed as Revit has matured in this respect and Sketch Up is now largely abandoned due to its lack of accuracy and inability to embed and report data. Other tools such as Autodesk Project Vasari allow swift creation of well-informed massing models which can be analysed for environmental performance and 'optioneered' at concept design stage.

Concept massing using Revit and Project Vasari

Cartoon sets
In 2001 Ryder introduced the use of cartoon sets to plan design the design process. This uses a visual storyboard approach to plan the content of all design deliverables from Stage D onwards. Originally a manually sketched process, this simple but effective method has now been applied to the Revit model to allow us to more accurately plan our deliverables, communicate these to the consultant and construction teams and monitor and report our progress during technical design stage.

Cartoon set and Revit model sheet set-up

Scheduling and tracking data
One of the early benefits was the creation of reliable repetitive design elements such as windows, doors and finishes and the ability to manage these more effectively. We became more agile in tracking floor areas and room properties during periods of rapid design development.

Window schedule

Room Data Sheet derived from BIM model

Specification
We link our specification clauses to objects within the Revit model using a simple cross referencing method. This doesn't directly import data from the spec into the model, nevertheless it has created efficiency savings in change management during the design process.

Linking Revit object parameter to NBS clause

Sustainability
We have been able to improve productivity when measuring the carbon footprint of our designs by adding parameters to BIM objects which report the object's BRE Green Guide rating. Materials quantities are also extracted from the model and both sets of data are entered into the BRE Green Guide Calculator Tool. This speeds up option appraisal and securing credits against the BREEAM Materials Credit MAT1.

Green Guide rating as parameter in Revit object for reporting into BRE Green Guide calculator tool

Environmental analysis
Ryder purchased licenses of IES environmental analysis software in 2001 to allow us to develop better informed designs. However, the program at that time was tailored for the building services engineering market and we found its level of complexity exceeded our needs. We have therefore moved on to the adoption of more architect-focussed tools such as Ecotect and Vasari as tools better suited to our needs.

Daylight analysis using Ecotect

Energy analysis of concept model using solar analysis tool add-on for Revit

Sun path and shading analysis using Revit

Pedestrian modelling
By applying pedestrian modelling technologies developed for fire engineering and emergency evacuation we have been able to communicate building usage more clearly to clients who are not familiar with the design process and may have had difficulty understanding 2D plans.

Pedestrian modelling of Harton Primary School

4D modelling
By linking construction programmes created in Asta Powerproject and Microsoft Project to BIM models using tools such as Navisworks or Synchro we have been able to visualise and rehearse construction sequencing for our contractor clients.

Oldham Academy 4D modelling using Asta Powerproject and Synchro

Design audit
An unforeseen but much valued byproduct of our use of BIM has been the ability to interrogate the quality of design information provided by others. On several occasions we have supported contractors during their bid process and constructed BIM models from 2D tender information provided by the client team. This has allowed potential design coordination and environmental performance issues to be identified and interrogated. Quantity extraction is also an area we have begun to explore.

Eastwood High School. Revit model built from 2D tender information to validate design

Visualisation
Ryder developed the ability to produce high quality photorealistic visualizations and animations in the early 2000s, however these were developed independently of the main design workstream which was at that time largely operating in 2D CAD. Models were built from scratch in 3DSMax. Our adoption of Revit allowed us to create good quality renders from Revit itself and allowed importation of the Revit design model into 3DS Max which improved production times and reliability.

South Shields Community School. Photorealistic flythrough generated in 3DSMax based on Revit design model

BIM Academy
Ryder has a long and fruitful relationship with Northumbria University. Many of our staff are graduates and there is regular collaboration through CPD and industry forums. In 2009, we began to jointly explore the creation of a centre of excellence for BIM, through which academic expertise and industry experience could be fused to provide education, research and consultancy to the industry. Due to the lack of interest and slowness of the industry to adopt at that time, the idea took longer to gestate than we had initially hoped but towards the end of 2010 the government agenda on low carbon and ambitions for 'more for less' added impetus and raised awareness. In Spring 2011 we established our joint venture as BIM Academy. This was formally launched this June 2011 to provide:

• Innovation in partnership with industry
• Support for the supply chain
• Independence and impartiality
• Facilitation, advice, resource
• Evidence-based design, delivery and operation.

The response from industry to the creation of BIM Academy since the launch has been very encouraging and wide-ranging. Amongst our current activities, we are working with RIBA Enterprises on the development of new systems to integrate specification and BIM objects, developing BIM models as an FM resource for building owners and discussing the alignment of design and manufacturing BIM tools with component manufacturers. We are also developing an ever-growing network of academic and industry partners who are keen to collaborate.

Perhaps most significantly, our first recruitment of graduates are now securing employment in wider industry having broadened their experience and skills in their time within BIM Academy. We think is in itself is a reward for our efforts to date.

Final thoughts

Looking back over the last ten years, we are pleased (and relieved) that we had the foresight to adopt the new technology when we did, before the economic climate changed for the worse. we have found we are able to be more resilient, responsive, efficient and add genuine value to the service we offer our clients. Our ambition is to build on the knowledge and expertise we have acquired and collaborate more closely with those industry partners who share the same vision.

Biography

Peter Barker is Architectural Director at Ryder Architecture and Operations Director of BIM Academy.

Peter has almost 30 years experience in architectural practice working in the commercial, education, leisure and process engineering sectors. Over the last seven years he has been responsible for leading the delivery of major education projects, as well as managing the practice's programme of innovation and systems development. Peter is passionate about applying the practical lessons of project experience to the improvement of technical and business processes.

In 2011 Ryder and Northumbria University established BIM Academy as a joint venture to deliver research development education and consultancy to the UK industry. Peter was appointed as Operations Director working closely with Professor Steve Lockley as Director of Research.

Find out more

Ryder Architecture was originally founded in 1950 as Ryder and Yates, one of the pioneers of UK modernism and one of the first multidisciplinary practices in the UK. From this grew a reputation for well coordinated, high quality design, two examples of which are now listed by English Heritage.

Since its reconstitution as Ryder Architecture in 1997, the practice has developed and diversified and now operates as one business from four UK locations, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Newcastle. It works principally in the education, healthcare, residential and commercial sectors with project values typically £1 -150M.

Web: www.ryderarchitecture.com

www.bimacademy.ac.uk

Twitter: @ryder1950

@bimacademy.

Related NBS information:

Articles:

• NBS set to work with BIM Academy
• Why do we need BIM?
• Ryder and Yates: Twentieth Century Architects

August 2011

 

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