The NBS National BIM Library website has had a complete makeover. Find out how it helps designers and specifiers discover BIM content more easily.
You may have noticed that we’ve recently launched a new version of the NBS National BIM Library 
. The team here at NBS have been working away on it for a few months, and we wanted to share a bit more detail about what the new site offers users and the process we followed to get there.
Our ultimate goal is for the NBS National BIM Library to become the most comprehensive and trusted source of BIM content available anywhere
The previous NBS National BIM Library site was a big step when we launched it, but BIM and the digital world move fast, and we needed to make sure that our BIM offering would be future-proof and best-in-class.
Our ultimate goal is for the NBS National BIM Library to become the most comprehensive and trusted source of BIM content available anywhere. So our focus for the new site has been on delivering the best experience possible for our users, and allowing seamless access to the depth of high-quality BIM content we provide.
We’ve been really single-minded about making the process of finding, browsing and downloading objects as straightforward as possible.
On the new site you’ll find:
- A fresh new look and feel
- A powerful intelligent search for finding BIM content fast
- A new set of filters allowing you to quickly refine objects by category, platform and discipline
- Intelligent recommendations of content
- A whole new set of pages to help support those new to the BIM world
- Support for devices of all kinds – desktop, mobile, tablet.
The previous NBS National BIM Library website (left) has been replaced by a new site (right), offering new filters and search functionality.
How we got there
Our guiding principle for the site has been to build the site around the needs of specifiers and designers from the outset. To do this we spent time with BIM users in their places of work, understanding how the NBS National BIM Library could complement their processes and workflows. We also brought potential users into our web design worskhops early on so we could test initial concepts and ensure the site would deliver.
All of this insight was absorbed into our design and development process, and we continued to keep testing things right up until launch. Hopefully you’ll see these key insights from designers reflected in the site’s design, and in the ability to do things like filtering objects by platform.
What next?
This is just the beginning. We’ve got lots more planned over the next few weeks and months so keep checking back, both for the site and the NBS plug-ins.
We think the new site is a really big step forward, and are keen to hear feedback from our users and customers, so do let us know what you think, either via www.nationalbimlibrary.com or through our NBS National BIM Library LinkedIn group .
