At Clancy & Theys, we know construction requires teamwork, and BIM (Building Information Modeling) makes teamwork better. It’s a process that is comprehensively changing the way buildings are constructed.
That’s why we’re thrilled that six of our employees recently earned CM-BIM (Certificate of Management – Building Information Modeling) credentials from AGC (Associated General Contractors). Congratulations to Assistant Project Managers Cassie Weidinger and Lane Gorrell, and VDC (Virtual Design & Construction) Coordinators Zach Emerson, Todd Rasmussen, Laura Keyser, and Matt Racher.
So how does this impact your project? We can explain in three simple steps: demystifying what BIM is (as well as VDC), demonstrating how it makes our projects better, and explaining why we’re getting our team certified in its use.
What is BIM? And what about VDC?
We try to make our process easy to understand for our stakeholders, but we know that when acronyms start flying, conversations get complicated.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the process of creating a shared virtual model of the building and site. We use it to spot problems, troubleshoot, and get aligned before shovels are in the ground and mistakes get expensive and time-consuming.
BIM is the foundation of Virtual Design and Construction (VDC), a holistic process for designing, planning and constructing buildings using multi-disciplinary models of the building, the work processes and the organization of the design and construction team. The technology is futuristic, but at its heart it’s about better collaboration and communication between people.
How does C&T use BIM to make projects better?
Clancy & Theys has an eleven-year track record of using the BIM process to make our teamwork work better for our clients. We know it makes our work better, so we keep BIM in-house and integrate it into all of our projects—a rarity in our industry.
We use BIM and VDC on our projects from the earliest stages of preconstruction, through cost validation, construction and project turnover, benefiting the project by:
- Super-charging communication of the project team
- Providing timely and frequent feedback to the architect during design
- Identifying and mitigating jobsite issues before commencing construction
- Controlling project cost
- Minimizing unforeseen construction delays
- Providing a safer jobsite
Some of our recent projects that have integrated Building Information Modeling into their construction include the Hampton Aquatic Center, Raleigh’s new Smoky Hollow district, the Greystar Scott’s Addition Apartments, CityView II Apartments in Virginia Beach, The Cambridge at Brier Creek, 301 at Raleigh Crossing, West Millbrook Middle School, and The Tower at Cardinal North Hills.
How does this certification make us better for our clients?
This practice requires new mindsets and technological know-how in order to unlock significant improvements in efficiency and cost control. That’s where the CM-BIM certificate comes in.
Understanding BIM means our teams understand how to organize and manage a BIM effort from top to bottom. The certification course includes an overview of the process, a deep dive into the associated technology, strategies for project execution planning, and practical tools for adoption, implementation, and ultimately ROI. By including our VDC staff and selected assistant project managers, we’ve made this valuable tool more accessible to those in the field that can really reap its benefits.
Taken together, we ensure that we construct buildings that meet owners’ expectations and reduce unexpected delays and associated cost overruns during construction. And that means owners get buildings that are built on time, on budget, and just how they pictured it.
