Architect and consultant Dave Edwards argues that building information modeling can be much more than a system for documenting designs after major decisions have been made. Drawing on his experience moving from SketchUp to BIM, Edwards explains that BIM can function as a flexible design-development environment when designers change the way they approach it.
One of BIM’s most useful qualities is what Edwards calls its self-healing behavior. As designers add, move, copy, or delete components, the model automatically maintains relationships and cleans up geometry. This allows architects to experiment more freely while still working with intelligent building objects, tells WorldCAD Access Blog.
BIM also provides continuous feedback during design. Edwards adds dimensions and room objects early so that areas are calculated automatically. Schedules then organize this information, helping designers identify missing rooms or determine whether spaces meet area requirements. Conditional formatting can further highlight differences between design targets and actual results.
Another important strategy is using generic components instead of defining every building element at the beginning. Placeholder walls, doors, windows, and other objects can be replaced with final products later. Edwards found this particularly useful for windows, creating adjustable components whose dimensions, mullions, and muntins could be modified during design before being replaced with catalog-based versions.
Templates provide another major productivity advantage. Edwards recommends building different templates for different project types rather than creating one overloaded template. Frequently used object styles should be saved for reuse.
Templates can extend beyond individual components to entire rooms. Designers working on hospitals, laboratories, and other buildings with repeated room types can store complete layouts, including equipment, and adapt them for future projects.
Edwards’ broader message is that BIM productivity depends less on following prescribed workflows and more on thoughtful experimentation. By developing reusable components, templates, schedules, and design procedures, architects can make BIM support both the current project and the projects that follow.
