© LWK + Partners, Hong Kong, www.lwkp.com
The Team
Global top 30 architectural practice
LWK + PARTNERS is the leading architectural and design practice in Hong Kong, with more than 1,100 employees collaborating across a network of 12 global offices in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, the Philippines, and the Middle East.
Established in 1985, LWK + PARTNERS has grown to become one of the top 30 largest architectural practices in the world. With a strong focus on sustainability and innovation, its services include architecture, planning and urban design, interior design, landscape design, heritage conservation, building information modeling (BIM), brand experience, and lighting design.
We chose Archicad, because our ultimate purpose is to make things work.
William Cheung
Director, LWK + Partners
BIM Adoption
Bringing the team on-board with BIM
Recognizing a growing trend in the region towards BIM adoption, LWK + PARTNERS has worked to fully embed BIM throughout the practice.
At first, this meant adapting its workflow to enable more time to be allocated for the creation of an accurate 3D model at the start of a project. However, this provides benefits later in the project, with considerable time and cost savings achievable thanks to a smoother construction management process.
The shift to BIM meant a sea-change in the way the architects worked; moving away from hundreds of separate 2D drawings to one central 3D model from which any number of sections, elevations, plans or schedules can be extracted.
Using Archicad results in a very smooth process from design through to planning and construction. Once the team realized the full benefits of using Archicad and BIM, they embraced it wholeheartedly.
The difficulty of BIM adoption is time management…The workload is heavier in the beginning stages, but later it becomes more relaxed.
Henry Man
Project Director, LWK + Partners
Design and Visualization
Creative design and showstopping visualizations
Design is at the heart of the practice and LWK + PARTNERS chose Archicad as it is much more design-oriented than other BIM software.
Freeform parametric design software Rhino and Grasshopper were already well established in the practice, and thanks to Archicad’s easy-to-use live connection with the software, the team can easily link these design workflows into Archicad.
In addition to the ease of design, Archicad’s in-built visualization tools are invaluable in helping LWK + PARTNERS create early-stage presentations.
Creating 3D diagrams, renders and fly-through animations was previously very time-consuming but with Archicad, once the 3D model is built, all types of visualization as well as plans, sections and elevations can be created very quickly and easily, resulting in significant time-savings throughout the project.
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Archicad is much more powerful than other software. It’s hands-on, easy to work with and to complete the needed tasks.
Jimmy Lau
BIM Manager, LWK + Partners
© LWK + Partners, hong kong
BIM Benefits
Efficient workflows from design to construction
Using BIM, LWK + PARTNERS has improved efficiency throughout the design and construction lifecycle, from early schematic designs, through to detailed design, production, construction, and project management.
Further benefits have been seen for Design for Manufacture (DfMA) or offsite projects, with BIM helping to improve collaboration and ensuring accuracy and efficiency throughout the project.
At the later project stages, documentation is key and contractors require multiple schedules, plans, etc. which can all be easily exported directly from Archicad at the click of a mouse.
The launch of the international BIM Standard ISO 19650 in 2018 came at exactly the right time for LWK + PARTNERS, helping the practice to establish its BIM workflow and put into place standardized processes to exchange information with other consultants.
In addition, with a tried and tested BIM workflow in place, LWK + PARTNERS is now able to share its expertise. The practice works closely with clients and consultants to help establish and advise on how BIM can be used to the best effect throughout the entire project.
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When you have a BIM model, you also have data to calculate embodied carbon, do energy simulation, and even help control the budget.
CM Chan
Senior Associate, LWK + Partners
BIM in Hong Kong
BIM expertise in Hong Kong
With several successful BIM projects completed in Hong Kong, LWK + PARTNERS has been approached by multiple consultants and clients to share its experience and expertise.
LWK + PARTNERS has become a BIM advocate in the region with a wealth of practical experience that others are keen to learn from to develop their own BIM practice.
Private residential developers, public facilities and educational institutes are all embracing the benefits of designing and building with BIM and are keen for LWK + PARTNERS to use BIM from the initial design stage.
Clients also see the benefits of using BIM to help manage budgets and control financial costs, in addition to energy simulation, the calculation of embodied carbon within a building, as well as long-term facilities management for a building in use.
We didn’t set out to be BIM users only – we also see ourselves as promoters to influence our peers in the industry.
William Cheung
Director, LWK + Partners
BIM Journey
How BIM has transformed a global practice
Learn more about LWK + PARTNERS’ transition to BIM in our video documentary here. Simply complete the online form to unlock the full story and gain insight into the experience of a top 30 global architectural practice.
