Budapest, May 12, 2009 – BDSP Partnership uses 3D model-based design to create coherent, easily communicated building services designs for even the most complex buildings.
Building services – heating, cooling, water supply, recycling, fire and security alarms, telecommunications, etc. – account for a growing proportion of the value of many major construction projects. However, the coordination of these services is often a major headache. From initial design stage, the size and complexity of the services has to be carefully planned.
Ivan Jovanovic, environmental analyst for BDSP Partnership says “We need to effectively coordinate our building services design and installation with the architectural design: firstly, to produce the most efficient buildings, and second, to ensure that our work does not clash with other aspects of the building.”
BDSP is a 100+ person strong international consulting engineering practice, specialising in the design of sustainable, energy efficient buildings. It works with many big name architects including Foster and Partners, Aedas, Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners and Snohetta. It is currently working with Hopkins Architects on the Velopark for the 2012 Olympics, and, Central Market a 750,000 m2 three towered scheme designed by Foster and Partners for central Abu Dhabi.
“The first job on any of these projects is to calculate the plant sizes required and the space that you have to house them in,” says Jovanovic. “Then, you have to assess the best layout for multiple services that operate over wide areas of buildings. This is difficult to do in 2D. However, using the Graphisoft MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) Modeller, we can create 3D models of the services and ensure that they don’t clash with the architectural design. Architects, especially, are enthusiastic about our models because it gives them detailed but readily understandable information on the technical aspects of the project.”
BDSP director, Ian Dunscombe, says: “Using model-based design and the MEP modeller saves us loads of time and we can produce not only all the information needed but be confident that our own work is fully coordinated. And the information produced is something that architects, and even the client, can understand easily, making it great for coordination and communication purposes. The 3D model has great benefits at every stage.”
BDSP models all of its work using Archicad and MEP Modeller, which are helping BDSP to take coordinated building design to the next level. BDSP’s experience of how 3D models can help communicate even the most complex of building services designs has assisted it to win, and then successfully complete, many high profile and technologically innovative buildings.