ABSTRACT
We felt strongly that the actual construction of the structure was much simpler that it appeared in the drawing set. Therefore, in a precursor to Building Information Modeling (BIM), we built a large-scale model and photographed each step of the construction in the order we envisioned it would be built in actuality (figures 3.2a-d). At the pre-bid meeting, we presented the model and the booklet of photos. The booklet was issued as part of the construction document set along with the drawings and specifications. The low bid was within budget, and the project was built substantially as originally designed. So in this case, the model was created not as a representation of what the building would look like, but as a basis for communicating the feasibility and chronology of how the building would be built. As a result of this exercise, we were better informed to assist the contractor with means and methods assessment during the construction phase. The successful outcome of this project confirmed for us that this methodology needed to be the foundation of our practice.
