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Building product manufacturers look to BIM for sources of new business

February 08, 2008  |  from Mann at Work

For building product manufacturers, the push is on right now to create data-rich 3D BIM objects for every building product they sell, in order to ensure that they continue to be specified on large institutional, commercial and industrial building projects. For building product manufacturers, the push is on right now to create data-rich 3D BIM objects for every building product they sell, in order to ensure that they continue to be specified on large institutional, commercial and industrial building projects. The adoption of B IM design solutions by architects is growing at a phenomenal rate, but they are facing a critical challenge: Architects need BIM objects that precisely represent products from manufacturers. To meet that need, Reed Construction Data acquired a company called Tectonic to position itself as the best and only bridge between the designers/specifiers who choose building products and the people who manufacture those products. Of course, building modelling and 3D visualization isn’t new, but Reed’s platform takes BIM to the next level. In short, Reed’s BIM solution allows designers to use BIM objects in their workflow, then manage and store them in a conveniently accessible way. But it’s the information that Reed can attach to the objects — specifications and costing, for example — that marks a huge leap forward for the North American construction industry. The Tectonic purchase by Reed Construction Data means that building product manufacturers can leverage their BIM object expertise to create “virtual” versions of their products — a floor or a lighting system, for example — with all of the specification data attached, including standards, dimensions, costs, etc. At this point in time, it certainly looks like Reed will be first past the post: it’s the only system offering this kind of depth and breadth of data to building product manufacturers — and the system works seamlessly with Autodesk Revit, too. Because architects can create a BIM library of the products they use in their drawings using Reed’s software, building product manufacturers with BIM models should have an advantage when it comes to being sourced, selected and specified. There’s more… once a building product is specified, the Reed’s Quantity Takeoff application can be used to create quantity and pricing schedules. That information then becomes part of the contract documentation with the general contractor, ensuring that the specification does not change down the road and substitutions are not made. For an analysis of the strategic importance of Reed Construction Data’s purchase of Tectonic and its potential impact on the construction industry, read Reed Business: Tectonic Purchase Creates a New Direction for Construction by David Worlock, Chief Research Fellow – Outsell, Inc. – London, UK.

Filed: BIM