The legal community is struggling to assist in developing meaningful contract terms relating to the use of technology in design. That’s not surprising given the speed with which building information modeling has appeared on the construction scene, say lawyers. Further complicating the legal scene is a lack of industry standards covering what BIM is and does. There also is disagreement about the best process to generate model design and which deliverables should be derived from the completed model. Related Links: Building Team Views Technological Tools as Best Chance For Change Virtual Collaborative Charrettes Give Glimpse of Future Forum Tackles Teamwork
Constructors, some of whom have been using building information models to help them build faster, better and for less money for several years, are still grappling with many of the same BIM challenges facing designers: software immaturity, hardware costs, training, reworking of traditional relationships and habits, and especially interoperability. Though contractors don’t have the same concerns about intellectual property, they have other issues. One big one is field acceptance of, and reliance on, BIM-enabled construction. Builders report resistance from their superintendents down the supply chain to tradespeople. Related Links: Building Team Views Technological Tools as Best Chance For Change Virtual
The world is changing for owners of all sizes as they venture into virtual design and construction. A few years ago software developers were the ones pushing building information modeling, but owners now see themselves advocating for the tool that can lead to project collaboration. Few have even tried, much less embraced, multiparty contracts, however, where core members of the team share in project risks and rewards. Rendering: Vico Software Source: McGraw-Hill Construction, 2008, Building Information Modeling Study Related Links: Building Team Views Technological Tools as Best Chance For Change Virtual Collaborative Charrettes Give Glimpse of Future Forum Tackles Teamwork
In order to build a new clinical facility for cancer patients on a tight Boston site, engineers and contractors had to devise a 70-ft-to 110-ft-deep barrier wall to serve double duty by cutting off groundwater and isolating ground vibration. They did that by installing a rock-socketed 3-ft-thick slurry wall incorporating 268 permanent tieback anchors, many located under a busy city street, and by cantilevering a lay-down area. Photo: William J. Angelo/ENR Slurry wall and tiebacks protect tight site. The $350-million Yawkey Center for Cancer Care is the latest addition to the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI). The 15-story structure is being
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