One of the primary mechanical adaptations was focusing the primary cooling on the fresh air makeup of the facility. This is the air that contains the most heat and humidity. Because the fresh air is a small percentage of the total air flow, this allows the building to cool very effectively, which lowers the energy requirements for the space. Also this building was sited to minimize heat loads, and the use of tilt-up onsite was important because it is a true locally produced building material.
Through this project, R.R. Simmons learned that its standard practices employed basic LEED concepts. Its water management practices, material recycling, and energy management protocols were not far from LEED expectations and they have already been designing to include a more efficient use of daylight in all of their buildings.
Using BIM
From its beginning, R.R. Simmons has employed an integrated approach to design/build, with architects and contractors teamed up internally. Furthermore, the company always has taken a holistic approach to the building process. “We are not in the business of selling a kit of parts to our clients, so the logical extension was to design and build based on a working system in lieu of a collection of parts,” says Simmons. “Most traditional contractors are part-oriented in lieu of system-oriented. This comes from their detachment to the design process. With our in-house designers, we are able to work more collaboratively for our clients—this is why they hire us.”
Simmons says that BIM has been the natural progression for the company’s approach. Building designs around systems not only speeds up the design process, but eliminates the opportunity for conflict, he says.
“Our firm has built millions of square feet of tilt-up structures and it was a logical extension to standardize our details and solutions so they could be quickly adapted into our Revit model and then use this live model for pricing confirmation at the most schematic design level,” Simmons says. “However, it is important that you don’t become too robotic with the system and continue to look at ways to adapt and enhance the use of tilt-up on your projects.”
Since R.R. Simmons has used BIM on all of its projects during the last few years, it was employed for the new office building as well.
“One of the major benefits of BIM on this project was our ability to model the building early and the system helped us make some smarter choices in our glazing systems and general building envelope,” says Simmons. “BIM also gave us a sense of what the workspace was going to be like, which has helped us make some space design changes. The most important lesson learned from using BIM is the use of a living model at the schematic level. Having this model makes our decisions more relevant. This has been a great asset for our clients as well.”
For more information, visit its Web site at www.rrsimmons.com. CC
Amy Numbers is communications and ROI specialist with Constructive Communication Inc., a PR firm specializing in the concrete industry.
