AFL Architects shortlisted in the BIM Awards – Doing IT: Architecture

Nomination Category: Doing IT: Architecture
Name: Ambrosio Gomez
Company: AFL Architects
BIM Show Live spoke with Ambrosio Gomez ahead of the BIM Awards 2018 on their award entry and what makes this a potentially award-winning project.
Hull Venue is a 3,500 capacity, multi-use auditorium due to be completed this year as part of Hull’s City of Culture 2017 legacy. The dynamic form of the building creates a modern landmark for the city and is driven by its internal uses.
The flexibility of the auditorium space is a major feature of the venue’s design. With retractable seating in the ground and upper tier, hydraulic raising stage and a sliding acoustic wall, it is a highly adaptable venue and a challenging BIM project to coordinate.
The model we created for this project is not only dimensionally correct but contains data related to the performance and maintenance of the building. The federated model also integrates supply chain fabrication models, stored within BIM 360 Glue, providing commentary with regards to coordination and clash avoidance. This assisted in identifying and resolving a potential levelling issue.
The BIM process was a delicate balancing act which we believe has played out well in the final design. Now being constructed and due to open next year, Hull Venue will continue the legacy of Hull 2017, attracting thousands of visitors right into the centre of Hull for years to come.
BIM has also been demonstrated to great effect on Brentford Community Stadium, a new 17,250 seat stadium. Its primary purpose has been design coordination between the stadium team and the wider master planning design team, where the detailed, robust and accurate BIM model has resolved a number of key interfaces.
The model has also been used for client presentations, visualisations and walkthroughs, for full 5D BIM interaction with the cost consultancy team and direct interface with their VICO software. The contractor has leveraged the model efficiently for tendering work packages and also in a 4d environment when planning the works.
“On the Hull Venue project, AFL produced a BIM model that was integral to design development, allowing for advanced multi-disciplinary coordination of clashes, improved understanding of buildability challenges and enriched project knowledge within the supply chain and client teams. The advantageous model, combined with AFLs proactive approach to adopt new BIM workflows and methodologies, greatly benefitted the project.” Stuart Rutter, BAM Construction.