LifePoint Health was keen to start construction of the North Alabama Medical Center after the project was delayed for a number of years. The timeline for construction of the five-story, 485,000-sq-ft hospital was only 23 months to complete. What made it happen so quickly? The design and construction team utilized design-assist subcontractors to lead and drive innovation with budget and constructibility in mind. Building Information Modeling (BIM) was the answer. Utilizing the BIM process allowed 3D virtual mock-up rooms for user groups to “walk through” the design as the team completed the final documents. Design feedback and revisioning that traditionally would span across a few months only took days.
Coast 2 Coast was glad to assist the fire protection subcontractors during coordination meetings, model detailing, and clash detection revisioning.
The team began the project by building a LOD 350 Revit model based on the 2D sprinkler design plan. Once completed, the 3D version of the design was integrated into the group’s base design model. During the year-long design-assist process, each trade attended coordination meetings to review how MEP systems would be placed in the “real world” and resolve placement issues. Coast 2 Coast staff provided clash detection and model revisions following each BIM coordination meeting. The 3D model of the sprinkler system was updated to reflect design changes as indicated by the General Contractor. Modelers then merged the fire protection system revisions into the primary federated model.
