The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) operates over 100 healthcare facilities. These facilities range from those recently constructed to those over one hundred years old. The Portland Healthcare System VDC/BIM project represented a significant investment, focusing on essential upgrades and expansions to enhance the facility’s infrastructure and its ability to serve veterans. As projects began, the uncertainty surrounding current information posed challenges in understanding the correct baseline data for ongoing physical changes to the facilities. As part of the ongoing operational and regulatory requirements, it was crucial to have up-to-date infrastructure drawings not only for emergencies but also when architectural and engineering services are necessary for renovations and additions. A Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) process, which shifts planning and decision-making to the early stages of construction, was implemented to align multiple projects, phases, and teams.
One such project to prevent legionella and other waterborne pathogens required a 3D model of all supply and return elements, components, fixtures, and distribution systems of the domestic water. The model included properties for the name of the system, material, pipe diameter, direction of flow, design temperature ranges, filter locations and types, and potable water equipment and fixtures, all color-coded differently for supply and return. It was necessary to view the domestic water system independently from other plumbing systems. The separate plumbing systems were then integrated with general architectural modeling to allow a relational understanding of their locations.
Coast 2 Coast Consulting Services effectively bridged the gap between multi-disciplinary teams that had traditionally not collaborated. Initially, Coast 2 Coast utilized VA-provided electronic files and printed CAD drawings for architectural and utility systems to create the desired Building Information Models (BIM). For each facility, the modeling team added pre-approved plumbing fixtures and made markups of plumbing fixture placements and water line locations. Next, laser scan data was collected to verify the model and identify any gaps. The model submissions included Autodesk Revit files and Navisworks Freedom files. Additionally, Autodesk AutoCAD files for 2D floor plans and 2D riser diagrams were provided. This process allowed the design team to build the project digitally, addressing significant issues before physical construction began.