EXPANDED AT ONE HYDE PARK
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The Client/Contractor
Where Knightsbridge in
Expanded is a Company within the Laing O'Rourke Group, specialising in structural work. They have been appointed to carry out the first phase of the development, from the demolition of Bowater House to creation of the completed structure ready for fit-out. Laing O'Rourke is moving towards a position where all its new work is carried out based on 3D models, onto which a 4D and 5D planning capability is superimposed. Having reviewed the market place, the Company has committed to trial Synchro on this project.
Background
Expanded won enormous positive recognition for the way it delivered the Ascot Grandstand on time and on budget in 2006. To do this it used many of the techniques to which it was exposed in working on the T5 project and the use of a 3D model was seen as a valuable part of this. However, they lacked a real working tool, to give them a dynamic oversight of the schedule of activities needed to optimise results. Because of its hugely crowded and busy location, Expanded management felt they needed to be very precise in the way they worked week by week on the site. Synchro is used to normalise the understanding of design and delivery for all project stakeholders, to better illustrate constraints and offer a medium in which to test solutions.
WHY SYNCHRO?
Expanded selected the Synchro software application for a number of reasons:
- Because of the project's hugely crowded and busy location, Expanded management felt they needed to be very precise in the way they worked week by week on the site. Synchro was used to normalise the understanding of design and delivery for all project stakeholders, to better illustrate constraints and offer a medium in which to test solutions.
- The software could absorb easily the 3D outputs from its drawing centre in
- Its ability to handle the design components at individual or grouped level so that the view of the weekly work schedule could correspond with different peoples' needs.
- Its ability to bring in all the logistical implications of the programme to help position cranes, roads, stores in a city centre site where logistics play a crucial role. Being sure that work was logistically sequenced at each level in the right way was seen as crucial. Logistics are seen to be the key consideration for the delivery of the site to plan.
- The opportunity to compare visually different strategies to understand flaws and wins for one route over another and share these with different trade specialists.
- The interoperability with other planning systems
- Speed and simplicity of the approach.
What Synchro Provided
- The assimilation of 3D models as provided with some element of proofing and the provision of a location breakdown that met the users' needs.
- Staff training
- The creation of logistics items and linking of 4D programme from 2D planning schedule
THE OUTCOME
To play a brief YouTube movie clip about Synchro's 4D BIM construction software, simply click here.
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Excitech Ltd is the largest provider of design and design data management solutions in the UK.
Founded in 1985, Excitech serves customers throughout the UK from its head office in Enfield Middlesex as well as branches/training centres in Central London, Bristol, Leatherhead, Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow.
Excitech provides complete IT solutions to companies using or needing Computer Aided Design as well as Computer Aided Facilities Management and Electronic Design/Document Management. This includes both existing users of the Autodesk product range, non-Autodesk design products and companies that undertake some form of design or draughting but have not yet invested in CAD.
Products and services provide for all CAD activities from the initial concept stage through to completion and beyond into facilities management.
