The Pennsylvania State University
Departments of Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Architectural Engineering
ARCH 497A - Building Information Modeling Design Studio (3 credits) - Spring 09
Raymond A. Bowers Program for Excellence in Design and Construction of the Built Environment
Project Brief - 13 January 2009
Building Information Modeling Interdisciplinary Design Studio
"Phoenix, PA School District Prototype Elementary School"
A SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAM WITH CHALLENGES
Over the last ten years the Phoenix, PA School District has undertaken an aggressive building program to replace aging
school facilities as well as to keep up with the growth in student population. A number of the school building projects had
delayed openings due to design and / or construction issues as well as cost overruns as a result of over budget bids and
construction contractor claims. Additionally several of the projects have had serious maintenance and operating issues
including building cracking, problems with moisture infiltration as well as excessive energy consumption during operation.
This less than successful track record for timely and cost effective school construction has become a popular topic for the
local newspaper and has resulted in a number of heated school board meetings. The school district residents are
demanding the School Board look into the building program and to stop “wasting” tax payer dollars.
The school district superintendent has been doing some research on similar problems at other large school districts and
has discovered two approaches to design and construction which, although relatively new, seem to have some merit. The
first is Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) in which the owner, designers and contractor form a team for both design and
construction. With this delivery approach all parties share the risk and rewards of project development (rather than just
transferring the risk) as well as the project benefits from early input from the contractor for schedule, estimating,
procurement and constructability. The second approach Building Information Modeling (BIM) is currently being adopted
by many design and construction firms. This approach brings the power of digital modeling to a collaborative design and
construction process. Using these techniques the project team can “digitally build” the project before the first shovel is put
in the ground. Construction conflicts can be visualized and corrected during the design process thus reducing delays and
claims in the field. Additionally BIM shows promise as a tool to for more effective building maintenance programs. While
both of these processes are relatively new, the school district superintendent is determined to find a better way to build
schools in the district.
CURRENT STATUS AND DIRECTIVE
Through prior design efforts the school district has developed a prototype design for new elementary schools. The rights
to this prototype design are held by the school district allowing other design firms to use this plan as a starting point.
For the most part, the school district is satisfied with the plan layout of the elementary school prototype design. Things
seem to be pretty much where they need to be and necessary functions and relationships are accommodated. An area
program has been developed and approved by the school board. This area program meets the functional needs of the
elementary school and is the basis for budget estimates. A new site has been acquired by the school district and the
superintendent has decided this elementary school project will be the test case for an IPD / BIM approach to design and
construction.
This particular elementary school project has been delayed due to the controversy over prior school projects. Time is now
critical. Your design / build team has been selected to partner with the school district to demonstrate over the next fifteen
weeks the viability of an IPD / BIM approach. While the school district has interest in good aesthetic design, there is no
desire to “be on the cover of an architectural journal” at the risk of not meeting functional, schedule and budget
requirements. As noted before, the school district is pleased with the layout of the prototype plan. While changes to the
plan will be considered by the school district where measureable improvements to budget, schedule, function and lifecycle cost can be shown; “change for change sake” is definitely not encouraged.
The district also wants to become a leader in sustainable design. Not only to reduce energy and life-cycle costs, but also
as an educational tool for the next generation. To this end your design team must make sustainable design a significant
decision criterion. Building Information Modeling should assist you in this goal.
Access to the school and recreational opportunities at the school facility should be considered in your design as the
school district wishes to encourage physical activity to reduce childhood obesity rates. Please refer to the Federal Safe
Routes program that encourages walking and cycling to school.
To meet the tight time frame for evaluating the merits of an IPD / BIM project approach your team must quickly set the
design direction for the project. The starting point will be an evaluation of the prototype plan and proposed site. Your
recommendations for change to the plan and site must be directed toward the specific project goals noted above. There is
no time to start over. That said your team will have full decision making authority over building massing, materials and
systems.
Other members of your project team will not be able to wait for weeks while the architect works in isolation. All team
disciplines (architect, landscape architect, construction manager, structural / mechanical / electrical engineers and lighting
designer) are to contribute to development of the project. As Integrated Project Delivery and BIM are all about
collaboration, all members of your design team must be actively and consistently involved from the start. Collaboration
and communication throughout the entire fifteen week project will be the key to success. There is little room for “prima
donnas” on an Integrated Project Delivery team.
Your team will be requested to make several interim presentations as well as a final presentation of your BIM model at the
end of the fifteen week test project period. These presentations must be presented with “one voice” as a team.
Professional graphic and verbal communication skills are critical.
An area program, site plan, and more detailed design deliverables and schedule will be forthcoming from the school
district along with a basic REVIT model of the school prototype design. In general your team will be asked to produce a
schematic level Building Information Model integrating all disciplines with appropriate input and guidance from the
construction manager. However to test the digital building benefits of BIM your team will be asked to develop much
greater level of detail for several typically challenging areas such as mechanical / electrical rooms, utility spines, etc. to
test the clash detection capabilities of a properly developed Building Information Model. The ability to see these clashes
in digital form has the potential to significantly reduce the cost and duration of construction.