Page 32 - College Planning & Management, September 2017

THE BENEFITS OF BIM
Case Studies: BIM on Campus
Compiled properly and applied effectively, BIM puts into reach goals that might otherwise seem unrealistic. Our firm
is currently at work on a science and technology building for Arizona State University that is expected to be “triple net-zero,” yielding net-zero waste for landfills and effectively consuming only as much energy and clean water as it produces. Thanks to the client institution’s commitment to these goals, the resources were made available to produce the BIM database that will make the facility a reality.
Our team can be confident of success thanks to this client and others recognizing the value of BIM for earlier projects. Two examples follow for consideration:
Native American Cultural Center, Northern Arizona Univer- sity, Flagstaff. For this cultural facility, the client committed
to the most environmentally sustainable design possible. We set a goal of delivering a net-zero-ready facility, one that would require only the installation of a solar PV array at a later date to be able to produce as much energy as it uses. The design team engaged consultants for energy and illumination modeling, and also performed our own in-house analyses, to establish energy performance parameters. Considering alternatives with the modeling software we arrived at the inclusion of clerestory win- dows to optimize daylight penetration. The result is a net-zero-
ready facility that uses sunlight almost exclusively for daytime illumination.
It is also worth noting that the 3D simulations and analyses supported by the illumination modeling provided other important design parameters. Because this cultural building project would be located in a desert climate, artifact preservation was a major concern. The illumination model contributed to programming and placement decisions that would keep important items safe from overexposure.
Sun Devil Fitness Center, Arizona State University, Tempe.
For this high-performance, sustainably designed athletic facility, the BIM database was used to model myriad design alternatives. The university set a goal for LEED certification, leading the project
32 COLLEGE PLANNING & MANAGEMENT / SEPTEMBER 2017
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DESIGNED WITH A VISION. The design of the Native American Cultural Center (NACC, left) on the campus of Northern Arizona University was informed by the “Indigenous Planning Process,” a value-based, participatory process invested in understanding the world view of diverse communities. Focus groups were conducted early on in the project to gain a better understanding of how people envisioned the proposed NACC and how it would be used. A common vision among participants was of a center that would reinforce a sense of community and build respect for tribal identity and culture.
PHOTOS © BILL TIMMERMAN, COURTESY STUDIO MA