黑洞社区

Wates is targeting using BIM on two thirds of its 拢10m-plus projects within three years, the contractor鈥檚 group design director Andrew Barraclough has revealed.

Barraclough, who joined Wates from global architecture practice HOK last summer to lead on the expansion of Wates鈥� design and BIM capabilities, said the contractor was 鈥�20-25% on track鈥� on its way to its BIM target.

Speaking exclusively to 黑洞社区, Barraclough said using BIM was essential for the construction industry: 鈥淚t means we can be very, very efficient when we start construction. It鈥檚 essential if we鈥檙e going to reach the government鈥檚 cost savings targets.鈥�

Barraclough said Wates was on course to comply with the government鈥檚 requirement of delivering BIM level two on all centrally-procured public projects from next year, commenting: 鈥淲e will achieve that, that鈥檚 not an issue for Wates.鈥�

Wates has 鈥渕ade progression in the last seven years on BIM鈥�, Barraclough said, and is now using advanced forms of BIM on a number of projects, including 4D time sequencing and 5D cost modelling.

Barraclough called on clients and consultants to come to contractors earlier in the project design process to achieve maximum savings from BIM.

He said: 鈥淲e need the data but people come to us too late and then it can be almost impossible [to deliver BIM effectively].鈥�

Barraclough said he was brought in by Wates to expand its design management capabilities, in part to help the firm expand in key target markets, including education, the commercial office market and high-density residential.

Wates鈥� approach is to collaborate with 鈥渢he best鈥� architects, Barraclough said. 鈥淚 want to make sure we are working with the best architects. I鈥檓 sounding them out so they understand our position.

鈥淐ontractors have a reputation for being difficult for designers. But it needn鈥檛 be that way 鈥� it can be much more collaborative.鈥�