US Glass - April 2008 - USGlass Magazine

A Model
Approach?
continued from page 29
and they are learning about the advantages
of being able to work efficiently,
so it’s good to have our products available,”
says Bowman. “Another benefit is
that when the BIM data is saved it’s actually
embedded into the model itself.
So, should there be a reason to add an
extension or to makes changes, it’s very
easy to replicate.”
Making it all Work
Any time a company adopts a new
technology there are always some challenges
and concerns. These suppliers
all agree, though, that so far the addition
of BIM hasn’t been too difficult.
“The biggest concern was just figuring
out how to do it correctly, as
there were no guidelines for doing so,”
says Hewitt. “We talked to experts in
different businesses who’d been
around and had done more with it. It’s
a matter of getting into the mainstream,
and it can be difficult to know
how to do that.”
Perilstein agrees.
“It’s a new technology, so understanding
the applications, making sure
it’s done right and following the right
path are the main challenges,” he says.
“As an industry we’re used to doing
things the same way and new technologies
scare us.”
For TGP, Bowman says it was important
that they not get started too early.
“Because it is such a new technology
we didn’t want to get going with
it and then have everything change
completely six months later,” he says.
Another challenge, Bowman adds, is
continued on page 32
DeMichele Group and McGraw-Hill
Plan New Software Launch for AIA Show
An increasing number of architects are making
the shift toward building information modeling
(BIM). A new software tool developed jointly by
the DeMichele Group, based in Mesa, Ariz., and
McGraw-Hill Construction, will also be beneficial
for glazing contractors who are looking to make
the BIM transition.
Architect Design Studio (ADS), which will be
launched next month at the AIA Show, May 15-
17, in Boston, operates with Revit, Autodesk’s 3D
design program. During the architectural design
phase, ADS analyzes the BIM and searches for detailed
information about it. It then displays the extracted information, allowing
users to choose a specific manufacturer’s products to fit into the design of
the building. Since there may be more than one suitable product, the program
can also compare products based on price, performance, etc. In addition, the
program can analyze the building elevations to determine whether curtainwall,
for example, can stand up to the given wind loads, dead loads, etc. It can do a
cost analysis of the glass, metal and labor and then write a specification, custom
to the chosen products.
And what about the benefits for the glazing contractor? As part of the current
process, glazing contractors typically review an architect’s paper drawings,
which they then must transfer into whatever estimating program they use.
“Because BIM operates within the Revit program, the contract glaziers can
choose the products they want and then do a complete takeoff for estimating,”
says Nathan Henning, senior level programmer with the DeMichele Group. “They
no longer have to look at the paper drawings.”
Henning says the program will allow contract glaziers to be closely integrated
as part of the architectural design process and within just moments they can
provide the architects with an estimate thanks to the automatic takeoff.
More information about the software program will be available during the AIA
Show, where The DeMichele Group will be exhibiting with McGraw-Hill Construction
in booth 15011.
Drawing courtesy of Technical Glass Products.
Who’s Been BIM’d?
Want to know who’s having their
products BIM’d? The following lists
will give you an idea of just some of
the industry companies who’ve had
products modeled and made available
in the online BIM libraries.
Who’s on BIMWorld?
AGC Flat Glass
Andersen Windows
Doralco
EFCO, a Pella Co.
Llumar Window Films
Marvin Windows & Doors
Pilkington
Technical Glass Products
Trainor Glass Co.
Vista Window Film
Winco
Who’s on the Sweet’s Network?
Alucobond
Alcoa
DORMA
EFCO, a Pella Co.
Optimum Window
Manufacturing Corp.
Pella Windows & Doors
Pittsburgh Corning
PPG
Rixson
Thermique
Solar Tracking Skylights Inc.
Wagner
Winco
30 USGlass, Metal & Glazing | April 2008 www.usglassmag.com