Synopsis
This paper presents the Leadenhall Building in London, as a case study demonstrating the value of collaborative working around a shared digital model.
The Leadenhall Building is unusual, particularly for a tall building, in the amount of prefabrication that is involved and in the fact that much of the primary steelwork is placed outside the main façade and exposed to view. The authors argue that these two aspects, in particular, generated challenges that were met much more effectively through the use of BIM technologies than would otherwise have been possible. This resulted in highly refined design solutions that were delivered to budget, quickly and safely, and with minimal requirement for site modifications.
The engineer's digital model for the steelwork was fabricator-led, ensuring that buildability considerations were fully integrated into the design. This design information was transferred seamlessly through the supply chain, creating efficiencies from tender stage onwards.