Reading Response

Jordani’s “BIM: A Healthy Disruption to a Fragmented and Broken Process” and Bedrick and Rinella’s “Technology, Process, Improvement, and Culture Change” share the central theme of the importance of BIMs integration into today’s practices.  Jordani explains that BIM is a tool requiring collaboration between all stakeholders in a project.  He expresses that this is a positive step forward for the field of architecture that will result in a more efficient process as well as products of superior quality.  Project participants will have roles that are much more interwoven, increasing the level of communication.

Bedrick and Rinella strive to encourage those in the field to adapt to the BIM technology.  They explain that this step forward, though it may prove challenging, will pay off in the long run not only for the firm but for the profession and “quality of life on the planet.”  Bedrick and Rinella explain that BIM is a tool that is grounded in simultaneity. For instance, cost may be monitored alongside a design’s development.   This eliminates a great deal of backtracking, deciding which cost should be cut, and therefore hindering the original design.

BIM is revolutionary not only on a micro level of the intricacies of the program, but also on the macro scale of how different industries work together. The possibilities presented by these new tools are incredible. The only difficulty lies in convincing all parties to take part.

Probe 2

Reading Response

Chuck Eastman’s chapter in the Report on Integrated Practice titled “University and Industry Research in Support of BIM” presents many interesting issues and pressing concerns regarding the future of architecture as a profession.  However, one of the first points that caught my attention reminding me that the revolution is not only within architecture but in the construction industry (and several others) as well. He states that, “this change alters the tools, the means of communication and working processes.” Therefore, even if architecture firms are willing to adapt to these changes, it is essential that other industries share that same willingness. This notion makes perfect sense because each collaborator must speak the same language to yield a result.

Additionally, Eastman points out that the newer computer software is providing a much more legible and recognizable depiction of their building.  While after years of studying plans and sections, an architect may have the ability to visualize a three dimensional space from these simple drawings, the client has typically not developed these same skills.  Thus, it comes as no surprise that Eastman emphasizes the urgent demand for students with parametric skills.

Another point that was explored at great length throughout the chapter is the notion of “predefined spatial arrangements” and the idea that one method could be applied to many things.  This is very interesting because of the potential to brand a certain space.

Probe 1