Kenaidan is one of the original founding CanBIM Members and is a supporting sponsor of the inaugural issue of the CanBIM Innovation Spotlight: Annual Publication.
Kenaidan Contracting provides general contracting, design build, construction management and pre-construction services to all sectors of the business world. In 2011, Kenaidan joined the Obayashi global family of companies based in Tokyo. We are among the few large general contractors who self-perform the concrete and process mechanical divisions of our contracts. Kenaidan is also a founding member of Canada BIM Council and one of the early adopters of the BIM technology in Canada.
CanBIM: Tell us about your background and role at Kenaidan
Dorin: I have spent most of my career on construction sites or supporting construction business from the office. My career of 20 years in construction is defined by amazing and complex projects, unique experiences and challenges, continued transformation of the industry by technological advances, and not last on my list, amazing people. Prior to Kenaidan I worked as a construction supervisor and evaluator on various projects in Romania and Israel. I have a bachelor degree in civil engineering and I am a professional engineer licensed in Ontario. I am the Technical Services Manager at Kenaidan and for the past 16 + years I was involved in the adoption and implementation of technological solutions related to BIM and Construction Surveying.
CanBIM: What is being done on the corporate side to aid in the adoption of BIM
Dorin: In 2004 we started to use 3D models done in AutoCAD to develop excavation plans and support our concrete and formwork operations at RC Harris WTP. It was the first time when we saw the potential of utilizing 3D applications during construction for planning and execution purposes.
In 2008, our CEO, Aidan Flatley supported the creation of the BIM department with a mandate to identify and implement BIM technologies that will improve construction processes and prepare the staff for the BIM transition. Today BIM supports the core business processes at Kenaidan in Estimating, Operations, Pre-Construction Services and Business Development.
BIM is part of the continuous professional development plan of our staff, we have different skills requirements for new hires which include experience utilizing BIM, and we have information exchange between companies under Obayashi group on BIM utilization.
CanBIM: Tell us about an interesting project where BIM is being or has been implemented
Dorin: I am going to present the project that we had submitted for the 2016 BIM awards. A collaborative BIM-VDC methodology was used to support the design, construction, and ongoing facility management of this new state-of-the-art head office building targeting LEED Gold certification. The use of BIM effectively resolved many of the construction coordination challenges such as creating unique concrete features. Here are the project details:
1. Project Summary
Located in Mississauga, Ontario, the state-of-the-art 4300 m2 targeting LEED Gold certification accommodates staff expansion and provides the much needed space for Kenaidan's business growth. The client is Derrycrest Investments Ltd., the Prime Consultant is IBI Group atchitects and Kenaidan is the General Contractor.
The design services RFP required proponents to develop the design utilizing the Autodesk BIM platform for all design disciplines and to follow BIM collaboration guidelines established by Kenaidan. IBI Group was chosen as the multi-discipline design team for the project, in partnership with RJC for Structural Engineering.
This project represented one of the first projects for which the design and build team utilized collaborative BIM across all disciplines, from preliminary design through post-construction services.
Considering Kenaidan's role as General Contractor, Owner’s Representative and the end user of the facility, the project provided a unique opportunity to test and apply the BIM knowledge accumulated over the years and obtain best value from the use of BIM solutions.
2. Internal Programming
IBI held various design charrettes and interviews with the user groups early in the project to achieve a thorough understanding of the needs, and to recognize the interrelationships between various departments. Feedback from these design sessions allowed IBI to create preliminary blocking diagrams with BIM software, and quickly receive feedback from the client on these layouts. As this programming became more certain, IBI was able to efficiently prepare interior walkthroughs for review with staff, giving them an understanding of the interior environment that this project would create.
Utilizing preliminary massing models allowed IBI to present the Owner with several design options, explore advantages and disadvantages of a two storey vs. three story scheme and to demonstrate potential possibilities for future expansion. Sun shade studies were utilized to exhibit the impacts of these various schemes on surrounding buildings, and on the site itself.
3. Formwork and Concrete Focus
As a leader in the construction of major industrial and institutional buildings, Kenaidan has a history of excellence in execution of concrete construction. The proposed design for the project utilized simple and articulated exposed concrete construction techniques to express the client’s need to express on of their core competencies.
A construction model for formwork and concrete work was developed in parallel with the structural design model. The construction model was loaded with parameters and information required to analyze the constructability, to identify and solve interferences between concrete elements and other building systems, to generate a pour breakdown structure, to show pipe penetrations and identify embedded items, etc.
The model was used to select different types of formwork systems based on the type of finishes and the size of the concrete element. Different concrete finishing patterns and complex geometry details were modeled and analyze for constructability, the final shop drawings for the lift drawings were printed straight from the model.
The structural construction model allowed better management of the daily concrete and formwork activities on site, concrete and formwork quantities, pre-pour inspections, layout and control, visualize and validate the schedule, and improve the labour productivity by cutting the learning curve for all labour staff.
4. Transferring building assets
During construction it was determined that some of the existing building assets from the old location would be transferred to the new building. Managing the transfer through the use of virtual model library of existing and new assets was very effective. We were able to drag and drop various objects into the room data sheets and make quick decisions about the location, clearances and utilization of the existing building assets in the new building.
The as-built model of the existing facility provided an excellent reference for the design of the new building in terms of capacity and limitations.
5. As- Built Record Model
One of the initial goals for BIM utilization on the project was to create a comprehensive as-built record model which would be utilized for Facility Management. The concept was to produce an as-built record to be used during pre and post occupancy of the facility.
The following benefits were identified by the facility manager after using the system; Better space management and quick transfer of the assets between facilities, complete access to the building inventory, search and locate asset functionality.
In terms of the long term benefits we are exploring models that are ready for future projects (renovations, maintenance, space improvements, and building expansion).
The as-built record model is a collection of Revit, Civil 3D and Navisworks files, PDF’s and images, and Point Clouds files which are all geo-referenced and linked together, ready for use by our Facility Manager
The pictures below shows the integration of the civil model, mechanical systems and furniture
This is the first project where we wanted to test the limits of BIM process. Although we have planned for the BIM execution, things changed during the process and we had to adapt accordingly. One learning from this project is that BIM opens up the stakeholder’s appetite for information and alternatives. Once they see what BIM can do for them, the demand for data can be overwhelming .The BIM collaboration enabled us to focus on design quality, construction and operations in a way that traditional approach might not have allowed.
