Royal BAM Group’s Use of Intelligent BIM Solutions Enhances Efficiency in Construction of Swiss Hospital

Royal BAM Group, a leading European engineering and construction firm, in collaboration with Swiss contractor Marti Generalunternehmung, implemented the Open BIM project delivery model in the construction of the New Felix Platter University Hospital in Basel, Switzerland.

The Felix Platter University Hospital is a world-renowned center for geriatric medicine and rehabilitation located in Switzerland. Its new hospital complex is one of the most modern and innovative geriatric health centers in the world. The project was designed to replace the aging building with the aim of consolidating all medical and therapeutic services for seniors in the region under one roof. The design and conceptualization of this project began in 2017 and the new hospital complex was opened for the public in March 2019.

Award Winning Project ─ New Felix Platter University Hospital Built Using BIM and Laser Scanners

The project design and conceptualization of the Felix Platter University Hospital began in 2017 and it was (re)opened to the public in March 2019.
The project was designed and built by a consortium of Swiss and German companies - BAM Swiss AG, BAM Deutschland AG, Marti Generalunternehmung AG Bern, Wörner Traxler Richter, Planungsgemeinschaft Gmbh with Holzer Kobler Architekten, Health Company Dresden GmbH and club L94 Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH.
Point-cloud data from laser scanners were used to create as-built models of the shell structure of the hospital and to design the mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) services.
In Phase-I of the project, Open BIM delivery models were used to design the as-builts.
An official BIM implementation plan was launched by the client and the contractor team to train and familiarize the key stakeholders on the BIM processes and the value-proposition of using BIM in the project lifecycle.
Allplan Allfa and Allplan Architecture were used to create real-time communication channels among the various stakeholders to create accurate 3D design models and to provide real-time information about technical maintenance and building maintenance costs.
Autodesk’s BIM 360 Glue/Field software was used to update construction management processes and add as-built information and documents to the 3D model after the construction was completed.
Solibri software was used to accurately map in-design physical clashes (for example, clashes between two walls or doors) and non-physical clashes (for example, clear space in the fire escape routes).
The project has won two awards - buildingSMART’s bSI 2016 Award in the category ‘Operations & Maintenance Using Open Technology’, and the BIM Cluster Stuttgart Award 2016 under the category “Prozesse/Organization.”

A consortium of Swiss and German companies ─ inclusive of BAM Swiss AG, BAM Deutschland AG, Marti Generalunternehmung AG Bern, Wörner Traxler Richter, Planungsgemeinschaft Gmbh with Holzer Kobler Architekten, Health Company Dresden GmbH and club L94 Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH ─ was awarded the contract for the construction of the New Felix Platter Hospital.

Principal architects Holzer Kobler Architekturen GmbH, Wörner Traxler Richter, and Planungsgesellschaft GmbH prioritized the special needs of elderly patients and their prolonged hospitalization, while designing the new hospital complex.

Project Facts
Location	Basel, Switzerland
Client	Felix Platter-Spital
Floor Area	45000 square meters
Contract Value	CHF 240 million
Architects	Wörner Traxler Richter, Holzer Kobler Architekturen, Gruner AG, club L94 Landschaftsarchitekten GmbH & Brunner Haustechnik
General Contractor	BAM Deutschland AG (BIM Management), BAM Swiss AG (BIM Coordination) & Marti Generalunternehmung AG

Integration of Laser Scanning technology

Stakeholders used point-cloud data from laser scanners in the project lifecycle to create as-built models of the shell structure of the hospital and design the mechanical electrical and plumbing (MEP) services during the construction phase. This as-built model served as the base model for the plan, design and operation phases of building construction.

Planned BIM workshops and engineering sessions

The New Felix Platter Hospital is considered to be one of the most efficiently built medical facilities in Switzerland. In the entire lifecycle of the project, the designers and contractors used digital construction technologies, particularly Building Information Modeling (BIM) Solutions.

The Open BIM delivery model based on the Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) has been used across the design and construction phase of the project. In Phase-I of the project, the owner defined the objectives of the BIM Directive implemented by the contractor for the use of BIM throughout the project life cycle, that is, from planning to operation.

In Phase-II of the project, the contractors and the client together defined the goals and targets meant to be achieved by BIM in all the project phases. Following deliberations and discussions, the stakeholders drafted a BIM implementation plan for the entire project. The contractors organized multiple BIM workshops to increase awareness and knowledge of BIM processes and guidelines. All the stakeholders associated with the project ─ planners, designers and contractors ─ were mandated to attend the workshop in order to familiarize themselves with the value-proposition of using BIM. Additionally, Integrated Concurrent Engineering Sessions (ICE) took place on a bi-weekly basis. In the ICE sessions, data interoperability problems were solved directly with the software vendors to enhance the quality of the IFC files exported from BIM software, so as to avoid unnecessary delays during the project lifecycle.

Use of Allplan Architecture and Allplan Allfa for smoother work processes

BAM Swiss Group and Marti Generalunternehmung, together with lead architects Wörner Traxler Richter and in collaboration with Holzer Kobler Architekturen, used the BIM software platform Allplan Architecture and Allplan Allfa, products of Nemetschek Group, to meet the specifications defined by the client for project implementation. The contractor chose Allplan Architecture for its intelligent and efficient platform services to accurately shape the design structure of the building.

In the process, over 50 file formats were available in real-time to the client for communication and data transfer with other software, including import/export certified transfer format IFC for 3D models. This enabled a smooth, interdisciplinary collaboration between architects, engineers, cost planners, construction companies, and facility managers associated with the project. Allplan Allfa, the infrastructure and technical facility management software solution, smoothened the workflow process and helped the Royal BAM Group to implement the client’s comprehensive requirements efficiently. Allplan Allfa solution has a bi-directional link with Allplan Architecture, which enabled convenient management of the room design attributes and also enabled easy monitoring of the expected maintenance costs. Using Allplan Architecture and Allplan Allfa together, real-time information about technical maintenance and building maintenance costs was made easily accessible to all the stakeholders involved in the project.

Use of Autodesk BIM 360 and Solibri for clash detection

To improve the planning process, IFC formats were used to enable communication between different BIM models. The communication between the different BIM models created by Allplan Allfa and Allplan Architecture helped in clash detection during the construction phase of the project. The IFC models were also uploaded into Autodesk’s BIM 360 Glue/Field software to update construction management processes and add as-built information and documents to the model after the construction was completed.

In addition, Royal BAM group used Solibri software to accurately map in-design physical clashes (for example, clashes between two walls or doors) and non-physical clashes (for example, clear space in the fire escape routes). Solibri was also utilized for calculating the raw material requirements in the planning and construction phase. The model created in Solibri was linked to the time-schedule to generate a construction and logistics simulation (4D time planning), which helped save considerable time in all the major phases of the project.

Recognition

The Felix Platter Hospital project is the winner of buildingSMART’s bSI 2016 Award in the category ‘Operations & Maintenance Using Open Technology’. It is also the winner of the BIM Cluster Stuttgart Award 2016 under the category ‘Prozesse/Organization’.