Implementing building information modelling: a case study of the Barts and the London hospitals

We present a case study of a major contractor, Skanska, implementing BIM on two large hospital projects in the UK: the Saint Bartholomew and the Royal London. We argue that BIM is a set of practices or activities, rather than just a set of technologies, and describe the new ways of working that emerge through the implementation process. We focus on ways BIM activities were developed to bridge gaps; between designer and contractor; between office and building site; between construction and O&M. It also describes how BIM moved from being a collaborative space for exploring design solutions, to a ‘roadmap’ for the construction process, or a central ‘index’ of design and construction information for the projects. The paper begins by describing the Barts and the London projects, and the imperatives which led to the decision to adopt BIM practices on them. It then discusses some of the new ways of working that are being implemented on the project. This discussion draws on both the experience of those authors involved in the implementation process, and a set of interviews conducted in 2009 as part of a University of Reading study. It focuses on the ways that Skanska as a contractor developed ways of utilising existing BIM information in areas such as design reviewing, handover processes and planning equipment installation.