Technology in Architectural Practice

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  • 1.  BIM Coordination Model and Design-Build

    Posted 05-02-2025 06:32 PM

    Our Design-Build partner is asking us to sign-off on the coordination model. The BIM execution plan already indicates the model coordination is the Trade Contractor's responsibility & they need to sign off. Anyone have any experience w/ this request. Seems they are treating this as a "submittal" rather than a coordination tool.



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    Janene Christopher AIA
    Steinberg Hart
    San Diego CA
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  • 2.  RE: BIM Coordination Model and Design-Build

    Posted 05-05-2025 09:57 PM

    The Contractor is trying to get you to take responsibility for the model, just as if you had created it. You should have had everyone wanting access to the model to sign a document releasing you from any liability from the use of your model. If everyone that contributed to the model did as I stated above the next step would be to verify that you are protected in the state the project is being built in. If so I see no need to refuse but if not I would not sign anything other than your original Agreement. I hope you carefully reviewed the original Agreement, Design/Build can be a risk rich contracting type for Architects. Contractors will try to have you take responsibility for the design of others that you include within your design. Don't ever agree to that.

    Good Luck,

    E. Michael Stanley, AIA , LEED AP



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    E. Michael Stanley AIA Member Emeritus
    Scottsdale AZ
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  • 3.  RE: BIM Coordination Model and Design-Build

    Posted 05-07-2025 09:24 AM

    Sticky situation to be in when in a design-build relationship since you technically are working for the contractor. Glad to hear you have a BIM execution plan. For our office, once the BIM model is out of our custody, we do not take it back and claim it as our own. When we do provide the BIM model to someone, we have them sign a release. This is our template that we customize for each situation:

    I know it may be too late to incorporate it for your current situation, but this might be good for future work with this DB partnership.



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    Bridgett Wakefield AIA
    Reifsteck Wakefield Fanning & Company
    Champaign IL
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  • 4.  RE: BIM Coordination Model and Design-Build

    Posted 26 days ago

    thank you!



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    Janene Christopher AIA
    Steinberg Hart
    San Diego CA
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