Ensuring that the Needs of the End User are Effectively Communicated through BIM during the Building Design Stage

The Grangegorman Development Project is the largest single development of 3rd level education accommodation in the history of the Irish State. Planned for completion in 2023, it will relocate all of Technological University of Dublin’s (DIT) activities from their current 39 locations to a single campus. This is a once-off opportunity for DIT and it is therefore critical that the campus is designed to meet end-users’ needs. As part of the strategy to achieve this, it has been specified that all work packages within the campus must use Building Information Modelling (BIM) in the design, construction and the planning of the operation of the buildings. This approach has highlighted the growing importance of BIM in Irish Public Sector projects. To maximize the benefits of BIM, it is vital that the end-users of the campus are fully engaged in the design process and that their needs are fully appreciated. This paper will detail a new process, in which the end-user will operate as an integral part of the design process, as witnessed in the most recent procurement phase of the campus. The data collation methodology will involve the review of existing procedures in place to communicate the needs of the end-users. This will be achieved through interviews and analysis of existing Facilities Management (FM) documents. The findings from this case study suggest that the application of BIM can serve as an enhanced communication tool to improve relations between the design team and the end-user.