Integrated Project Delivery

Clients come first

Supporting our customers during the Design Build and Optimize phases of a new project is one of our specialties. Virtual Design & Construction is the process within which we develop our Building Information Models and Computer-Aided Design. Integrated Project Delivery is our preferred approach to completing our Design-Build mission. MacDonald-Miller provides technology solutions that meet the needs of our clients and their complex projects. We believe a building’s virtual lifecycle, its BIM, is just as important as its physical lifecycle. Documenting change through information modeling allows owners to easily upgrade, monitor, and archive the current condition of their buildings for future lifecycle improvements. MacMiller provides holistic BIM archive capabilities for owners and their projects.

Conceptualization

MacMiller defines its project delivery options as: Design only, Design-Build, Design Assist & Build, Build-only or Special Projects/Tenant Improvements. During initial design project planning, the MacMiller team provides concept level mechanical, plumbing, and controls designs that utilize LEED and value engineering. Visualization of these concepts includes: 2D CAD sketches, equipment possibilities and spreadsheet calculations, initial cost data, cost options, constructability and initial schedules are determined. LOD 100

Criteria Design (A.K.A. Schematic Design)

Once a concept selection is determined for mechanical and plumbing systems, the MacMiller team begins the schematic design phase, narrowing down more details of the selected systems while still allowing for architectural flexibility. Our Estimating and Engineering departments mock up general systems in 3D for initial estimating and test-fit purposes. Utilizing our powerful database within Fabrication CADmep allows us to determine preliminary costs of multiple concepts while studying the form, fit and function of each system within the building’s constraints. Major options are evaluated, tested and selected. LOD 200

Final Install

Rendering

Detailed Design (A.K.A. Design Development)

Upon finalizing schematic design, the selections of mechanical and plumbing systems have been determined and the MacMiller team moves into design development. Based on project requirements and BIM execution plans, a 3D project is modeled using Revit or Fabrication CADmep, annotated MEPF models are combined, and routing elevations are established. 3D elements are parameterized with Metadata and Omniclass. Schedules and details are further developed. Initial agency review permit drawings are submitted for various areas of the project. LOD 300

3D Design Coordination

3D Design Coordination is accomplished using Navisworks for clash detection and visualization. During design, all trades are combined and system ‘fit’ is analyzed to determine initial constructability issues such as: vertical chase and shaft requirements, structure versus trade penetration issues, plumbing wall and riser conditions, soffits and other ceiling requirements. This is the first pass of coordination. LOD 300

Constructability Review

Our Production department completes a detailed constructability review. Mechanical and plumbing constructability issues are addressed and engineering design layout is modified or redesigned to meet constructability. Complex areas requiring comprehensive layout, such as chiller plants, boiler rooms, mechanical rooms, labs, etc., are reviewed by production and detailed for engineering design purposes. LOD 300

Estimating

Our Fabrication CADmep database is fully integrated between Estimating, Engineering, and Production. Each part in the database has the manufacturing cost embedded, which includes material, labor and ancillaries. At any point during the project we can produce a cost breakdown of the current design within any area of the project.

Thanks to Revit 2016 we are now able to utilize our Fabrication CADmep database within Revit. MacMiller heavily datamines it’s BIMs, and this allows the manipulation of the BIM to be truly interdepartmental and accessible to each department throughout Integrated Project Delivery. LOD 300

Implementation Documents (A.K.A. Construction Documents)

Once detailed design is achieved, MacMiller construction documents and design are essentially complete. Engineering sharpens the design BIM, refines annotation, addresses proposed building changes, and finishes details, schedules, and single-line diagrams. Implementation documents are issued for construction and are distributed to Production to begin development of installation and shop drawings. LOD 300 to LOD 500 progression

Agency Coordination & Procurement

The final permitting process commences and the remaining project areas are divided into permitting packages for submission. Submitted permit drawings containing agency review comments are addressed and resubmitted for final permit sign-off. Once permits are achieved, our Production department is updated with revisions and production drawings are modified to meet permit requirements. Criteria and detailed design allows early commitment for procurement of long lead, custom, or prefabricated items. Early involvement of vendors in these phases helps accelerate procurement.

Production

Beginning shortly after the Constructability Review, MacMiller Production, specifically our detailing department, uses the engineering BIM and implementation documents to develop the installation drawings for the project. Our installation drawings are typically created at 1/4” = 1’-0”, versus our implementation drawings which are executed at 1/8” = 1’-0”. This is done to provide room for additional annotation such as dimensions, spool tags and construction notes. Installation drawings include: equipment, pipe and duct location drawings, penetration drawings showing sleeves and buck-outs, isometrics drawings, spooling/assembly drawings, steel detailing, etc. Fabrication CADmep is our chosen application to perform this work. LOD 400

3D Production Coordination

Production coordination is more finite than design coordination. The addition of hangers, seismic bracing, system racking, and constructability routing can effect design system layouts dramatically in all trades. For this reason, a more refined clash detection round is required to meet constructability. The continued use of Navisworks is an unequaled approach for administering this detailed coordination. 3D models are incorporated from all trades and a zone-by-zone inspection of system ‘fit’ is completed with several iterations. This is the final pass of coordination. LOD 400

Fabrication

MacMiller uses Computer-Aided Manufacturing. Our Fabrication CADmep database of sheet metal fittings is hyper-intelligent and contains all the manufacturing data needed for export to our CAM systems. These numerically controlled machines cut, sheer, and break the sheet metal into the required fittings as additional technicians finalize each part into it finished form.

Spooling/assembly drawings are then used by Fabrication to build assemblies of duct, pipe and fittings in our manufacturing facility - simplifying the installation process in the field. Our multi-trade racking systems streamline the installation process. Pre-fabrication in a controlled environment minimizes field hazards, as well as on-site material staging and fabricating. LOD 400

Construction

Combining our Trimble “Total Stations” with our 3D BIM allows us to field locate slab and wall penetrations, hanger locations, and equipment with ease. MacMiller field personnel are equipped with tablets for viewing Navisworks coordination models, implementation documents, and installation drawings. UPC barcoding allows us to track assemblies to determine daily installation progression in relation to our just-in-time manufacturing process. LOD 400

Tab & Commissioning

The power of Revit’s scheduling allows us to datamines the BIM, producing bills of material for grilles, returns, and diffusers that simplify the Test/Adjustment/Balance process during the commissioning phase. Combining this data with the equipment data allows us to calibrate the performance of our systems more easily in the field. LOD 400

Record Drawings & BIM Archive

During construction, Engineering updates the BIM with field installation detail. Final equipment metadata is incorporated and the location of valves or other pertinent controls is verified along with equipment access. All remaining information required to meet the owner’s BIM Deliverable Specification is incorporated. MacMiller maintains a BIM archive for owners. LOD 500

Facility Management & Warranty

Using the MacMiller mechanical and plumbing Record BIM, Facility Managers locate information about equipment and controls throughout the building. FM:Interact offers a direct integration with Autodesk Revit MEP software, allowing building owners to connect BIM data from the design and construction phases to the facility management and operations phase. FM:Interact integrates with Autodesk Revit software and enables owners to more productively track and maintain critical mechanical, engineering and plumbing system assets. LOD 500

Continuing Service

Maintaining the virtual lifecycle of the building by keeping the Record BIM congruent with the physical lifecycle of the building enables owners to develop transitions, improvements and alterations more easily. New design teams will start with the true documented condition of the building. Because of this, the Record BIM has an innate value. The development cost associated with the original engineering BIM lives on. Owner’s investment into BIM becomes a sustainable asset in correlation with the building itself. We help owners maintain the virtual and physical lifecycles of their buildings. LOD X