Building information aids mechanical system design

An Autodesk product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team May 2, 2003

Acco Engineered Systems, one of the ten largest mechanical contractors in the USA, has purchased Autodesk building information modelling solutions.

Acco Engineered Systems, one of the ten largest mechanical contractors in the USA, has purchased Autodesk building information modelling solutions.

As a design/build mechanical contractor, Acco designs, fabricates, installs and operates mechanical systems for technically complex projects that typically require a great quantity of highly detailed drawings.

By using Autodesk's integrated solutions in all seven of its offices in the western USA, Acco expects to provide enhanced services to its prominent commercial, institutional and entertainment clients, which include Boeing, Stanford University, the J Paul Getty Museum, DreamWorks SKG and CBS.

"We believe that Autodesk's building information modelling solutions will lead to the creation of more detailed drawings and will improve co-ordination between members of both the design team and other trades", said John Boncich, Chief Engineer at Acco's corporate office in Glendale, California.

"These smart tools are going to make our design efforts a lot easier".

Acco purchased 33 licences of Autodesk Building Systems, the premier building information modelling software for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineers, and 80 licences of the Autodesk Architectural Desktop building information modelling application.

For improved file management, Acco will combine the building information modelling solutions with its current use of Autodesk Buzzsaw, an online project collaboration service.

As a leader in the development of the design/build approach for HVAC, process piping, and control systems, Acco views technology as a competitive advantage.

After being introduced to Autodesk Building Systems and Autodesk Architectural Desktop software, Acco decided to move from traditional CAD to a building information modelling platform.

"In the past, it has been time-consuming to generate the many sections required to clearly communicate the mechanical systems", said Boncich.

This is especially true in mechanical rooms, which house a number of different systems and where space is at a premium, or in nonrectangular buildings, such as the Staples Arena - one of Acco's recent projects.

"Autodesk's building information modelling solutions will allow us to quickly generate more numerous and more detailed sections, which should result in better co-ordination and cleaner installations", Boncich said.

Autodesk Building Systems software makes it easy to create custom and manufacturer-specific content, speeding the design of the system.

The use of intelligent building systems objects - ducts and piping that behave like their real-world counterparts during design - will also help designers with the difficult task of integrating all the mechanical system's different components and laying them out as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

Acco was also attracted by the software's ability to create 3D models of ductwork, piping, and other building systems, which makes it much simpler to visualise how mechanical systems interact with the building's structure and check for potential interferences.

The software will also help Acco co-ordinate with electrical, plumbing, and sprinkler contractors to avoid conflicts with those systems as well.

Increasingly, Acco has found that clients, designers and other consultants are requiring it to work with 3D models.

On some projects, Acco already uses Autodesk Buzzsaw to store, manage and share project documents over the Internet.

With Building Systems and Architectural Desktop, Acco anticipates improving internal co-ordination within Acco's own departments by producing models that the company's sheet metal and piping departments can use to create shop drawings directly.

"We looked at other competitive products, but felt that Autodesk offered the best value", said Boncich.

"The majority of our clients and consultants use Autodesk building solutions.

So Building Systems and Architectural Desktop will help us co-ordinate with them more effectively and accurately.

It was an easy decision to make".

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