CPD role
Once this was approved, CPD proceeded to develop an exemplar outline design to meet current NICS office best practice standards.
This included developing the brief with Rivers Agency, providing a concept design and achieving planning approval which was granted in December 2014.
Pilot project for Building Information Modelling (BIM)
CPD took the project forward as a Building Information Modelling (BIM) pilot project. CPD is leading on the implementation of BIM in Northern Ireland. BIM is a collaborative way of working which is underpinned by digital technologies.
These technologies allow for more efficient methods of designing, delivering and maintaining physical built assets throughout their entire lifecycle and is changing how buildings and infrastructure are planned, designed, built and managed.
It is a process which requires the generation and management of digital representations of the physical and functional characteristics of buildings and places.
Amongst other benefits, BIM has the potential to generate significant efficiency savings in construction projects by supporting the creation of innovative designs and optimised engineering solutions which in themselves represent better value for money.
By manipulation of the digital model, BIM can also be used to demonstrate that a building will meet NICS needs, long before there is any work on a construction site.
These BIM models, consist of both 3D geometrical and non-graphical data which are prepared by different parties during the project life-cycle.
Project outcome
Following completion of the exemplar design, CPD used an NEC Option A, Design & Build contract to procure a contractor to undertake the detailed design and to construct the works.
The contract was awarded to QMAC Construction Ltd, a Dungannon based small and medium-sized enterprise, in September 2015. The building was completed on 12 November 2016 on time and to budget.