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Commercial real estate / Commercial BIM

BIM coordination for data centers and commercial buildings

Coordination of engineering systems for data centers, office and business centers, shopping complexes and hotels.

A large number of engineering systems must be located in a limited space, without disturbing the architecture, structure, requirements for installation and further maintenance.

BIM-координація офісного комплексу Rubinstein Twins у Тель-Авіві
Rubinstein Twins · Tel Aviv 110,000 m² Visualization from the Ziggurat portfolio
  • 20+ years of experience
  • 1,000+ coordinated projects
  • Revit & AutoCAD
  • ISO 19650

Commercial BIM

What distinguishes BIM coordination commercial objects

Commercial objects are constantly changing during the design process: layouts are refined, tenants, functions of premises, equipment and requirements for engineering connections change. At the same time, the basic systems of the building must remain consistent with the decisions of individual rental and functional zones

  • Planning
  • Tenants
  • Functions of premises
  • Equipment
  • Connection

A single change can immediately affect architecture, structures, ventilation, electrical, water and fire systems.

One change is interconnected systems
Change of project decision
  • Architecture
  • Constructions
  • Ventilation
  • Electricity
  • Water supply
  • Fire systems

Therefore, not only coordination of systems is critical for commercial BIM, but also control of changes and the relevance of models — so that all project participants work with a single agreed solution.

Learn more about the BIM coordination process

Critical zones

Where is detailed coordination most often required in commercial projects?

The space above the suspended ceiling

Air ducts, pipelines, cable trays, fire protection systems, and other services must fit between the floor structure and the finished ceiling height specified by the architect.

Coordination must account for:

  • system dimensions
  • insulation thickness
  • required pipe slopes
  • installation clearances
  • maintenance access
  • the specified room height
BIM-координація повітроводів, трубопроводів, кабельних трас і пожежних систем у просторі над підвісною стелею
Ceiling space · MEP coordination

Places of passage through structures

The MEP routes must be coordinated with the beams, walls, ceilings and other structural elements.

Special attention must be paid to the passages and intersections of the trunk systems with the structures before the corresponding construction works.

BIM-координація проходок повітроводів, трубопроводів і кабельних трас через конструкції комерційної будівлі
Walkthroughs · MEP

Vertical mines

Within the limited shaft area, the following systems may run simultaneously:

  • ventilation
  • water supply
  • drainage
  • electrical systems
  • low-current systems
  • fire protection systems

The points where vertical risers transition into horizontal floor mains are particularly important.

BIM-координація вертикальних шахт із трубопроводами, вентиляцією та кабельними трасами
Vertical mine · Risers and mains

Technical premises

It is important to check not only the place of installation of the equipment, but also:

  • connection of pipelines and air ducts
  • cable routes
  • opening doors and panels
  • access to valves and of filters
  • mounting zones
  • possibility of dismantling and replacing equipment
BIM-координація обладнання й інженерних систем технічного приміщення
Technical premises · Equipment and service areas

Underground parking lots

In car parks, the following systems run concurrently beneath the slab:

  • ventilation
  • smoke extraction systems
  • sprinkler fire suppression systems
  • drainage systems
  • cable trays
  • lighting
  • other engineering systems

At the same time, the specified traffic clearances and required vehicle headroom must be maintained.

BIM-координація вентиляції, пожежогасіння, кабельних трас та освітлення підземного паркінгу
Underground parking · Engineering systems and dimensions

Data centers

BIM coordination of data centers

A data center has a much higher density and interdependence of engineering systems than most typical commercial buildings.

The coordination solution should take into account not only physical intersections, but also the design logic of cooling, power supply, redundancy, cable infrastructure and equipment access.

Learn more about the BIM coordination process
  1. Cooling systems

    Pipelines and equipment of cooling systems are coordinated with:

    • constructions
    • electrical systems
    • fire systems
    • other MEP networks
  2. Electrical infrastructure and cable routes

    In technically saturated areas, it is necessary to determine in advance the relative position of cable routes in relation to cooling systems, fire protection and structures.

  3. Main and backup systems

    Changing the route to eliminate a geometric collision should not violate the logic of the main and backup systems laid down by the project.

  4. Access to equipment

    It is necessary to take into account the space for:

    • service
    • opening equipment
    • disassembly of components
    • replacement of equipment

Ziggurat services

System coordination and BIM-management for commercial projects

Systems Coordination

Interdisciplinary coordination of the architecture, structures and engineering systems of a commercial facility before the start of installation.

Learn more about BIM coordination

Offices

BIM coordination of office buildings and business centers

For an office building, one of the main tasks is the efficient use of the space between the floor structure and the clear ceiling.

In this zone, it is necessary to coordinate HVAC systems, water supply and sewerage, power supply, fire protection and other networks without losing the height of the premises provided by the architecture.

Learn more about the BIM coordination process
  1. The space between the floor and the ceiling

    The most difficult zone of an office building is the space where engineering networks must pass without losing the specified height of the premises.

    • typical office floors
    • ceiling spaces
    • mines
    • bathrooms
  2. Engineering systems and functional areas

    Coordination extends to all areas where basic building systems interact with facility planning and operation.

    • technical premises
    • elevator halls
    • parking lots
    • HVAC · water · electricity
  3. Repeated coordination nodes

    Typical floors are of particular importance: an unresolved coordination node can be repeated on several or many floors.

Hotels

BIM coordination of hotels

In hotels, repetition becomes a key factor.

A typical room, bathroom and vertical engineering connections can be repeated many times. Therefore, an error in one typical solution can scale over a significant part of the building.

Learn more about the BIM coordination process
  1. Repetitive hotel elements

    One coordinated typical node can scale to dozens of floors and rooms.

    • typical hotel rooms
    • bathrooms
    • risers
    • corridor ceiling spaces
  2. Public and service areas

    Places where repetitive systems pass into functionally complex areas of the hotel require separate coordination.

    • lobbies
    • restaurants
    • the kitchen
    • conference areas
    • service premises
    • technical premises
  3. Transitions between floors

    It is especially important to coordinate the transitions between typical and non-typical floors, as well as the entry points of repetitive systems into public or technically saturated areas.

Interdisciplinary model

What systems interact in commercial projects

01 / 04

Basic model

  • Architecture
  • Constructions
  • Holes in structures
02 / 04

Climate and cooling

  • HVAC
  • Ventilation
  • Cooling
03 / 04

Engineering networks

  • Water supply
  • Sewerage
  • Electricity supply
  • Cable trays
  • Fire protection
  • Low current systems
04 / 04

Integration and access

  • Engineering equipment
  • Vertical risers
  • Mines
  • Service and access areas

For a complex node, the important thing is not the number of intersections found, but the coordination of all systems within the available space.

Basic model Technical core Vertical tracks Service areas Agreed decision

Real practice

Ziggurat's experience in commercial projects

Офісні вежі Rubinstein Twins у Тель-Авіві — комерційний BIM-проєкт

TEL AVIV · OFFICE TOWERS

Rubinstein Twins

110,000 m² · Two towers with 34 floors each

Architect: Yaski Mor Sivan

View the project
Grand Canyon — торговий центр у Беер-Шеві, Ізраїль

BEER-SHEVA · SHOPPING CENTER

Grand Canyon

140,000 m²

Client: British Israel / Lahav Group

Architect: Yaski Mor Sivan

View the project

Before starting installation

When to start BIM coordination of a commercial object

The greatest practical value of coordination occurs when the engineering decision can still be changed before the corresponding system is purchased, manufactured, or installed.

The later an interdisciplinary problem is discovered, the fewer options remain for solving it without affecting the already completed work.

BIM Management
Координаційний план MEP-систем офісних веж Rubinstein Twins
Rubinstein Twins · Coordination plan from the Ziggurat portfolio

Your project

Need BIM coordination commercial object?

If you are working on a data center, office building, business center, shopping complex or hotel, send us your existing project materials.

We will be able to assess the complexity and amount of coordination required specifically for your type of facility.

Discuss the project

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about BIM coordination commercial objects

У першу чергу варто приділяти увагу зонам із високою концентрацією систем або обмеженим простором: технічним приміщенням, шахтам, стельовим зонам, паркінгам і місцям проходження магістральних мереж через конструкції.

Пріоритет конкретних зон залежить від графіка проєктування та будівництва.

Якщо один і той самий вузол повторюється на декількох поверхах, помилка в типовому рішенні також повторюється.

Тому доцільно спочатку детально опрацювати типовий поверх або вузол, а вже після цього використовувати узгоджене рішення на наступних поверхах.

Дата-центри мають значно вищу щільність електричних систем, систем охолодження та кабельних мереж.

Крім фізичних перетинів необхідно враховувати прийняту проєктом логіку резервування, доступ до обладнання та взаємодію основних і резервних систем.

Так, якщо паркінг має високу концентрацію інженерних систем.

Вентиляція, димовидалення, пожежогасіння, водовідведення, електричні системи та освітлення повинні розміщуватися без порушення необхідних габаритів і висоти проїздів.

Системи можуть фізично не перетинатися, але залишатися незручними або неможливими для монтажу та обслуговування.

Наприклад, біля обладнання може не залишитися необхідного доступу, або трасування однієї системи може блокувати сервіс іншої.

Координацію доцільно починати тоді, коли основні архітектурні, конструктивні та інженерні рішення вже достатньо сформовані для міждисциплінарної перевірки, але ще можуть бути скориговані до закупівлі та монтажу.