A historic theater New York recently underwent an extensive renovation and Helm BIM was able to serve as a critical BIM resource. The space was being used as the basketball court and gym and was being adapted for the needs of a new entertainment oriented tenant. Working with an old historic structure comes with unique challenges. On this job, the Helm Team was able to offer several of our core services. We started by gathering a 3D Laser Scan of the property and using it to validate the provided design model. Once all the post demolition spaces were verified by our 3D Scan, Helm served the general contractor as the project’s BIM Coordination Manager establishing and managing the design coordination process between all MEPF trades. Lastly, Helm BIM was also hired by the mechanical pipe contractor as their 3D Modeling and Shop drawing resource for this project.
Helm BIM’s project at this Theater was a great example of how advanced 3D laser scanning technology can be used to ensure accuracy in the construction process. For the first item, the general contractor hired Helm BIM to verify the accuracy of the existing structural and architectural models. Helm BIM’s field team visited the site to gather 3D laser scans and create a point cloud file, which was then compared to the existing models to ensure that they were accurate. The architect for the project had made a 3D Model but this model was created well before much of the demolition had occurred. Getting in during and after large demo phases were complete allowed Helm’s team to gather a point cloud that was more accurate to conditions where construction would occur. Helm BIM’s modeling team used the point cloud to make any necessary adjustments to the models, ensuring that the final
product was as accurate as possible.
For the second item, Helm BIM was responsible for managing the BIM MEP Trade coordination process. This involved providing the general contractor and project subcontractors with a BIM Execution Plan and setting project standards so that the latest models could be uploaded and integrated into the master model effectively. Helm BIM ran weekly coordination meetings with the team to review MEP conflicts and ensure that all trades were working together effectively. Within the MEP coordination process, Helm BIM worked with all MEP trades – mechanical pipe, mechanical duct, plumbing, and sprinkler – to ensure that each subcontractor had an employee or representative working for them to model for coordination and make adjustments throughout the coordination process.
Throughout the coordination process, the Helm team worked with the project’s general contractor and MEPF subcontractors to coordinate their systems amongst each other and within the unique spaces in the theater. On the former upper stage, the design called for a framing system to hold up a new duct work system within the space. The Theater also had an detailed ceiling and Helm was able to make sure sprinkler systems were able to be dropped in the right places so the theater’s beautiful ceiling would not be disturbed.
Aside from managing the full coordination effort for the job, Helm was responsible for modeling and drafting for the mechanical pipe subcontractor. While each of the other trades had their own representative to model in 3D and have models updated and adjusted accordingly for weekly coordination meetings, the mechanical pipe subcontractor brought Helm on board to take over these responsibilities. The advantage in this is that we were able to have our team draft mechanical pipe while we reviewed the entire model for coordination issues. This allowed us to model the mechanical pipe more efficiently than if the mechanical contractor hired a third party or took on the responsibility themselves. Helm’s team were able to be proactive about potential issues and provide the mechanical subcontractor with the best experience. When an area or floor was signed off on, Helm BIM would create shop drawings along with isometric drawings so the field team would have all the necessary information to install in the field without any issues
