June 22, 2010

Canadian Construction Association to form new BIM organization

RICHARD GILBERT

staff writer

REGINA

The Canadian Construction Association (CCA) plans to take a leadership role in establishing a multi-disciplinary national body to address BIM issues, but the Canada BIM Council argues all stakeholders in the industry must be engaged equally.

“We just want to carry on with the direction from the CCA Board to establish a multi-disciplinary body to deal with specific issues as they relate to BIM (Building Information Modeling),” said CCA chief operating officer Pierre Boucher.

“The new entity will be likely modeled on the CCDC (Canadian Construction Documents Committee) structure. This is the type of body we are looking at in terms of structure and these are the people that will be brought to the table.”

The CCA stated at recent committee meetings in Regina that it does not want to delegate its role and mandate to any other organization in assessing risk and responsibilities in the integration of BIM in the construction process.

Taking this approach, CCA would like to follow the model of the CCDC, which is the national joint committee responsible for the development, production and review of standard Canadian construction contracts, forms and guides.

CCA has met with the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, the Association of Consulting Engineering Companies and Defence Construction Canada to assess how these agencies will respond to this initiative.

The other core members of this group include Construction Specifications Canada and Public Works.

“We feel comfortable with the structure of the CCDC, because it works through compromise and its members consult with their constituents,” said Boucher. “When these people have confirmed participation, we will certainly reach out and invite others to be part of the team.”

The initial reaction suggests these agencies have welcomed the proposal, because they asked for it to be put in writing, so it could be presented to their respective boards. The letter was sent and a formal response has been received from RAIC.

In terms of resources for this initiative, CCA has held meetings with the National Research Council to get help from staff in its Centre for Computer Assisted Construction Technology.

Boucher said CCA is talking to the Canada BIM Council about forming a partnership, but the form this relationship would take has not been determined.

“We are certainly eager to form a partnership with all interested parties,” said Allan Partridge, one of the founding board members of the Canada BIM Council and a partner with Edmonton-based HIP Architects.

“One of the things Canada BIM recognizes is that one group can’t set the standard for everybody. It requires a collective to address these issues and that is what Canada BIM does.”

The Canada BIM Council provides the architectural, engineering and construction industry Canada’s only self- regulating BIM authority.

“We need to involve all those groups that are working with BIM,” said Partridge. “We don’t want any groups excluded from the discussion. You can’t have one group sitting at the table and trying to drive this thing forward.

Partridge argues the real value-added by the BIM council is that it equally engages all facets of the construction industry.

For this reason, he has some concerns about the CCA’s plan to take a leadership role in the new national body.

“I commend the CCA for taking up the initiative on behalf of the contractors, but to say this could be the standard for all is myopic,” he said.

According to Partridge, owners engineers and architects all want to be in the driver’s seat, but this is not possible.

“Only one person can drive,” he said. “But you can share the driving. Our suggestion is to work with us and to make the best of the opportunity.”

The board of directors for the Canada BIM Council includes leaders working in cross-disciplines throughout Canada: educators, architects, engineers, contractors, consultants and mixed trade association representatives.

The mission of the group is to provide industry stakeholders an advocacy, resource and standards council dedicated to supporting business, professionals, educators, purchasers of construction and related services in learning and applying best practices to the evolution of BIM in a Canadian context.

However, Partridge said that both groups need to be aware that the BIM agenda is being driven by events beyond the border of Canada, which means there will eventually be a global standard.

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