Confidential
Hyperscale Data Center BIM Model
BIM Modelling and coordination of a 115,000+ m² Hyperscale Data Center up to RIBA Stage 4
Description
Modelical was appointed to develop and coordinate the BIM model for the first two modules of a hyperscale data center. Covering more than 115,000 m², this hyperscale facility was part of one of the world’s largest data center campus developments.
Modelical had a strong understanding of the project after previously developing the BIM model for another 40,000 m² data center located within the same hub. This new project presented significant challenges in multidisciplinary coordination, technical complexity, and demanding delivery schedules.
Modelical was responsible for BIM modelling, multidisciplinary 3D coordination, and drawing production for the IT, Electrical, Fire Protection, Plumbing, and Drainage disciplines, throughout RIBA Stage 3 (Spatial Coordination) and RIBA Stage 4 (Technical Design). The project was delivered in collaboration with international teams responsible for the Architecture, Structural Engineering, and HVAC disciplines.
Due to the scale of the facility and the large number of elements requiring modelling and parameterisation, the Modelical team implemented several BIM automation workflows to accelerate the BIM modelling process. These included the automated coding of more than 33,000 unique cable trays, together with the automated generation and coding of more than 1,000 drawings.
To optimise documentation management, the team used Smart Delivery, a solution developed by Modelical to automate the publishing, printing, and remote management of BIM documentation on megaprojects, significantly reducing the time and resources dedicated to these tasks.
The project was delivered over a seven-month period by a dedicated team of four BIM specialists.
Deliverables
The project work packages and deliverables included:
- Revit BIM models for:
- IT
- Electrical
- Fire Protection
- Plumbing and Drainage
- Multidisciplinary BIM coordination across two hyperscale data center modules
- More than 1,000 drawings delivered in DWG and PDF formats
- IFC models for information exchange and coordination
- NWC models for coordination and model review
- Native Autodesk Revit models
- BIM automation developed with Dynamo for:
- Cable tray coding
- Automated drawing generation and coding
- Automated sprinkler network modelling
- Automated publishing and remote printing of BIM documentation using Smart Delivery
Benefits
Modelical enabled the client to meet the demanding delivery milestones for the hyperscale data center BIM model, ensuring timely delivery, quality, and the required Level of Development up to RIBA Stage 4.
The Modelical team’s experience in megaprojects, data centers, complex MEP environments, and BIM automation helped streamline the production of BIM models and documentation, ensuring consistency and efficiency on this large-scale project.
The project also provided a coordinated digital foundation for the future construction of the data center.
BIM Ecosystem for Hyperscale Data Centers
Hyperscale Data Center projects take BIM to a higher level, requiring advanced processes to model and coordinate thousands of elements in highly complex MEP environments across the different RIBA stages.
The scale of these projects, combined with increasingly demanding delivery milestones, makes automation a key factor in streamlining modelling, document production, and information management processes.
To address these challenges, Modelical has developed, drawing on more than ten years of experience in large-scale and data center projects, its own ecosystem of BIM automation and tools to increase productivity, maintain information consistency, and ensure the quality of deliverables.
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