
Speaker Zach Soflin

Feature Presentation: Abstracting Project-Specific Problems for Broader Application
BIM models excel at adding simple, textual data to building elements. But what about complex data (images, tasks, messaging, and complex parameters)? This presentation discusses how a 50-person architecture firm developed software in-house that allows designers to efficiently collect complex data in the field, access that data in their BIM model, and share that data across multiple platforms. The presentation will also demonstrate this software development process as an opportunity to think critically about what can be learned from the open-sourced, collaborative nature of the computer science industry.
The presentation will focus on a means of cataloging and accessing complex, unbounded project data using a custom application that interfaces with conventional BIM platforms.
Working on the interior renovation of the Nebraska State Capitol, the project team had a detailed BIM model, but no way to link complex project data (images, tasks, notes, complex parameters) to specific elements (ex: rooms, windows, doors). The project’s scale (more than 1,300 rooms), along with the multiplicity of data required (57 data points), necessitated an alternative to the traditional way of collecting and correlating data. The software, developed by one of the firm’s project architects, Zach Soflin, AIA, allowed users to collect complex project data in the field and immediately access it in the model. The application was also designed to create a knowledge sharing hub, creating closer collaboration and more transparency for project teams. At a higher level, the presentation will discuss lessons learned from the perspective of an architect leveraging tools from computer science industry and how AEC professionals can begin to apply the computer science industry’s systematic approach and open-sourced collaborative nature to the building profession.
Featured Presentation: New Workflows in Digital Timber
Timber has gained a new relevance in architectural design and construction due to advances in engineering and material sciences. Engineered wood products can be sustainably produced, are easily workable, and offer other advantages over other common building materials such as steel or concrete. However, the material complexity of timber complicates its use and adaptation, especially in high-performance and non-standard applications. This research explores a material practice that combines computational modelling, simulation, and material prototyping in order to create a closer relationship between design and material behaviour. As a collaboration with two industrial partners, it seeks to link early-stage architectural design processes with large-scale timber fabrication knowledge, limitations, and opportunities. This presentation will provide an overview of the research framework, its main developments, and its outputs, with a particular focus on the computational processes involved throughout the modelling and fabrication workflows deployed therein.
Speaker: Tom Svilans
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