VIATechnik creates intelligent 3D model for reconstruction of Cedars-Sinai Steven Spielberg Building

Chicago — VIATechnik, a Chicago-based engineering firm, has partnered with Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and LCS Constructors, Inc. on a reconstruction project of the Steven Spielberg Building. Construction is nearing completion on this cryogenic lab and storage facility. The space has been transformed to include 80 liquid nitrogen freezers with chilled beams, as well as cutting edge research and laboratories.

Using state-of-the-art point cloud scans, VIATechnik was able to assess the building’s existing layout and systems while allowing business to operate as usual on the upper three stories of the building as the ground floor was completely renovated.

A Leica C10 scanner was utilized to take accurate scans of the existing structure, HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems within the building. VIATechnik then compiled the information into a 3D BIM utilizing Autodesk Recap and Revit. Once the Revit model of the existing systems was completed, VIATechnik engineers created BIMs for the all the new mechanical, plumbing, electrical and fire protection systems based on the designer’s 2D drawings.

“Due to the density of the existing systems, as well as the uniqueness of some of the systems such as acid waste, liquid nitrogen piping, or medical gas, we felt that it would be important to create an intelligent BIM that identified each type of pipe or duct. To obtain this information, we took photos with the point cloud scan to give a true color 3D point cloud,” says President and Co-Founder of VIATechnik, Danielle Dy Buncio.

“The challenge was in coordinating the new construction work around the rest of the building, of which three floors above had to stay fully operational for the safety and care of the hospital patients,” continued Dy Buncio.

Time was of the essence in this project and due to the strict construction timeline, the initial cloud point scans were completed in one day, with the existing model completed in one week.  The VIATechnik team was able to complete the entire modeling project in just one month so that an initial coordination effort could be achieved prior to MEP construction.

The value of the BIM provided by VIATechnik goes beyond the typical construction coordination. Carey Collier, Project Manager for LCS Constructors explains further, “We are using the BIM for our construction as-builts and Cedars-Sinai really likes that.”

To be able to turn over an accurate and intelligent model to the client has immense value – from utilizing that model for future construction efforts, to inputting facility management information.