Exploring digital project delivery in renovation projects : a case study of UBC's Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility expansion project

In recent years, there has been a significant growth in the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Numerous studies have demonstrated the benefits of BIM implementation across a range of project types and scales, and throughout the project lifecycle and the construction industry supply chain. Although interest in using BIM for existing buildings and renovation activities has been growing among researchers and practitioners, the level of BIM implementation for renovation projects has been limited. This research seeks to address this gap by providing a detailed case study analysis of the Bioenergy Research Demonstration Facility (BRDF) expansion project, a renewable energy generation facility located at the University of British Columbia’s Vancouver campus. The objective of this research project was to examine the use of BIM tools and processes to support collaborative and digital project delivery, and to identify the impact of BIM on project management practices and outcomes. This study investigated this renovation project from the perspectives of technology, organization, process and context using an embedded case study methodology. BIM was used for a variety of purposes throughout the design and construction process, including 3D laser scanning, visualization, design authoring, design review, design coordination, constructability review, communication and documentation, and construction sequence analysis. This research showed that BIM had positive impacts on the project management process and the project outcomes, including streamlined processes for communication and decision-making, and increased quality of design and construction outputs. The BRDF team also faced many challenges with BIM implementation and use, including a lack of skills and experience with BIM among the project team, insufficient BIM standards and requirements, and unclear data management processes. Future research is needed to better understand the usefulness and impact of BIM on a broad range of renovation project types and scales, project delivery methods, and organizational contexts.Applied Science, Faculty ofCivil Engineering, Department ofGraduat