CC Jul-Aug 2020

CASEstudy
Internal view of Merdeka 118
The Merdeka 118 foyer
His comments were echoed by Daniel
Goldin who spoke about the background
to the project as part of Graphisoft's
recent live video streaming event, which
took the place of the annual Graphisoft
user conference this year for obious
reasons. Daniel said that some of the
companies they worked with on the
project with were not used to working
with BIM, but this was not important, as
they were able to share 3D building
information using IFC open file formats.
MODEL AND COMPLIANCE
CHECKING
"We started early with clash detection to
identify design elements that could
interfere with load bearing elements and
cause serious problems if not picked
early in the design process," said Karl.
This thoroughness was also applied to
modelling compliance, synchronised with
the cloud-based model, and all of it
checked regularly to ensure that
components from each discipline were
placed correctly within the model.
"Engineers, in fact, see exactly the same
model as the architect, and we use
Solibri to identify any problems with the
design - a big help in quality assurance."
Karl added that "BIMcloud is invaluable
for sharing information with teams on
site and other companies working with
us on the project, and we also use tools
like Hotlink for managing room layers
and furniture layouts, which enables us
to update all of them, if necessary, in
one step."
Karl pointed out other Archicad features
that assisted them on such a major
project, including the ability to do
everything in 3D rather than 2D, making
extensive use of the software's
messaging and mark-up features. But
one of the most significant features he
emphasised further was that the same
software and model were able to be used
for everything from concept to
visualisation and construction. Putting it
all in perspective, Karl said that the future
of the practice is based on what they
produce - and anything they can get their
hands on to achieve this will be used.
LIBRARY PART CREATION
A couple of features were singled out for
special mention. Using Rhino, Archicad's
integrated GDL object creation tool for
Library Part Creation, Fender Katsalidis
were able to design one of the building's
objects, representing some of the
structure's 87 lifts. The created objects,
with perhaps a local tweak here and
there to conform to their position in the
building, were used to populate all of the
structure's 118 storeys. The software was
able to automatically place the lift objects
on each floor and bypass those storeys
which individual lifts missed out.
Whilst the process of creating and
placing some objects was simplified,
others, surprisingly, demanded greater
positioning and accuracy. Like the tower
itself, the large foyer was composed of a
complex series of angled curtain walls.
The 3D model by itself wasn't capable of
placing smoke detectors on the different
sections, as these had to be aligned
precisely with the detection devices that
picked up an uninterrupted beam from
an opposite wall, and had to cope with
different slopes, sizes and angles.
CURTAIN WALL CREATION
The Archicad tool that made the most
difference for Fender Katsilidis, however,
was the curtain wall tool. Although the
tool has been available, and quite stable,
since 2010 it wasn't much used then.
Daniel said that Fender Katsilidis did
consider using an external application to
create the complex shapes and surfaces
required, but were delighted to find that
Archicad's curtain wall tool, using
scripted components, was able to
calculate and design all of the
components of each section.
All of the components were scripted to
produce detailed drawings of all of the
façades, including each individual
element's components such as
mullions, as well as entry portals. The
principal advantage of this was that all
elements remained in-house within the
same model and were able to be
modified centrally, providing a greater
degree of flexibility and control over the
whole model.
Rounding the Q and A off at the end of
his presentation, Daniel reiterated Karl's
earlier statements. "The team, which has
been through many revolutions from
Archicad 10 to the present, have been
creative throughout, free from any
software limitations."
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