sharing data with builders for estimating

[Anonymous]

I have a small firm that specializes in residential architecture. We use about 5 or 6 different builders, all of which we have long-standing relationships with. Although I am not a design-build firm, our strategy typically involves pre-selecting a builder for a job, and working with them during design so that we are better able to manage project budgets, The contracts between the builder and the owner is typically "negotiated" in lieu of bid. We are looking at ways that we can coordinate better with our builders, sharing our materials database so that they can use the information in their estimating software. I know that archicad has the ability to do this, but I cannot really find any information that says how to do it, or what some common practices may be. Has anyone run into this? Any leads would be greatly appreciated.

John Hutchison

[Andy Thomson]

You need to work backwards. Take your last budget spreadsheet, isolate the 'model elements' and think about how you will build the model to get that item-data in your schedules.

Does that make any sense? The more accurately and completely you actually model your building in ArchiCad, using complete, discrete lumber objects, drywall surfaces (as opposed to composites) - the more you actually 'pretend' that you are assembling a building, the more accurate your schedules will be, and the more real your schedule-derived budget will be. We don't model composite 'roofs' or 'slabs' anymore, we put monolithic 'slabs' of concrete on steel decking though (SEO with dnwds subtraction) - and we put plywood 'sheets' on trusses, etc. That way, we can treat all of these items as discrete, readily accessible quantities that can belong to a budget/masterformat outline specification or whatever - and tell us how much of the thing there is - and better yet, with objects, we can add or fill out the exact parameters we want to see in the schedule - such as cost, mass, volume - or even energy loads!

We calculate energy loads from all electrical appliances and lighting now right inside of ArchiCad. (see our blog post on the Electrigon Object and schedules)

Everything that has a given parameter, can be called in a given schedule.
That applies to switches, purlins, siding, millwork - anything.

Simple answer, model everything. Cant-strips, backfill (complex profiles) - and be smart about how you label these things (ID by CSI 2004 division is how we do it, since there is a 15 character limit to ID's)

Someday, we will post a blog entry about scheduling, we have about 10 projects in the loop that are going to end up in budgets this way...they are not ready to be 'published' yet though.