by Stephen Scaff Limbach Facility Services

IPD to Construction Industry:

Get productive!

s an industry-wide initiative is cur-

rently aimed at ways to improve pro-

ductivity, lower costs and increase sus-

tainability, traditional project delivery

methods must undergo a fundamental

structural change. Integrated Project

Delivery, or IPD, is redefining the entire

building process, providing contractors

with unparalleled flexibility and fore-

sight. Through the IPD process, Lim-

bach Company can leverage model-

based technology, such as BIM, to en-

gage in a concurrent engineering proc-

ess that permits all project stakeholders

to collaborate on a building’s design,

construction and lifecycle. This global-

ized functionality with other construc-

tion companies binds team success to

project success, sharing risk and re-

ward and ensuring optimized project

outcome.

The American Institute of Architects

(AIA) defines IPD as “a project delivery

approach that integrates people, sys-

tems, business structures and practices

into a process that collaboratively har-

nesses the talents and insights of all

participants to optimize project results,

increase value to the owner, reduce

waste, and maximize efficiency through

all phases of design, fabrication, and

construction.”

This definition was published in a

2007 report created by the AIA Cali-

fornia Council titled: Integrated Pro-

ject Delivery: A Guide. The intention

of this guide was to provide the AEC

industry with a model to realize de-

sign and construction convergence by

listing the principles of IPD and detail-

ing the steps involved when establish-

ing an integrated project. The report

was created in response to what AIA

view as major inefficiencies in the

traditional delivery methods dominat-

ing today’s marketplace. According to

Markku Allison, resource architect for

AIA Strategy and Business Develop-

ment, “Project delivery methods must

change to increase the quality, cost

effectiveness and sustainability of the

built environment.”

In supporting AIA’s argument for

the necessity of an industry-wide

change, the report identifies how con-

struction productivity has seriously

suffered due to a lack in interoperabil-

ity; sighting a 2004 study by the Na-

tional Institute of Standards and Tech-

nology (NIST). NIST had commis-

sioned the study in an attempt to

quantify the efficiency losses in the

U.S. capital facilities industry that are

a result of inadequate interoperability.

The report examined the various ele-

ments involved in a construction pro-

ject, including design, engineering,

facilities management, business proc-

esses, software systems and redun-

dant paper records management

across the entire facility life cycle. The

NIST estimated that poor interopera-

bility cost the U.S. capital facilities

industry $15.8 billion in 2002 – which

is likely a conservative figure. In com-

parison, statistics published by U.S.

Bureau of Labor Statistics show that

in the last 40 years, while non-farm

productivity has increased by over

200 percent, productivity in the con-

struction industry has actually de-

clined.

BIM-enabled Virtual Construction is

allowing for the high level of conver-

gence between project stakeholders

required to solve this issue of produc-

tivity. The full potential of IPD is

unlocked through BIM, as it intro-

duces unprecedented levels coordina-

tion and efficiency to the industry.

By using IPD in conjunction with BIM,

real-world performance and facility

operation can be precisely depicted in the pre-construction phase. All environmental elements can be considered

and planned for accordingly, enabling a real-time understanding of how design decisions will impact energy con-

sumption and building lifecycle. Also, potential design conflicts can be identified and corrected prior to construc-

tion, reducing field coordination errors and saving serious time and money.

Client demands and cost considerations are driving significant and rapid changes in methods of project delivery.

Without a doubt, the future of the construction industry lies in Integrated Project Delivery. Resulting from a conver-

gence of opportunities brought about by advances in interoperable software and data systems, IPD can satisfy the

building industry’s long-standing desire for more predictable, accurate and responsible outcomes. As among the

first mechanical contractors to embrace IPD, Limbach has set a precedent for all other companies to follow. IPD

will enable us to deliver projects faster, cheaper and with increased energy efficiency.

All of AIA’s print resources on IPD can be found at: www.aia.org/about/initiatives/AIAS076700.

Stephen Scaff handles corporate communications for Limbach Facility Services LLC. Limbach is a mechanical contractor and service firm headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa, with 11 strategic locations throughout the U.S. The Company’s ongoing initiative is aimed at increasing productivity and sustain-ability while lowering costs and energy consumption. From BIM-enhanced building design and construc-tion to lifecycle maintenance, Limbach offers the entire spectrum of energy solutions services. Find out more at www.limbachinc.com