As part of the ongoing relationship with Ashford Borough Council (ABC), AIMIS have been working on a special project, centring around the use of digital construction methods to build 23 highly efficient modular homes designed for temporary housing to those experiencing homelessness.
Full attention was given to the coordination of information, introducing a Common Data Environment (CDE) using Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) to aid in the transparency and collaboration between teams.
As the council’s pilot scheme that truly embraces modern methods of construction integrated with digital technology, AIMIS assisted with training and upskilling the whole supply chain from client to installer, in collaboration with ZED PODS.
ABC required a digital O&M to handover to the council’s housing team, with all data linked to the BIM model, helping to enhance the accuracy of the build to meet sustainable initiatives in terms of the project’s energy efficiency and introduction of renewable energy sources. These new streamlined processes have showed success right from the get-go, including smoother planning and design submissions, approval and input from consultants, and the quality control of information between stakeholders. The detail, care and attention that has gone into this project has set the standard for future public sector developments.
Aiding in the consistency and accuracy through design and operation, Fortis House is a great example of how utilising available digital technologies can amplify the ability to design, manage and deliver buildings of the most intricate, economic, sustainable and safe level. And at such a level where we can clearly see and truly understand our buildings – what components they’re made of, how these work alongside each other and how we can continue to use our buildings in the most efficient and effective ways.
This project won the SECBE 2023 ‘Sustainability’ Award and has been a finalist in the SECBE Awards 2024 in the ‘Digital & AI’ category, British Construction Industry Awards 2024 for ‘Digital Initiative of the Year’ and ‘BIM/Digital Construction’ in the Offsite Awards 2024.
“Before engaging AIMIS, we’d attended various seminars and workshops but they didn’t help us deliver the BIM agenda. We were still missing parts, despite having cascades of information and we didn’t know how to integrate what we had learnt into our working practices. AIMIS’ support and guidance has been imperative to us tackling BIM, we simply couldn’t have done it on our own. By them breaking it all down and putting things in plain language as well as holding our hands through the development of our systems, we’re now in a position of confidence when it comes to liaising with contractors and delivering BIM compliant projects. We’d recommend AIMIS to anyone considering taking this journey.”
Elizabeth Mitchell
Architect, Ashford Borough Council
