Rapid Prototyping (RP): A Proven Means to Reduce Design Cost and Schedule, and Improve Quality
Why Rapid Prototyping?
Clients continually strive to reduce their COSTS
LEAN
– Clients expect same from design provider – But Lean can run counter to the need for agility in early design stages Competitive markets compel us to seek ways to – Price services at market levels – Reduce cost – Improve quality of deliverables A few caveats; RP – Has multiple meanings – Is dependent on attitude, skill, and dynamics of the project team
AGILE
How RP Works
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Does not eliminate the need for programming
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Preparation – Initial modeling of individual spaces in 3D perspective
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Initiate collaborative work sessions – Place / locate spaces in real-time based on programming requirements – Full participation of stakeholders; people with a voice/vote/decision making capacity
Front End Design is Critical
• Typically only 10% of effort, less than 10% of total project time • Significant impact, early decisions critical (domino effect)
• Weak concept design effort results in – Rework of detailed design effort – Cost overruns
Basis of Design Programming
Concept Design
Schematic Design
Design Development
Construction Documents
Tender and Award
Construction
Ability to Change Design
Cost to Change Design Project Timeline 1 to 3 week schedule reduction Hershey Medical Center Data Center – CHP Feasibility Analysis
FINAL
February 11, 2014
Client Confidential
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Key Features of RP
Highly visual - enabling participants to visually grasp spatial concepts – Real time 3D modeling accelerates generation of design solutions – Rapid generation of alternatives fuels creativity and teamwork Thomas Edison: “To get a great idea, begin by generating many ideas” – One idea generates another idea, not the product of ‘individual genius’ working in vacuum – The result of networking old ideas in new ways
Key Features of RP •
Active participation of project stakeholders generates and facilitates selection of design solutions – Full participation builds ownership and consensus – Eliminates the ‘present, review, revise, re-present’ cycle that is not efficient
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Collaborative consensus-building results – Multiple concepts can be quickly generated and accepted or discarded – Significantly reduced occurrence of after-the-fact revisions – less rework
Simplify Visualizing Complex Buildings - Facilities are Collections of: Spaces; block and stack – Rooms/circulation – Plenums/shafts Object arrangement – Equipment – Tools – Furniture and fixtures System layout and routes – Structural – Enclosure and partitioning – Mechanical, electrical, plumbing – Process
Data Center – Rapid Prototyping Case Study
Grainger Enterprise Data Center
Confidential Location • Ist LEED v4 BD+C Gold • Total Power: 750 kW, Expandable to 3 MW per Module • Reliability: DX RTU’s with economizer’s, 2N UPS configuration, and bi-fuel generator, concurrently maintainable • Scalability: Design for final IT load at 300 watts/SF • Modularity: 50-300 Watts per SF Density • Cost: Confidential • Size: 8,000 SF Raised Floor Area • Built in 2014
Hundreds of thousands of gallons in water consumption saved per year
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Siting the Facility on the Campus
RP supports identifying a site layout solution that supports client goals
RP Supports Visualizing Building Envelope and Option Analysis of HVAC systems, snow abatement ‌
Exterior options can be analyzed visually for branding, blending with existing, maximizing cooling and light, and controlling heat gain
Interior Layout Evaluations, Options, and Solutions
RP supports identifying interior layout solutions; facilitated by stakeholder participation and interaction
Realized Improvements
• Innovation – more, and typically better, ideas earlier in design • Schedule – reach concept/front end design milestones earlier • Collaboration – cost effective means of incorporating client input and seeing the results in a 3D model almost immediately • Quality – less rework • Change management - less “gray area” with respect to scope of work • Client relationship - opportunity to develop stronger, deeper partnering relationship