As part of a large-scale modernization effort, the Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) mandates that every design team involved adopt Building Information Modeling (BIM) technology. However, the key challenge for authorities lies in how to effectively utilize the 3D data generated after project completion.
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LACCD’s $6 Billion BIM Initiative
The Application of BIM in the Los Angeles Community College City Project
Jeff Yoders / Contributing Writer
The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) is driving a wave of modernization by requiring all participating design teams to implement BIM technology. Yet, the most critical issue remains: how to leverage these 3D data models effectively after project completion for ongoing operations and maintenance.
To secure design and construction contracts for new projects, architectural firms must agree to strict BIM implementation clauses. These require adherence to BIM workflows, information sharing, and design coordination before construction begins.
California has become a fertile ground for BIM and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) technologies. Many healthcare facility owners have successfully applied BIM during project design, yielding significant benefits. However, these achievements are overshadowed by LACCD’s large-scale use of BIM and IPD across its community college campuses.
LACCD plans to invest $6 billion to build nine new campuses across the county—making it the largest county-level investment in the U.S. (compared to just $9.8 million in 2010). As part of this, design firms must comply with strict BIM contract provisions, including spatial coordination. BIM equipment providers use coordination software to integrate 3D equipment models into a unified building model that meets design requirements.
Within LACCD’s BIM/IPD framework, a leading BIM service provider is appointed to coordinate all stakeholders—designers, contractors, and general contractors—throughout the project. At the kickoff meeting, LACCD specifies requirements for shared data servers and design standards, including a virtual meeting room for reviewing 3D models.
LACCD requires all bidding design and construction firms to comply with its BIM/IPD standards (see standards here). Firms must submit BIM models on time and deliver final BIM data for the owner’s use in operations and maintenance.
“We focus on the entire building lifecycle,” said Jim Youngblood, LACCD’s BIM and virtual design construction project manager. “We want everyone involved to understand this. When asked if the BIM model is that important, I said yes—because we use it for full lifecycle management.”
The BuildLACCD program dates back to 2001, when voters approved bond funding as part of a $6 billion plan to modernize nine local colleges. The program emphasizes green building technologies and has earned multiple sustainability awards. Youngblood credits full BIM adoption as a key factor in achieving LACCD’s sustainability and cost-efficiency goals.
To support design and construction teams new to BIM, BuildLACCD has launched its own blog at __AI_S_TURL_0__.
Michael Cervantes, LACCD BIM project manager, has overseen the entire BIM project with technical support from Youngblood. Giovana Romero, a BIM designer, represents the client team. Together, they emphasize team coordination and communication to ensure smooth project execution. While setting BIM and IPD requirements is one thing, effectively implementing them is quite another.
The following two case studies illustrate best BIM practices in the LACCD project.
Los Angeles Port College — Designed for Construction
The Los Angeles office of HGA Architects and Pinner Construction (Anaheim) teamed up to design a new technology complex at Los Angeles Port College. This three-story, approximately 73,767-square-foot building consists of two intersecting L-shaped steel-frame structures. The east wing houses laboratories, while the west wing contains a lecture hall, classrooms, and offices. A pedestrian bridge connects the two. The L-shaped structure extends from the parking lot toward the campus main entrance. Completion is expected next year.
To achieve LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, HGA and Pinner incorporated self-sufficient energy systems aiming for net-zero emissions. This approach reduced energy consumption by about 42% (based on 24 California metrics), water usage by 57%, and included a solar energy system providing 36% of the building’s energy needs.
Although LACCD did not mandate BIM or energy modeling for this project, these tools were extensively used during design. Matthew Dunbar, BIM coordinator, noted, “Our Pinner Architecture lead demonstrated the Navisworks model early on to verify constructability in critical areas.”
“Without Navisworks for clash detection from the start, achieving our energy goals would have been difficult,” Dunbar added. The project team frequently used WebEx to review models and receive updated subcontractor input. A public BIM execution plan ensured all parties met design phase deliverables.
“LACCD was our first client to establish a standard BIM process and insisted on strict compliance,” said James Matson, HGA Los Angeles office director. “Many previous clients didn’t understand BIM’s value or feared increased costs. Working with LACCD, where roles and processes are clearly defined, has been a great experience.”
Matson emphasized the importance of early coordination between designers and subcontractors. “Coordinated designs enable subcontractors to begin construction drawings sooner.”
Dunbar explained, “After receiving feedback, we create updated models optimized for construction to guide both design and build phases. We address details often overlooked by designers, like hooks, supports, and paneling.”
AEC Factory produces these components in the model and exports them as CAD drawings, which the construction team imports into Trimble’s site layout system for accurate on-site placement.
“Even after delivering design models, coordination continues—addressing pipe clearances, fire protection, light steel joists, and more,” said Charbonneau. “Before construction starts, models are thoroughly coordinated. By project completion, construction models differ significantly from initial designs.”
Early LACCD projects involved facility managers to ensure smooth handover. Electrical and drainage subcontractors perform extensive testing and acceptance with facility operators. Pre-construction, all parties conduct layered drills and system tests using BIM viewers like Navisworks or Bentley Navigator.
In theory, design change orders should be minimal since all construction team members participate early. However, Charbonneau noted some initial misunderstandings during early decision-making.
“Integrated design and construction create a shared-interest community, but not every project achieves this,” Charbonneau remarked. “For construction teams, cost is top priority. Designers, however, find cost savings hard to quantify and often face increased design cycles.”
East Los Angeles University — Fostering Collaboration Between Faculty and Students
The latest collaboration between HGA and Pinner is the Student Success and Memory Center at East Los Angeles University. This $55 million, 130,000 square foot, five-story building integrates classrooms, offices, and language labs. It features nine functional zones designed to promote collaboration between faculty and students within a flexible learning environment.
The project earned LEED Gold certification and achieved net-zero energy consumption. The design was recently completed, with phased occupancy beginning in early 2014.
A major factor in the project’s success was seamless integration among HGA, Pinner, and subcontractors—building on lessons from the Los Angeles Port College collaboration.
“Everyone has a defined role, which improves efficiency,” said Dunbar of HGA. “The LACCD process excels at this and sets a strong foundation for future projects.” The HGA/Pinner team continues to advance the LACCD program.
“The client strongly demands BIM use across the entire $6 billion program,” said Charbonneau of AEC Factory. “Every team member must comply. While some veteran designers initially resisted, the team’s performance in the East Los Angeles University project is very encouraging.”
Jeff Yoders is a freelance writer specializing in BIM and IT technology topics related to design and construction.
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