Balfour Beatty Engineering Services is using Building Information Modelling (BIM) to help to deliver a new sports technical college in Stoke-on-Trent, with the aim of creating more sustainable buildings and to improve efficiency during the construction process.
Designed by architects Aedas and constructed by Balfour Beatty under a design and build contract with Stoke-on-Trent City Council, the new teaching and classroom block at Holden Lane High School Specialist Sports College will include curriculum-based hubs for teaching and training which allow for their own teaching and breakout spaces, plus a large indoor area for use in inclement weather.

Balfour Beatty's adoption of BIM has been crucial to the design process of the innovative new school building. It has created a fully collaborated 3D model of the m&e systems, enabling all construction partners to fully understand and visualise the complexity in construction sequencing and methodology.

Using BIM means that Balfour Beatty can build a theoretical model which can predict how the building will perform. This in turn eases integration of building services and the elimination of any issues between trades. The approach will also offer greater safety on site through improved planning and eliminates re-work, which saves time and reduces costs.

Using this integrated approach toward building construction, Balfour Beatty is using BIM processes on all major new projects to strengthen communication and team transparency. This approach is aligned with the Government's Construction Strategy and the industry mandate that will require fully collaborative BIM level 2, as a minimum, by 2016.

The building is due to be completed in January 2014.