Union Professionnelle d'Architectes
Beroepsunie Van Architecten

BIM: challenge, opportunity or new danger for architects?

On November 18, 2015, the UPA organized, with great success, a seminar dedicated to Building Information Modelling (BIM), a burning issue - some speak of a mutation equivalent to that which saw the transition from the drawing board to the computer - that is shaking up the profession.

By organizing this evening, the UPA has tried to try to grasp the issues at stake in this important mutation of the practice in design and project management - particularly with regard to small offices and small architectural projects - through a more global approach.

The presentations of the various speakers of this evening provided additional insights into BIM :

•     Didier HOFFMAN (architect, CAD and BIM Manager at ASSAR, BIM trainer) presented what BIM is and its advantages for the different partners in the act of building.
   
•     Vincent MARTIN (young architect, BIM practitioner for small and large projects) especially wanted to show how a (small) office could integrate BIM in a progressive way.
   
•     Florian CAMPION (architect, trainer for TASE Solutions) gave a quick demonstration of the use of Revit software in BIM.
   
•     Martin BROCHIER (Ir.architect BIM consultant and business developer for TASE Solutions) presented different software tools that can be used for BIM.
   
•     Thomas VANDENBERGH (Dr. Ir., professor UCL, BIM Manager BESIX) presented the advantages of BIM for companies and for building management, while returning (sometimes humorously) to the role of project authors.
   
•     Abdelkader BOUTEMADJA (architect, professor ULG, member of the CNOA) discussed the consequences for the professional practice and training of architects.
   
•     Léo VAN BROECK (Ir.Architect, Prof. K.U.Leuven, President of the FAB) concluded the evening by addressing key issues such as the obligation of BIM (in public procurement), its cost (for small offices) and the consequences on the creativity of architects.

This interesting evening will be the subject of a detailed report in the quarterly newsletter sent to UPA members who will also receive the access code to the useful documents (mentioned during the seminar) which can be found in the "Resources" section of the website.