Adelaide Oval

We led development of the concept design for the AU$450 million landmark project and are now providing design management and overall project managementHow BIM’s adding value: We’re using BIM as a programme management and co-ordination tool to deliver a complex project against a challenging schedule.

BIM is being used to achieve the precise design, procurement and construction coordination this project requires

Project partners
Client: Government of South Australia/Stadium Management Authority
Our role: Design management and project management

With contests in the 2013 Ashes cricket series scheduled over the course of construction, BIM is playing a crucial programme management role during the upgrade of Adelaide Oval. “The Oval is one of the world’s iconic cricket grounds. Over the next three years it’s being redeveloped as a home not only to international cricket but also Australian rules football,” says Mott MacDonald project manager John Dyson. “One of our challenges is to fit construction work around a number of matches. BIM is being used to achieve the precise design, procurement and construction co-ordination this project requires.”

Integrating the whole project team

We led development of the concept design for the AU$450 million landmark project and are now providing design management and overall project management. The design team includes three architectural firms, two building services consultants, two structural and civil engineering firms, a cost consultant and 20 specialist sub consultants. “More or less everybody’s input is being integrated using BIM,” John comments.

This includes disciplines as diverse as interior design, seating, roofing and communications design. “BIM capability has been a key competency for designers and is one of the non-price criteria for selection of contractors as we head into construction.”

BIM has been at the heart of the design process from project inception. Benefits include:

• Time saving on the transition from concept to detail design – usually architects start drawing again from scratch when they move from concept design to the next phase, while here all design has been done using a single model
• Use of the project 3D model by lighting, fire safety, acoustics and public address system consultants – all disciplines that would traditionally invest time in creating their own 3D model
• Automation of quantity take-off for cost estimation
• Time saving on development of fabrication drawings
• Saving on construction through better control of procurement and scheduling of activities – the model will be used to build the Oval in a virtual environment before going on site