Kruunuvuori Bridge
What are the Tekla BIM Awards 2024?
The Tekla Global Building Information Modeling (BIM) Awards is a biennial competition which recognizes the world's most impressive structural construction projects that use Tekla solutions.
Overall, 155 projects from 35 countries, including winners of the 2023 and 2024 regional Tekla BIM Awards competitions, were entered into the competition and the winners were decided by an international jury of experts.
The solutions are judged in eight categories of projects including: commercial, public, industrial, infrastructure, sports and recreation, small, student and developer. And the jury uses the following judging criteria to determine the winners:
Use of BIM and collaboration: Model life cycle, collaboration between multiple participants, and use of IFC and open BIM
Innovative use of Tekla BIM software: Challenges solved with Tekla and innovative ways of utilizing BIM
Constructability: Level of Development (LOD), multi-material aspect, and geometry complexity
Environmental benefits: Energy savings, reduced waste, and logistics
Cool factor: Impressiveness, uniqueness, and creativity of project execution
So, without further ado, the Tekla BIM Awards 2024 winners are:
Best Infrastructure Project and Overall Winner
What: Kruunuvuori Bridge, Finland
Who: City of Helsinki Urban Environment Division (KYMP), WSP Finland Oy, Kreate Oy, YIT Infra Oy and Ramboll Finland Oy
Handling project complexity with software bidirectional connectivity
The jury was impressed that the team is managing the project as a full-blown BIM project, using a multitude of software, and with bidirectional field-to-office and office-to-field connectivity enabling a unique quality in handling the complexity of the project.
The tram, pedestrian and bike bridge project features a model-based design from a host of applications (Tekla Structures, Trimble Novapoint, Trimble Connect, Autodesk Civil 3D, Navisworks and Grasshopper).
The team did wind tunnel testing for structural design and stability testing using both a BIM and a 3D-printed model.
IFC format models ensure efficient geometry control for each construction phase, including model-based erection guidance, and BIM and BrIM integration ensures precision, efficiency and transparency throughout the project’s lifecycle.
Best Commercial Project
What: Lyyra, Finland, a new block of real estate in the city center of Helsinki
Who: Ramboll Finland Oy, Ylva, Haahtela, Arco Architecture Company Oy and Byggnadsekonomi Oy
Strong BIM-based collaboration and coordination
The team applied laser scanning for the initial design and on-site comparison of the as-built situation with the data model in Tekla Structures.
The model was shared between Ramboll as the main structural engineer and Peikko (the steel frame producer) using Tekla Model Sharing and used in a ‘live’ situation, with workers on site having the models both on tablets or mobile phones and on paper.
Due to the limited amount of space on the job site, all deliveries were just-in-time, requiring a lot of coordination work, which was also model-based.
The jury especially valued the data-driven nature of the project and the fact that a new city block was built on top of a fully-functional metro station and in between two buildings.
Best Public Project
What: Seattle Aquarium Ocean Pavilion, U.S.A.
Who: Turner Construction Company
Overcoming technical challenges with digital models and seamless data exchange
The 50,000 square-foot exhibit features complex designs such as a shell-like tank with no straight edges based on 229 CNC router-shaped panels, and connects to existing city infrastructure.
Establishing protocols and methods to regularly review and validate the model as a team was significant in ensuring that it accurately reflected the construction documents and facilitated efficient coordination.
The team relied on a bidirectional data exchange between Tekla Structures and Rhino and Grasshopper 3D to ensure consistent geometry. The detailed installation sequence drawings and constructability analysis were done in Tekla Structures.
In the field, the team could access the latest 3D models using Trimble Connect, and used a cohesive model-based lay-out workflow based on Trimble FieldLink and robotic total stations.
Best Industrial Project
What**:** Brewery Roman, Belgium
Who: Mathieu Gijbels
Smooth collaboration between the design team and the production workshop
The model, generated in Tekla Structures, was shared between the project stakeholders using Tekla Model Sharing.
Using Trimble Connect AR, the team ensured that all stakeholders could always access an up-to-date version and view the model as an augmented reality overlay over the camera image displayed on a tablet.
The project was characterized by the high level of detail of the model (LOD400) with highly-detailed steel structures and precast concrete elements.
Tekla modelers used Model Sharing to collaborate closely, simultaneously and with other stakeholders. This synergistic approach ensured the model always remained up-to-date within Trimble Connect, thanks to automatic updating. All project members had a real-time overview of the project status at all times.
Best Small Project
What: Te Veld Modular Homes, The Netherlands
Who: Barli
The right level of detail from design to production to on-site assembly
All co-makers were an integral part of the design and production process. The plumbing and electrical installers drew their installation in the 2D model after which the engineers from prefab builder Barli converted these to 3D for the timber frame production using Tekla Structures.
From design, to production and the on-site assembly, Tekla Structures provided the right level of detail, from fall protection during assembly in the housing factory to roof slope insulation, kitchen cabinets and overflows.
The design by LA Architecten allowed for rapid production and the delivery planning was optimized for minimizing waste and impact.
Best Student Project
What: Funicular-shaped structure of the reinforced concrete hall with the arched girder of the main nave
Who: Tomasz Stęplowski, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Poland
Finding the optimum shape of a non-prismatic arch
Tomasz’s thesis aimed to find an effective shape for the main part of the structure based on the methods of graphic statics.
To test scientist and architect Robert Hooke’s observation from 1675: ‘as hangs the flexible line, so but inverted will stand the rigid arch,’ he designed not only the arch girder but also other elements of the hall, such as columns, beams, slabs and footings in Tekla Structures.
Tomasz was able to find the optimum shape of a non-prismatic arch that adapts its geometry to the flow of forces in the structure so that the parabolic arch is mainly in compression.
Best Developer Project
What: Component Code Generator, U.S.A.
Who: Keyack Technology Solutions
Accelerating programming time for coding and building system configurators
Typically developers spend a lot of time manually finding and mapping variables as well as understanding how to properly set the component input on existing components to put them in the model.
Component Code Generator accelerates the programming time for coding, building system configurators and setting key variables by over 20% to 30%.
The Component Code Generator can read selected existing custom, system or API-plugin components from the Tekla Structures model to automatically generate a C# method to insert that component.
Public Vote Winner
What: Preservation Plaza Canopy, U.S.A.
Who: Structures Online
Canopy’s complex columns conquered by BIM
Historic Arnolds Park sought improvements that would create a new performance venue with accompanying amenities and expanded capacity, while preserving the view of the city’s signature West Lake Okoboji from the park’s open green space.
Tekla Structures’ optimum structural engineering insight enabled the project team to drive better decisions. To overcome the double tilt of the column, the team scrutinized the design constraints carefully and developed innovative solutions to achieve the desired connection.
Further, the software made collaboration among different teams super easy. The team employed their expertise and collaborated closely with the manufacturing team to meet the design specifications while maintaining structural integrity.
These winners just scratch the surface of the BIM brilliance on display at the Tekla BIM Awards 2024. What are you waiting for? There are 147 more projects to explore! Dig deeper into the Tekla Global BIM Awards 2024.
