New College Bradford will be a 16-19 sixth form college in Bradford, delivering a curriculum with over 30 A-Levels, a selection of Level 3 BTECs and a Technical Baccalaureate in engineering and manufacturing technologies. When at its maximum, it is planned that it will contain 1200 students. New College Bradford is scheduled to open in September 2019.
Due to the scale and size of the college, New College will be able to offer a broad and high-quality curriculum which will ensure maximum choice for students as they take their first steps in post 16 education.
This was a pre-panelised infill project (to a primary structure-by others), manufactured off site utilizing modern methods of construction which greatly reduce the waste and increase productivity. In order to achieve this Intelligent Steel needed to ensure a close working relationship was maintained with BAM alongside their subcontractors to ensure co-ordination between all elements.
What were the challenges and what made the project successful.
Although BAM were the main contractor on this project, we worked along side their subcontracts to help co-ordinate our light gauge steel with existing hot roll steel. In order to carry this out effectively we were able to import the hot roll steel model (also modelled in Tekla). Using base points for importing and exporting models during the approval process made it cleanerr and much more effective. Â
Being able to work to live models and co-ordinate between them meant Intelligent Steel were able to receive sign off much quicker than the client anticipated this resulted in the programme being improved at a rate that impressed the client. To ensure the programme was on target was essential due to the scheduled opening in September 2019, the building was designed and delivered in phases. This allowed BAM to call off the relevant material, this was an advantage due to the small scale of the site itself. Detailing was also a big factor for this project, by using Tekla we were able to show where and how the details had been incorporated. This also allowed us to run reports to ensure the correct quantities of ancillaries were ordered which would prevent waste / under ordering for site. By modelling in the detail, it also gives the client an opportunity to comment / advise on.
What benefits utilizing BIM and Tekla Software brought to the project.
Using Tekla from project inception to create the structure was highly beneficial when it came to delivering accurate models and meeting the client’s brief:
- By importing reference models, the margin for error was reduced. This allowed the design process to flow more easily and ensure the client’s expectations were met with fewer revisions to the design.
- Having the ability to create IFC models enabled quick and easy sharing with the necessary people. This was beneficial as it kept all parties up to date with the current model, enabling effective clash detection and collaboration on any queries or design developments.
- Due to the time scale on this project, it was important to have confidence in the programme and tools used in order to complete with minimum / zero glitches – the use of Tekla was key to gaining this confidence. Furthermore, having an element of repetition between floor levels, Tekla enabled us to store and re-use commonly used components saving time throughout the design process.
The use of Tekla as bespoke 3D modelling software and BIM, married with the use of a bespoke CAD/CAM interface to our roll forming machines, allowed the fully detailed design to be exported straight from design to manufacture. The pre-engineered solution was designed, manufactured and assembled on-site with confidence, creating a highly impressive building that exceeded the project expectations of both the client and main contractor.
The project in numbers
Roughly 26 tonnes Light gauge steel and ancillaries.
