How I use Simplebim: Architects Atelier Juno less ‘BIMnoying’ to clients since Simplebim adoption
Atelier Juno is an architectural agency based in Paris, established in 2009. As well as architecture, the agency also specialises in BIM, offering services ranging from training to BIM modelling and data management.
We spoke to Atelier Juno partner and BIM Manager Matthieu Brossette about why they chose to adopt Simplebim and how the data wrangling software has made his team less ‘BIMnoying’. It’s not every day you create a new word but we rather like this one. Read on for the full story.
Simplebim: Can you give us some background into Atelier Juno?
Matthieu Brossette: Initially, we were Revit specialists and we worked with other architects, providing our skills, training, modelling and managing Revit models.
In about 2016, we worked on railway station project that required us to work with data. But even then, we were able to do all the data management inside Revit. So, we were well within our comfort zone. It was easy to deliver what the client asked for, but since then, our work has become increasingly data oriented.
SB: Tell us, what challenges were you experiencing before adopting Simplebim?
MB: There were two issues really. Firstly, it was becoming more and more important to manage data properly, especially because we were working with architects and contractors or subcontractors that were not working on Revit, so things got a bit complicated.
Also, because architects and contractors have become more skilled in modelling with authoring software, they don’t really need us anymore for the modelling parts or the geometry parts. But they still don’t understand that it’s not only about geometry, it’s also about data. And they don’t want to deal with that part. So, we do.
SB: So, why did you start using Simplebim?
MB: We started using Simplebim because we had one simple problem, that only Simplebim could solve. Merging IFCs.
We were working on a project and we had some MEP models from multiple sources. We needed to present them to the client as a single model, so we had to merge them. With Simplebim we were able to do this and we’re still using the same function on projects today.
One thing that’s changed, though, we tend to merge specific parts now, rather than whole models. For example, we might receive an architectural model and someone might say they’ve moved a wall. Instead of merging the whole IFC we’ll ask them to send the revised part and we’ll merge that instead, as it’s quicker and easier to do.
SB: What have been the benefits of using Simplebim?
MB: It’s a time saver, especially for the contractors and subcontractors. If I had to ask to the contractors to provide me models with good data, it would take them 10 times longer to do it.
For example, we recently handed over a project after the site construction. Some subcontractors, who were responsible for the external windows, were using software that didn’t do BIM.
They didn’t understand BIM either and when I explained what they had agreed to deliver, they were going to assign five people for 10 days to deliver the right model using the non-BIM software.
So, I took the model and spent just one day delivering what it would have taken five people over 10 days to deliver. If I had more experience using Simplebim, I think I could have done it in two or three hours, converting objects to put them in the right classes, then using BIMSheet to export the data.
SB: How easy is Simplebim to use? Have you ever needed to ask for support from the team?
MB: I’ve never asked for help but I use the support pages [https://support.simplebim.com/] on the website loads, and I use resources, like the templates. Also, I am always looking at your LinkedIn posts for tips and tricks.
SB: You’ve said that Simplebim helps you meet clients’ requirements faster without ‘BIMnoying’ them. What do you mean by this?
MB: Before using Simplebim I had to spend so much time going back and forth with clients, providing them with export specifications, asking them to change elements in their exports, asking them to change their 3D view settings. In the end, there were so many factors that I just gave up.
With Simplebim, clients can just give me their model and we manage most of it without spending hours going back and forth with them. That’s ‘BIMnoying’.
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Are you a BIM Manager who wants to be less ‘BIMnoying’? Get in touch with the Simplebim team, or book your free 15-day trial and start benefiting from Simplebim today.