Thesis Proposal
Executive Summary
The thesis proposal details the technical analyses and research that will be performed during the Spring semester.
Acquiring an interest in virtual design, the decision was made to develop a Building Information Model of the T.C. Williams High School and research its effectiveness in value engineering, work sequencing, and site logistics practices. To promote the acceptance of BIM among practitioners in the construction industry, the model will be used to perform and illustrate the technical analyses, revealing a few of the advantages that modeling software has to offer.
Further research into the unique form of design-build delivery method, utilized on the T.C. Williams High School project, will uncover the risks and advantages to the contracted parties for delivering a project in this manner. The feasibility of employing BIM software on the project will also be assessed.
The main focus of the analyses will be based on the research and selection of alternative building materials to the durable, yet less than aesthetically pleasing, Concrete Masonry Units [CMU]. The installation of CMU is extremely labor and time intensive and T.C. Williams has an extensive quantity of CMU load bearing and partition walls. Research will focus on the cost, schedule, and performance of the alternative materials in comparison to CMU. The remaining analyses carry the implementation of the alternative materials into the analysis and redesign of the auditorium acoustics and sequencing of schedule activities to promote less congested site conditions.
The owner’s expectations and wishes will weigh heavily in the recommendation for an alternative building material, if one proves to be a better value to the owner when compared to the previously designed CMU walls.
Consultant Approved Proposal (.pdf)