Data Pioneers and Site Insights
Technology partner BIM4Sites captures data…and attention
BIM4Sites is leveraging a nascent and cutting-edge technology to help clients calculate, plot and chart every floor and facet of a building and to see, measure, negotiate variances and plan for the overall specs of a building or location. Simply put, the company maps buildings and creates floor plans, and performs building information modeling (BIM) and Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) calculations for architects and owners. Thanks to the foresight of co-owners Dom Alario and Dave Lewis, the firm leverages best-fit technologies to support all aspects of the building lifecycle.
The firm provides a full complement of technology services. For architects, engineers, building owners and constructors, their team captures site data and can prepare 2D computer-aided design (CAD) drawings, create 3D Revit models, and provide 360-degree photographic documentation. They also create virtual site tours, provide clash coordination to resolve constructability inconsistencies, perform building condition surveys and offer design-build support.
Something Special… Lasers, CAD and BIM
At the core of the company’s service offerings are 3D laser scanning and 2D CAD. “Laser scanning came out a little early in the architectural world, and the business model didn’t seem to be there,” Dom says. “The companies that originally bought the technology didn’t know what to do with all the data or paid too much for the service. It left a bad taste in their mouths. There was a lot of potential in it, and I kept coming back to it. Today, we know it from the inside out and in a different sense. What we have now is laser scanning that is incredibly efficient, fast and accurate while delivering data formats clients actually use. With what we’ve invested, it’s allowed us to build a straightforward process. We can scan and document 30,000 to 60,000 square feet an hour accurate to one-half inch with 360-degree photos, and up to 500,000 square feet in a day even with the space occupied. We then use that data to develop 3D data from which our 2D CAD or 3D models are created.”
Accurate and efficient data capture provides a variety of solutions. With BIM, clients can visualize and verify the true depiction of 2D and 3D models to design with confidence. Comprehensive and detailed evaluations, depth elevations and vertical slice assessments help architects and project managers understand a space, save cost and time, and ensure they get the quickest and most accurate data available.
“Getting accurate and updated building data takes time, is a cost many don’t want to bear, and for anyone reading this, we know you haven’t been provided good data in many cases,” Dave says. “We get better and more accurate site data incredibly fast with our technology. All of our 2D CAD drawings and 3D Revit models are created in the United States. This is our business, and we have spent years researching and refining it. We think we have something special.”
Company Origins and Talent
Dom and Dave worked together for years, first in aerial mapping, then using laser-scanning technology. However, they found that working for other owners was an experience rife with unrealistic expectations and timing that didn’t align with optimal quality.
“All of us have a history of success and failure, of working for companies who placed little or no trust in their staff and didn’t have the patience or understanding to afford us the flexibility to operate as we saw fit,” Dave says. “As a result, we decided to form our own company, leaving no stone unturned when it comes to delivering quality and continuing to evaluate and implement new ideas while having fun doing it.”
So, in 2017, they started BIM4Sites and found its footing immediately, securing a big contract with American University to create almost 600,000 square feet of floor plans. That contract allowed them to explore and develop a niche in the industry by delivering volume-based pricing, opening up a world of possibilities for their customers and their company.
“We figured out a niche in this business because of the pricing, quality and timing, and because it’s underserved,” Dom says. “We have the right model, and we’re growing rapidly.”
The right model and the right talent, Dom and Dave are quick to add. They have brought together a team highly skilled in property and construction management, building data and Revit expertise, as well as general operations, applied technologies and workflow improvement. The two owners work alongside their team each day, leading by experience.
A Platform to Make Life Better
BIM4Sites can scale up quickly to handle most any job. “While small and nimble, we can scale very significantly, with comparatively little investment in equipment or people,” Dave says.
“Our consultants say they have never seen a small company so professionally organized,” Dom adds.
The team is fun loving, fueled by camaraderie and service, and by a genuine love for what they do and for the clients they serve. Built on trust, the team relationship evolves through a genuine understanding of people, their challenges and motivations.
“One of the first questions we ask potential employees is, ‘What are you dealing with right now, and how can we help you get over it?’ ” Dom says. “If we can help our people get past some of their personal hurdles, we’ve used the company as a platform to make life better.”
Dave explained that one of their newer employees couldn’t get a mortgage, and Dom co-signed for him. “Our business is simple, direct and built for repeat work/volume, which has allowed us to focus on the things that matter most—life, family and faith,” Dave says.
The Happiness Factor
“We’re ‘laser’ focused (pardon the pun!) on delivering quality at a fair price using very disciplined and strict procedures,” Dave explains. “But, equally important is our ability to operate in a fun and positive environment. There are companies out there that have fun, but it doesn’t translate to commitment to the customer. For us, fun becomes the vehicle for thriving and long-lasting relationships.”
Dom comments that 75 percent of their business comes from repeat customers, and he believes that retention is in large part due to the fun they bring into their work. “We’ve gone into meetings with serious companies and we’re not there three or four minutes and the banter comes out, and we’re friends immediately,” he says.
BIM4Sites maintains a unique company culture that thrives on the leadership and enthusiasm of its founders, the talent of its team and its unique approach to technology, operations and customer interaction.