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The Challenge
Dublin’s Damastown Industrial Park was home to a new pharmaceutical production facility one requiring intricate electrical system fit-outs. The Irish MEP contractor needed a partner to digitally coordinate the project while adhering to strict compliance standards. But the real challenge wasn’t the complexity of the electrical design alone it was the coordination chaos that surrounded it.
Models from other subcontractors were often outdated or missing.
Unanticipated site modifications were not documented.
Producing coordinated construction drawings became increasingly difficult as phase-based model inconsistencies surfaced.
Client’s Initial Hurdles
Before Desapex stepped in, the MEP contractor was grappling with:
Irregular updates from other disciplines in Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) caused misalignment during coordination.
Areas were constructed differently than shown in drawings, but no formal site communication was provided.
Phase mismatches and lack of centralized issue tracking made sheet generation error-prone and slow.
Deliverables needed to align with ISO 19650 and a strict BIM Execution Plan, which was beyond the contractor's in-house capacity.
Why This Was Critical
What made this project uniquely demanding?
It wasn’t just about BIM modeling it was about aligning multiple systems, standards, and stakeholders while maintaining digital accuracy across borders.
What were the risks of poor coordination?
Even minor clashes or incorrect drawings could cause delays, rework, and cost escalations unacceptable in a pharma-grade facility
Why couldn’t the MEP contractor manage it internally?
Though technically sound, they lacked the structured BIM workflows and multi-software ecosystem needed for full-scope coordination and compliance delivery.
How did data quality affect outcomes?
Gaps in site data and outdated models would’ve led to incorrect as-built documentation, impacting future maintenance and facility operation.
Why was COBie delivery a non-negotiable?
For pharma clients, structured digital handover including COBie asset data is critical for lifecycle management, audits, and GMP compliance.
Gaps in Existing Information
Daily NWC uploads were missing, making model referencing unreliable.
No mechanism to track changes in real time across trades.
Site modifications were undocumented, requiring new scan data to verify physical conditions.
Design-to-build translation lacked control, risking deviations from original intent.
Why Specific Requirements Mattered
LOD 300+ compliance was essential to provide accurate builders’ work and support models.
Discipline-specific sheet production ensured field teams had the clarity they needed to avoid misinterpretation.
COBie mapping wasn't just a checklist it was vital for asset management and long-term operational efficiency.
The Desapex Solution
Took end-to-end responsibility for electrical BIM coordination, integrating with Architectural, Structural, Mechanical, and Fire models.
Modeled all services from containment and lighting to public address and mechanical power.
Used a combination of Autodesk Revit, Navisworks, Bluebeam Revu, and Procore for seamless collaboration.
Developed construction and as-built drawings, including bracket supports and builder’s work post-coordination freeze.
Mapped COBie asset data as per Asset Information Requirements (AIR).
Managed weekly coordination meetings, model updates, and issue resolutions via a cloud-based CDE.
Project Timeline & Milestones
Pre-construction Coordination & Drawing Production: 6 Months
Construction & As-Built Documentation with COBie: 10 Months
Software & Technology Used
Autodesk Authoring Platforms:
Autodesk Revit 2022.1.5
For Collaboration and Co-ordination:
Autodesk Navisworks Manage 2023
BIM Collab / Procore for issue tracking
Bluebeam Revu for Markup
Microsoft Excel for COBie data mapping
The Real Business Value Delivered
Zero-surprise execution: Early clash detection and accurate coordination minimized on-site disruptions.
Buildable clarity: Precision-ready shop drawings helped ground teams execute flawlessly.
Fast, compliant handover: COBie data and as-built models accelerated post-construction transition.
Time & cost efficiencies: Avoided rework and saved man-hours through real-time coordination.
Enhanced trust: Enabled the client to maintain quality, speed, and complianc all without overruns.
What This Means for Future Projects
This project showed how digital clarity can shape physical precision, especially in industries like pharmaceuticals, where every system must work the first time, every time.
For the contractor, this engagement proved that having the right BIM partner unlocks more than models it brings risk reduction, compliance assurance, and better control.
For Desapex, this became a benchmark of cross-border BIM execution, where even unexpected field changes became opportunities for collaboration and innovation. It set the tone for similar projects globally and strengthened our commitment to delivering data-rich, construction-ready solutions that go beyond drawings.