How we modeled the Spike Hall transformation project in 4D

In the renovation of one of Budapest’s most iconic buildings, the Tuskecsarnok (Spike Hall), we were asked to design and support the refurbishment of the service walkway, lighting, and sound system above the fighting arena.

Our task was

• to design and schedule the demolition of the old service walkway
• design the new service walkway
• to support the construction by simulating the demolition and rebuilding processes

Our activities were supported by the architect of the building, Dr. Antal Lázár.

The project

The internal renovation of Tuskecsarnok was justified by the fact that the building’s ceiling height was insufficient for certain events. The lighting bridge was underused due to its excessive self-weight, the lighting for television broadcasts was not adequate for all sports, and the sound system was outdated.

The National Sports Centres, therefore, decided to demolish the service walkway under the roof structure and the associated lighting fixtures and to build a redesigned structure with new lighting and sound equipment. The new service walkway was placed between the trusses of the existing truss structure, which required the existing roof structure to be checked for load-bearing capacity. The structural calculations and plans were prepared using the original structural plans of the hall with the involvement of MTM Engineering Ltd.

Impressive steel structure
under the iconic spikes

The project presented the contractor with a number of challenges that made the transformation both dangerous and difficult to plan and tightly scheduled:

• the affected area is several metres above sea level and alpinists were needed to carry out the work
• the supporting structure of the roof could no longer be subjected to additional loads
• all the necessary tools and equipment had to be lifted from the bottom, which largely determined the schedule
• because of the structure, it was very important that the demolition and construction of the elements followed the sequence defined by the structural engineer
• there was only a very short time window for implementation, so the time dimension was critical alongside safety.

In addition to the design, we were also tasked with simulating and supporting the workflow in a visual way, using the 4D functionality of a BIM-based project management target software.

4D BIM construction support

The primary purpose of 4D BIM is to aid construction by simulating the timing and scheduling of a project. In simple terms, it helps you to visualize and plan what, when, where, and after what will be built.

In this case, we associate workloads, time requirement data, and logical chains with the material quantities in the 3D BIM model. The dynamic schedule is generated by the software’s algorithm, which is made visually meaningful using a timelapse video.

For the Tuskecsarnok, we used the Bexel Manager software, which we had a positive experience with before: very flexible, easy to modify on the fly, and dynamic in its ability to drive change and provide immediate, model-based feedback for decision-making.

Project steps

As a first step of the collaboration, we received a point cloud survey of the existing condition from an external company, from which we created a Revit model of the existing roof frame and the associated mechanical, sprinkler, air handling, lighting, and service bridge systems. We then designed and modeled the new service walkway, lighting, and sound systems.

The model elements to be demolished and designed were parameterized in Bexel, we provided them with information that allowed us to manage the scheduling and changes dynamically and easily.

Then, based on the data provided by the structural engineer, the Revit model of the lighting bridge to be demolished was “cut up”, so that it was possible to see which elements had to be demolished at the same time. For the planned service walkway, we also modeled the units to be included in one and could show the order in which they needed to be built.

Next came the schedule for the elements: based on the requirements described in the specifications, we planned the sequence and timing in Microsoft Project. We developed a common nomenclature that kept communication between Bexel and Microsoft Project smooth and clear throughout.

The data from the construction time units were imported into Bexel, where it was linked (“mapped”) to the Revit model elements. From this point on, the different elements and phases of the project were linked together, and if there were any changes to the schedule, a simple update would show the new schedule.

The result

Bexel’s simulation helped me to understand and visualize the whole process; the data from Revit and MS Project not only showed the construction but also the demolition processes.

– András Cédl, architectural modeller (BuildEXT) –

Work at height requires expensive and dangerous alpine work, so it was particularly important to determine the weight of the elements that could be safely retained. These values affect the maximum number of items that can be demolished in a day, and our work has made it possible to plan and optimize costs in addition to the timeframe.

Why is 4D BIM a good solution?

Because it allows for a smooth construction schedule, provides a good strategic basis for construction management, and makes the project visually understandable. It facilitates much of the communication between designers, contractors, and suppliers, and helps with logistical planning, and efficient placement of construction materials (spatial organization).

A decision support tool to create multiple schedule variations comparing different technologies. It allows you to shorten the construction time by dividing the construction area into zones and organizing the placement of prefabricated elements or elements assembled on site. It provides animation, Gantt chart, Power BI connection, and many other tools.

If we then associate costs with the elements of our building information model (5D BIM), we can also visualize the evolution of costs over time. This allows for an order of magnitude more optimal cost planning and savings.

What do you need for 4D BIM?

Basically, a BIM model prepared with the right methodology, and built with the understanding that it will also serve 4D BIM purposes. That is, it includes data on the lead time, installation, construction, commissioning, consolidation, repair time, or time dependencies on other areas of the project.

These parameters are 100% supported by the BIM workflow.

We “BIM-enable” the traditional project with our Plan to BIM service: we model the 2D plan in 3D (which also eliminates errors in plan processing) and provide the elements with the time (or other, e.g. cost) information.

Lessons

The mandate was extremely forward-looking; it is common practice in Hungary that, due to the pressure of deadlines, construction often starts without a timetable. In this case, however, the client recognized that the time and energy spent on planning the exact schedule would pay off many times over in accident-free and precise execution, meeting deadlines and avoiding penalties.