Going out on a BIM

Bredeson’s career branches into virtual construction

In a way, Kevin Bredeson is much like any other project manager in the construction industry.

He manages schedules, charts time lines and computes project cost estimates. His ultimate goal, like that of any project manager, is a building that matches a client’s expectations right down to the smallest details.

But the Beloit native’s buildings are a little more fleeting than those of his contemporaries. And as the director of virtual construction in Gilbane Building Co.’s Milwaukee office, he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Right now, I’m overseeing all the projects for the entire company — about 20 to 30 Building Information Modeling-enabled projects,” said Bredeson, 33.

Using BIM technology and a variety of software packages, Bredeson and his six-person team create computer-generated building models that take into account many of the real-time issues that project teams face.

“The biggest benefit we’re seeing is coordination of documents … and elimination of conflicts,” he said.

Architectural and structural plans can be integrated into one model, offering a broader view of what can be a multimillion-dollar project.

“Some of these are being used by the owners as a digital representation of their building,” Bredeson said. “There’s no better way than to simulate the construction of a building in front of [the owner].”

But getting the BIM technology adopted and widely accepted has been a major challenge for Bredeson, who joined Gilbane as a preconstruction manager in 2005.

“There are people you have to convince,” he said. “‘Why is this better than the traditional process?’”

But Gilbane, which adopted BIM technology about three years ago, doesn’t need convincing, Bredeson said.

“We’re taking the old 3-D models and adding intelligence to those models,” he said. “We’re always looking for that competitive edge, and BIM is it.”

But as beneficial as BIM can be, it does have its detractors, Bredeson said.

“Some architects are unwilling to share documents with you because of legal liability,” he said.

He also faces questions about the reliability of BIM data and the potential return on the investment.

“The first question I ask of anybody is, ‘Are we going to be building the model?’” he said. “If we are collaborating with an architect that is planning the model, that alleviates the burden. Then we can start collaborating with the teams.”

Despite some of the concerns, Bredeson, who has degrees in construction management and business administration from Northern Michigan University, has found success.

“Here in the Midwest, especially here in Wisconsin, a lot of architects have adopted the technology,” he said. “My experience nationwide is it’s really hit or miss. Ninety miles down the road in Chicago, I get asked very little to use BIM services.”

Working in a constantly changing technological world keeps Bredeson on the road about 50 to 70 days a year. But he said he’s pleased to have landed in this position after previous stints as project manager and estimator at firms including Mortenson Construction in Brookfield, Oscar Boldt Construction in Waukesha and Cord Construction in Rockford, Ill.

“The one thing that’s been consistent is a fondness for technology and being well versed with a computer,” said Bredeson.

Those skills make Bredeson an active advocate for BIM technology and what it can do for clients and companies.

“We really look at it and analyze what are the benefits to the client,” he said. “What are the benefits to us?”

— Sharon Verbeten