Case Studies Advancing the Power of Play with BIM

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	Advancing the Power of Play with BIM

Advancing the Power of Play with BIM

Technology Category	Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries	Construction & Infrastructure Education Professional Service
Applicable Functions	Facility Management Product Research & Development Quality Assurance
Use Cases	Building Automation & Control Building Energy Management Digital Twin Predictive Maintenance Remote Asset Management
Services	Software Design & Engineering Services System Integration Training
Challenge	Peter and Sharon, founders of Architecture Is Fun, noticed a lack of advocacy for child-centric architecture while spending time in children's public spaces. They identified gaps in the design, materiality, and quality of these spaces, which led them to focus their professional ambitions on creating meaningful, interactive environments for families. Their goal was to elevate the standards of design for learning environments through new paradigms in pedagogy, play, and participatory experience. One of their first clients was the Chicago Children's Museum, and their work soon expanded to other children's museums, exhibits, and adult cultural spaces. They aimed to create spaces that appeal to children and adults alike, making them interesting and engaging for everyone. Read More
About Customer	Architecture Is Fun is a design firm founded by Peter and Sharon, who have backgrounds in architecture and a passion for creating child-centric spaces. They met at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and later worked at Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates and Safdie Architects. The birth of their daughter, Emma, in the late 1980s inspired them to focus on designing meaningful, interactive environments for families. Their work, dubbed 'Educative Design,' aims to elevate the standards of design for learning environments through new paradigms in pedagogy, play, and participatory experience. They have worked with renowned clients like the Chicago Children's Museum and have expanded their portfolio to include other children's museums, exhibits, and adult cultural spaces. Read More
Solution	Peter and Sharon use Vectorworks Architect software for its intuitive 3D modeling and BIM capabilities. BIM allows them to provide lifetime value to their projects by maintaining and leveraging value with owners for a building's lifecycle. They use BIM workflows for all projects, including an outdoor play area at Chicago's St. Chrysostom's Day School. The firm actively involves its clients, including preschool staff and children, to create purposeful spaces. For the Young At Art Museum, they commissioned 75 acclaimed artists to enliven 22,000 square feet, creating a dynamic, open-ended environment that inspires curiosity and growth. The museum's data-rich models enabled exemplary coordination with the building architect and consultant's BIM models, making the project more accurate and profitable. Read More Log in to view content
Contents

Technology Category

Analytics & Modeling - Digital Twin / Simulation

Application Infrastructure & Middleware - Data Exchange & Integration

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems

Applicable Industries

Construction & Infrastructure

Education

Professional Service

Applicable Functions

Facility Management

Product Research & Development

Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control

Building Energy Management

Digital Twin

Predictive Maintenance

Remote Asset Management

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services

System Integration

Training

Challenge

Peter and Sharon, founders of Architecture Is Fun, noticed a lack of advocacy for child-centric architecture while spending time in children's public spaces. They identified gaps in the design, materiality, and quality of these spaces, which led them to focus their professional ambitions on creating meaningful, interactive environments for families. Their goal was to elevate the standards of design for learning environments through new paradigms in pedagogy, play, and participatory experience. One of their first clients was the Chicago Children's Museum, and their work soon expanded to other children's museums, exhibits, and adult cultural spaces. They aimed to create spaces that appeal to children and adults alike, making them interesting and engaging for everyone.

About Customer

Architecture Is Fun is a design firm founded by Peter and Sharon, who have backgrounds in architecture and a passion for creating child-centric spaces. They met at Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and later worked at Venturi, Scott Brown & Associates and Safdie Architects. The birth of their daughter, Emma, in the late 1980s inspired them to focus on designing meaningful, interactive environments for families. Their work, dubbed 'Educative Design,' aims to elevate the standards of design for learning environments through new paradigms in pedagogy, play, and participatory experience. They have worked with renowned clients like the Chicago Children's Museum and have expanded their portfolio to include other children's museums, exhibits, and adult cultural spaces.

Solution

Peter and Sharon use Vectorworks Architect software for its intuitive 3D modeling and BIM capabilities. BIM allows them to provide lifetime value to their projects by maintaining and leveraging value with owners for a building's lifecycle. They use BIM workflows for all projects, including an outdoor play area at Chicago's St. Chrysostom's Day School. The firm actively involves its clients, including preschool staff and children, to create purposeful spaces. For the Young At Art Museum, they commissioned 75 acclaimed artists to enliven 22,000 square feet, creating a dynamic, open-ended environment that inspires curiosity and growth. The museum's data-rich models enabled exemplary coordination with the building architect and consultant's BIM models, making the project more accurate and profitable.

Impact #1	Architecture Is Fun actively involves clients, including staff and children, in the design process to create purposeful spaces.
Impact #2	The firm uses Vectorworks Architect software for its intuitive 3D modeling and BIM capabilities, providing lifetime value to projects.
Impact #3	BIM workflows enable exemplary coordination with building architects and consultants, making projects more accurate and profitable.

Impact #1

Architecture Is Fun actively involves clients, including staff and children, in the design process to create purposeful spaces.

Impact #2

The firm uses Vectorworks Architect software for its intuitive 3D modeling and BIM capabilities, providing lifetime value to projects.

Impact #3

BIM workflows enable exemplary coordination with building architects and consultants, making projects more accurate and profitable.

Benefit #1	The Young At Art Museum received accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, one of only a handful to receive the distinction.
Benefit #2	The museum's 22,000 square feet were enlivened by 75 acclaimed artists.
Benefit #3	The firm transformed a 450-square-foot outdoor play area at Chicago's St. Chrysostom's Day School into a bright and airy gothic garden.

Benefit #1

The Young At Art Museum received accreditation by the American Alliance of Museums, one of only a handful to receive the distinction.

Benefit #2

The museum's 22,000 square feet were enlivened by 75 acclaimed artists.

Benefit #3

The firm transformed a 450-square-foot outdoor play area at Chicago's St. Chrysostom's Day School into a bright and airy gothic garden.

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Overview

Advancing the Power of Play with BIM

Operational Impact

Quantitative Benefit