Allies and Morrison Architects Stephen Griffin and Paul Eaton have evaluated Gehry Technologies Digital Project 3D BIM software on several recent design projects. The results so far experienced have been better design productivity, enhanced creativity and the promise of other benefits further down the line, writes Nick Lerner.

120 Moorgate is a 14,540 sqm (GEA) retail/office-led, mixed use development located at the northern edge of the City of London.

Allies and Morrison is an architectural practice that has experienced tremendous success developing solutions for a wide range of high profile clients. For three years the company has been running its projects in 3D. Initially the team reviewed the 3D solutions on offer in the AEC space in relation to their needs as a very busy architectural business where time is always limited.

Their investigations revealed that there are tools marketed to increase design productivity, capture creativity and control supply chains. Those three requirements are crucial to Allies and Morrison and needed to be reflected in the evaluation process. It was also considered that a system based on a Building Information Model (BIM) would bring the advantages and benefits of the latest technology to their practice. Following a thorough evaluation they selected Gehry Technologies Digital Project software (DP) supplied in the UK by Desktop Engineering.

The ability to drive the design from an Excel spreadsheet is a real benefit for Allie and Morrison.