Final Draft CAD

Implementing BIM in construction projects is defying, but once adopted, the BIM methodology brings several benefits, particularly in the area of productivity. BIM expedites the creation of visualizations, sections, and elevations freely and helps to incorporate this information later in the process of construction and maintenance of buildings, infrastructure, and facilities. Problems in the practical application of BIM do not usually relate to the capability of the BIM methodology or software, but the effectual implementation within existing systems and to training and equipping teams with the skills necessary to take advantage of its many benefits. Besides, planning a project rightly from 2D models alone can be a daunting task that often results in delays. Planning the detailed processes of a construction project with small amounts of inaccurate detail doesn’t sound like the wisest idea, yet it still happens often. With BIM consultants working on the project, they will be able to simulate every step of construction via digital software and plan the work down to the last detail. This is where companies like Final Draft CAD marks their presence, as it can ensure a smooth and efficient process is put in place, minimalizing the risk of delayed work.

Established in 2011, Final Draft CAD provides a full range of services for the architect, engineer, general contractor, building trades, facility manager, and owner. The professional team of engineers, architects, designers, and technicians are uniquely skilled in the nitty-gritty of CAD and the complexity of BIM. As a partner, Final Draft CAD facilitates, educates, and collaborates with its clients and other project stakeholders to ensure the project’s success, by tailoring services to meet specific project requirements and schedule. “We build buildings in 3D before they are built, and try to identify the problems well in advance in order to help the construction industry. On the flip side, we work closely with the architects and engineers to resolve the issues before the construction happens in favor of reducing the cost of rework.

We also perform coordination management, clash detection of the BIM, reality capture with the help of scanning and UAS (Unmanned Aircraft Systems) drones, general drafting as well as COBie, (Construction Operations Building Information Exchange) and CMMS (Computerised Maintenance Management Systems) to make it final in the very first time,” states Daniel B. Welch, President of Final Draft CAD.

To accomplish the client’s requirements in the BIM arena, Final Draft CAD acts as a full-service shop. The team of experts working for the company holds professional engineering degrees, also Welch himself holds a mechanical engineering degree and has hands on experience in facilities engineering. Apart from this, the Final Draft CAD team has registered architects, as well as people from other subcontracting companies that understand how things can roll out very smoothly. What really sets apart Final Draft CAD from the rest of the market players is the ability of its team to make the drawing final the very first time. So, hiring the right employees is the key to success. Similarly, Final Draft CAD has also worked with a number of different types of buildings, hospitality, grocery ports, government, and many others. For instance, clients approach Final Draft CAD in order to have a walkthrough of the venue that will be going for construction. The company scans the whole venue and brings it into the model, later compares it with the design to observe that everything is final in the first time itself whether it be a LOD 400 or 500 model. To this, Welch mentions, “Companies can hire firms from overseas, but they will certainly not have the proper knowledge and experience of the United States market and how buildings are built.”

Handling a varied customer base is a cakewalk for Final Draft CAD, which is well proved through a prime example of its client success stories. A hospital valued at $300 million wanted to build a nine-story tower on the hospital complex that involves demolishing an existing building for the tower to be constructed. As it was a huge project, there were two contractors working hand in hand, but they didn’t have a BIM firm on board. The contractors approached Final Draft CAD to perform BIM coordination and also worked on the pre-construction with the client to identify the experience level of the sub-contractors to ensure that it was adequate. Final Draft CAD also did clash detection and 3D scanning. At a certain point in time, Final Draft CAD detected that design was not going to allow chilled water piping within the building and proposed that it could be done outside the building or underground. Simultaneously, there was another issue with the electric conduit, and the tower demanded a chase installed for the project. These were the two major issues that Final Draft CAD addressed and saved 1000s of on the project. Final Draft CAD was associated with the inception of the project and helped the contractors in terms of operations, and the maintenance of the building.

Not to mention, the pandemic has disrupted the dynamics of every other industry and construction is not an exception. Irrespective of the crisis, Final Draft CAD has been able to serve its clients even in this hour of crisis. Due to Covid19, a stay-at-home order was passed by the government, but keeping all those restrictions aside, Final Draft CAD facilitated its clients by coordinating with them regarding the projects that would eventually help them start back up again. “2021 looks very optimistic as we are looking to work outside the Maine state, and help the clients nationally with our expertise,” concludes Welch.