VDC Steel

Structural steel is often critical to both the timeline and budget of a project. It is also an area in which SSOE has set itself apart through a well-defined VDC execution strategy. In fact, the modeling to detailing capabilities of VDC Steel, along with some of the piping detailing we are performing, were recently identified by a contracting partner as one of SSOE’s main differentiators from our competition. With this perspective, let’s take a quick look at what VDC Steel entails. Continue Reading →

Saving Time, Trouble, & Money with VDC

SSOE's mission: making clients successful by saving them time, trouble, and money. We know our clients don't come to SSOE looking for the latest trend. On the contrary, we are consistently challenged to bring better results. It’s clear that VDC will only be relevant to our clients if it fulfills our mission and helps us keep our "Value Promise.” Let's take a quick look on how VDC can impact... Continue Reading →

How Do I Know if VDC is Right for Me?

As we’ve discussed in previous updates, VDC represents a fundamental change in how the AEC industry executes projects. Adopting VDC throughout an entire industry will not be a simple or fast process, and as with anything new there is a learning curve. However, there is strong evidence to support the substantial benefits for our clients—even with the learning curve assumed---so it’s a direction we must be headed. In the short term, how do you know if your project is a good candidate for VDC? To help answer that question, SSOE has put together some criteria for what kinds of clients and projects are likely to become early adopters of VDC. Continue Reading →

How is VDC different from 3D / BIM?

This is a very common question that is asked when someone is first introduced to VDC. After all isn’t the literal interpretation of “VIRTUAL design and construction” a 3D model in which the building is VIRTUALLY built? Once again, this is a case of terminology causing confusion. Often when this question is asked, the underlying question is really: “Aren’t you already doing 3D / BIM? How is this anything different?” Continue Reading →

What is Virtual Design & Construction (VDC)?

Defining VDC has been a particularly difficult task, both at SSOE and throughout our industry. Is it simply enhanced 3D or BIM? (No; we’ll talk more about that in an upcoming post.) How can we say Project X and Y are both VDC projects when they were executed so differently? (The answer has to do with VDC being a delivery system that tailors a strategy for each project rather than a list of deliverables or technologies employed. We’ll talk a little bit about this next week as well.) Continue Reading →