A Building Information Modeling Approach for Adaptive Reuse Building Projects

Adaptive reuse of buildings is considered a visionary practice and a superior alternative for new construction, in terms of sustainability. It is considered key for transitioning from a resource-based construction economy towards a circular one. Current approaches to support project design, planning, and execution with building information modelling (BIM) are insufficient to support adaptive reuse projects. BIM is insufficient when we think of adaptive reuse as a flow of building materials and components through a circular value chain, and when we conceive of existing assets as the future source of construction materials. In this paper, we show with examples that current BIM models do not support important project activities of adaptive reuse projects. Then, we identify needs and requirements for information models that support these activities. The requirements focus on how to effectively represent parts, materials, and systems, as well as, interfaces between them. We will also suggest additional properties that need to be defined in BIM models for adaptive reuse projects. The main contribution of this study is the development of a framework for an integrative BIM approach for improving adaptive reuse projects outcomes inside of a circular economy (CE) context.