GRAPHISOFT > Case Studies > Revitalizing Duke Ellington School of the Arts: A Case Study in IoT and BIM Integration

Revitalizing Duke Ellington School of the Arts: A Case Study in IoT and BIM Integration

Technology Category

Sensors - Optical Sensors

Applicable Industries

Buildings
Education

Applicable Functions

Product Research & Development

Use Cases

Building Automation & Control
Virtual Prototyping & Product Testing

Services

System Integration
Training

About The Customer

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts is a prestigious public school that offers gifted children of all races and backgrounds equal access to a superior education in the arts. Part of the District of Columbia school system, the school was founded in 1974 and was allocated an aging high school building. The school is known for its commitment to creating responsible global artists and was ready to modernize its facilities in 2011. The school held an international design competition to solicit concepts from leading firms worldwide, which was won by D.C. firm cox graae + spack architects.

The Challenge

The Duke Ellington School of the Arts, a renowned public school in the District of Columbia, was housed in an aging building that was originally built in the 1890s. Despite several rounds of renovation and repair, the building needed a major overhaul to meet the demands of the 21st century. The school was ready to modernize in 2011 and held an international design competition to solicit concepts from leading firms worldwide. The challenge was to create a design that would preserve the historical elements of the building while incorporating modern features. The project was not only complex but also had a tight deadline that could not be extended.

The Solution

D.C. firm cox graae + spack architects (CG+S) was awarded the project and used Archicad, a Building Information Modeling (BIM) software, to design a solution that balanced the historic and modern elements of the building. The firm used Archicad to test hundreds of ideas within its detailed BIM model, which allowed them to incorporate a wealth of environmental features that work to inform and inspire students on a daily basis. The firm also used Archicad’s native visualization tools to rapidly generate 3D briefings, studies, and interactive BIMx tours accessible from any device. This approach not only provided detailed, accurate guidance to each partner but also ensured perfect alignment throughout construction. The project embraced Archicad’s 3D documentation capabilities, which became essential to the project's success.

Operational Impact

The successful completion of the project transformed the way cox graae + spack architects view the possibilities of BIM. By fully utilizing Archicad’s potential and partnering with Graphisoft on training and support, CG+S was able to transform its practice into a competitive firm capable of taking on large-scale projects. The project also led to a permanent change in how each stakeholder works, with a greater emphasis on collaboration and the use of BIM. The project was recognized with multiple awards and special recognition from the City of D.C., who allowed CG+S greater flexibility due to the integrity of their design and their ability to communicate their intent in detail via Archicad.

Quantitative Benefit

The project led to Ellington being awarded LEED Gold status, indicating a high level of environmental sustainability.
The use of Archicad allowed for the testing of hundreds of design ideas within a detailed BIM model.
The use of Archicad’s native visualization tools enabled the rapid generation of 3D briefings, studies, and interactive BIMx tours.