ALA Architects Ltd.
Finland
From the first day onwards ALA has embraced BIM and developed holistic methods. First we brought the models to meeting rooms and now to the sites.
About
ALA Architects, one of the frontrunners of a new generation of Nordic architecture practices, specialises in complex public and cultural buildings, transportation architecture and modernist renovation projects. The Helsinki–based firm was founded in 2005 and is run by three partners: Juho Grönholm, Antti Nousjoki and Samuli Woolston. In addition to the partners, the team currently includes 42 architects, designers, students and other staff members representing 13 nationalities.
Company size: Small (<50)
Sector: Architecture
Technology: Building information modelling; Additive manufacturing (3D printing)
Digital initiative
ALA utilizes contemporary design tools such as BIM, 3D printing, and parametric design software combined with model building and materials research in all their projects. The design team works in a fully integrated 3D BIM environment. All newbuild projects are designed as 3D building information models using the latest version of the Autodesk Architecture Engineering & Construction Collection software. The designs created in Revit are complemented with work done on such software as AutoCAD, Rhinoceros, Grasshopper and Enscape.
Relevant construction projects
The firm’s completed newbuild projects include the new departures and arrivals building of Helsinki International Airport, Helsinki Central Library Oodi, Saukonlaituri parking facility, Courtyard by Marriott Tampere City hotel, Keilaniemi and Aalto University metro stations, Lappeenranta City Theatre, the expansion of Kuopio City Theatre, and Kilden Performing Arts Centre – all benefiting from the use of BIM and parametric design software.
Experienced benefits of digitalisation
- In an integrated BIM environment both the clients and the future users have real-time access to visualisations and walk-through animations of the projects
- The use of BIM in quantity, volume and cost estimation as well as in project communication with other planners and engineers during the projects’ design and construction phases ensures that work proceeds smoothly and that there will be no surprises.
Tips for effective implementation
The main challenges that we have experienced in the implementation of BIM during the past 15+ years have been related to the cost of some of the software and the equipment required to properly run them, the availability of workforce possessing the right software skills, as well as the compatibility of the software used by ALA and the firm’s collaborators in certain projects. To overcome this, we organise in-house Revit, Rhino, Grasshopper and Enscape trainings for our employees when required by the projects at hand. This way the more skilled employees, or our own experts, can share their knowledge with the rest of the team.