“BIM is the bridge between architects and construction companies”

Jasper de Mink is the latest addition to the BIM team at our digitalisation practice Digital Matter. With his experience from the Dutch construction industry and his passion for digitalisation and sustainability, Jasper will work with our clients to enable sustainable life through the art of digitalisation and architecture.

You told me you’re on a mission. Please explain.

– After I graduated as a building engineer, I joined a construction company in the Netherlands and worked in several positions at the company to learn the entire building process and see first-hand how the industry works. I quickly noticed a discrepancy between the people designing the buildings (architects) and the people building them (construction companies). The architects wondered “Why don’t they build it as we’ve designed it?”, and the construction companies wondered “Why don’t they design it so we can actually build it?”

It struck me that a bridge was needed between the two, and that bridge was BIM. When everyone works in the same BIM model, with the same information, all project stakeholders have the same starting point for dialogue and with more data and analysis built in and around that model, we can more easily connect the vision to the final result.

I worked with BIM at an engineering firm for a few years before joining Dura Vermeer, a Dutch construction company (ranked number 6 in size). As a BIM strategist, I implemented BIM as a way of work for all projects. Because Dura Vermeer operated as both a property developer and construction firm the whole lifecycle was covered, from preliminary design to handover, even maintenance and operations. When I asked some colleagues if they wanted to go back to the pre-BIM way of work, with 2D drawings and loosely managed information, the unequivocal answer was: “No! And now, help us take this to the next level.” If you’re in the construction industry – BIM makes everything easier. I’ve been on a mission to help companies reach farther through BIM ever since.

Is BIM about projects or business?

– Both. BIM is about the business of projects. BIM is one of the steppingstones in applying and harnessing structured data, which is key to sustainability and profitability – if you do it right. Data can be used as a tool for projects but will also change the way companies run their business. Add to that visualised 3D data and you enable insights and decisions that were not possible before. It also enables building digitally before building in real life, reducing errors before they occur and optimising decisions. The outcomes are better projects and overall optimisation for the business.

Working with BIM changes the way project members and employees work. We work more efficiently, the daily tasks become more fun and the outcomes are closer to our individual passions and visions – which requires change in the industry, and BIM is change. Changes often start small, on a project level, but can eventually improve the whole business. This is where my passion is, to help people reach this level of impact. I love working with project organisations and corporate management in realising more sustainable solutions and profitability.

However, for the whole industry to reach the next level of efficiency and productivity we need to work together. Therefore, I was heavily involved with “BIM Loket” in the Netherlands, the equivalent to Sweden’s BIM Alliance. Working with companies and experts from all corners of the industry we managed to create new BIM standards and ways of work. Something I hope to continue doing in Sweden.

Do you want to learn more about Digital Matter and our BIM services? Click here or reach out to Jasper.