Structural design

CHEFS
CULINAR North-East

Complex building planning, management and overall coordination with BIM

Facts and figures

Client:

CHEFS CULINAR GmbH & Co. KG, Kiel

Object:

Wholesale base with 10 buildings divided into administration, production, storage, logistics and technical areas (gross floor area: 74,550 m²) in Ludwigsfelde

Design:

AX5 architekten PartG mbB, Kiel

Services:

Structural design

Structural design using the BIM method, BIM management and overall BIM coordination, quality assurance

Special features:

Interdisciplinary planning using the BIM method (big-BIM)
Highest demands in the planning of logistical processes
Extensive building physics and structural analysis of the structural behavior at different temperature zones (frozen food storage, fresh food storage, production areas)
Underground sprinkler tanks with a total capacity of around 2,280 m³
Prefabricated construction with prestressed concrete girders, span 24 m
Parking garage in composite construction

CHEFS CULINAR wholesale base

The CHEFS CULINAR wholesale chain has a broad base throughout Germany: Around 25,000 articles for the food and non-food sector are stocked at 8 branches and 23 bases. In addition, professional consulting services, seminars and IT solutions are offered to customers in the catering, hotel and communal catering sectors. In 2019-2021, the CHEFS CULINAR North-East wholesale base was established in Ludwigsfelde in the form of a logistics and service center for the greater Brandenburg area.

BIM as 1st choice

Planning with the BIM method pays off, especially for complex buildings such as wholesale warehouses plus production facilities. The building complex at CHEFS CULINAR consists of several sections with different floor structures. The usual specialist areas (electrics, heating, ventilation and water supply) corresponded with the other trades such as fire extinguishing and sprinkler systems, cooling, compressed air, conveyor technology (saturated conveyor), fish and meat cutting (incl. meat pipe conveyor), logistics with automatic small parts warehouse. All information on planning and utilization from the respective specialist models was combined in an overall model.

2D versus BIM planning

When merging the various specialist models and checking them in the viewer, we recognized critical points immediately. The automatic collision check with a model checker supplements the visual check. This level of efficiency and accuracy cannot be achieved with 2D planning.

Aspects of overall BIM coordination

Many planners now work with 3D models, which do not necessarily include the use of the BIM method. To ensure that everyone involved in the project had the same level of knowledge to ensure smooth collaboration, we held workshops during the planning phase. They ensured that all relevant information was included in the model. As the client was already using a CAFM (computer-aided facility management) system, it was necessary to record the required information in a LOI (level of information) matrix and integrate it into the client information requirements for commissioning the general contractor.

Visible temperatures

The room temperature requirements can be displayed in the model according to use: Normal indoor temperatures, refrigeration for fruit and vegetables, refrigeration for meat or fish and deep-freeze areas.

Extended modeling in LPH4

In general, a model detailing level of LOG 200 is sufficient in LPH4. Corresponding to the HOAI, components with the correct component dimensions can thus be represented in the model in a simplified manner, stating the item number, so that the "rough" space requirement of the shell construction can be recognized for further planning. For this project, the invitation to tender was planned after completion of LPH4, as the further execution, work and assembly planning was to be taken over by the general contractor. For this reason, a higher level of detail of LOG 300 was selected for the main components. It enables the bidders to recognize and correctly evaluate the more complex geometries.

Monitoring the model transfer

With the help of the model checker "Solibri", we checked the correct transfer of the native software formats of the models from LPH 1-4 into the software of the general contractor for LPH 5. Geometries of components can be compared and differences highlighted in color.

Quantity determination

Construction sketches and detailed quantity calculations can be created from the modeling, which bidders can display in the model with a single click using component item numbers.

Construction progress control and invoicing

The challenge for construction progress control and invoicing is to record all the different information in the model - according to the respective use cases. To enable those responsible for construction progress control and invoicing to add their data to the planning model, we introduced a project platform that could be used to add further information to the planners' models. This platform does not require any additional software - the information can be entered directly online via input masks and the release and production status of the components can be visualized in colour. Once the assembly dates of the components have been entered into the model by the site manager, the proportion of the completed concrete quantities can be displayed immediately and evaluated for invoicing purposes.