Opera House appoints AECOM for 3D BIM project

The Sydney Opera House has appointed a consortium led by professional services company AECOM to develop a 3D graphical interface to assist with the management and development of the landmark building.

AECOM will work with BIM Academy and EcoDomus to design a cloud-based interface that combines the functions of traditional building management control systems, building information databases and building information modelling (BIM).

The web interface will map the physical and functional characteristics of the world-famous building, linking an accurate 3D model of the facility and its surroundings with engineering documentation, maintenance, BIM and control systems.

Sydney Opera House Director of Building Greg McTaggart commented that the system will be used to help manage the 10-year program of works and initiatives planned for the building.

“As we embark on the first stage of Opera House Renewal, it is critical that we have the technical infrastructure in place to effectively manage the pipeline of upcoming development projects, as well as to support the ongoing management and conservation of this architectural masterpiece,” he said.

“The Opera House is truly unique so it’s exciting that we have the opportunity to develop bespoke, leading-edge building technologies that not only meet our specific needs but also those of the wider industry itself.”

The AECOM-led consortium won the contract through a tender process and was selected based on criteria including prior experience and expertise. The project will be completed in two stages over the next 18 months.

Image courtesy Jimmy Harris under CC