Government Offices (UK) = BIM CASE STUDY
Location: NATIONALLY across UK
Client: UK Government
Value: approx. £250m each
Duration: 2020 - 2023
Role: Employer’s Information Manager
Responsibility: BIM Model & Data Audits, Audit & CO-WRITE EIR, AIR & BEP
Challenges
- Ensuring consistent BIM data quality and compliance across several government office projects, each with complex stakeholder structures and tight delivery timelines.
- The Client's original Exchange Information Requirements (EIR), Asset Information Requirements (AIR), and COBie schema were not adequately aligned with ISO 19650, as they had been developed under older PAS/BS standards.
- Designers and developers were bypassing key BIM requirements due to gaps and vague language in the EIR & AIR, leaving the client exposed to information risks and missed deliverables.
- Coordination between disciplines was hindered by data gaps and inconsistent interpretation of requirements.
Solutions
- Carried out detailed BIM audits at mid & end of each RIBA stage to verify compliance with the Client’s IRs & ISO 19650 standards.
- Audited & co-wrote the client's EIR, AIR, and COBie Schema to strengthen their position, clarify responsibilities, and prevent loopholes that were being exploited by delivery teams.
- Translated legacy PAS/BS-based documentation into ISO 19650-compliant structures, simplifying requirements & improving enforceability.
- Collaborated with stakeholders across architecture, structure, MEP, and FM to ensure understanding of the updated standards.
- Provided strategic support to the client by helping them define realistic, enforceable requirements that protected their long-term asset interests.
End Result
Improved clarity, accountability, and BIM compliance across all delivery teams through better-defined EIR and AIR documents.
Delivered high-quality COBie outputs and structured asset information ready for Facilities Management and long-term Operations & Maintenance.
Reduced risk to the client by closing documentation gaps and aligning their requirements with ISO 19650 principles.
Streamlined asset handover by training delivery teams, whilst ensuring all deliverables were properly audited & validated, structured, and aligned with updated Information Requirements.
Strengthened the client's internal BIM knowledge and governance by leaving them with clearer, more robust documentation for future projects.
Key Takeaways
This UK government project highlighted how outdated documentation, vague requirements & misaligned standards can expose clients to information risks, missed deliverables, and reduced asset information quality, especially on complex, multistakeholder projects.
Through strategic BIM audits, documentation interpretation and targeted training, we strengthened the Client's governance, closing gaps between legacy PAS/BS standards and latest ISO 19650 requirements. By co-authoring their EIR, AIR, and BEP template, we simplified compliance, clarified accountability, and prevented common loopholes that were being exploited by delivery teams.
The project demonstrated how clear, enforceable requirements and internal BIM knowledge building are essential to protecting long-term client interests, ensuring Facilities Management readiness, and supporting structured asset handover. Strong documentation isn't just paperwork, but a foundation of reliable, efficient project delivery and long-term operational success.