Build Me Up: Career Pathways with KA’s BIM Team

Building Information Technology, or BIM, is a complex facet of the construction, architecture, and engineering industry. In the latest episode of the Build Me Up podcast, Kraus-Anderson BIM Manager Heather Kossila and BIM/VDC Specialists Andrea Blair and Allie Bindert sit down to discuss how BIM technology is evolving within the industry, how the age of social distancing is impacting their work, and the career paths they took before finding their passion for BIM. Listen to Build Me Up for a more in-depth discussion.

The Pathway to BIM

[perfectpullquote align=”left” bordertop=”false” cite=”Allie Bindert” link=”” color=”#CC0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”The construction side is a very practical aspect, but if we didn’t have the architects to design the buildings for us, I would say we wouldn’t have as beautiful of a world. I still have great respect for architecture, I just think that construction fit my mindset a little better.”[/perfectpullquote]

Heather, Andrea and Allie all took varying paths before landing in construction and BIM. Andrea earned a degree in interior design, but as she began her career, she realized she wasn’t enjoying what she was doing. Construction always interested her, and she decided to make the leap to KA, which evolved into her role as a BIM specialist. Heather and Andrea both started with degrees in architecture, but something was pulling them to the construction side of the industry. While in school, Andrea found herself looking for practical solutions while her classmates were creating elaborate designs. Her detail-oriented practicality felt like a better fit for construction. Heather found her strength to be looking at designs and fixing minor problems, rather than creating new designs. All three leveraged their skills and expertise to forge a path in the construction industry.

Enhancing Projects Through BIM Technology

[perfectpullquote align=”right” bordertop=”false” cite=”Heather Kossila” link=”” color=”#CC0202″ class=”” size=”18″]”We’ve had such success that we have been asked to do far more than we could have expected.”[/perfectpullquote]

BIM technology has been rapidly evolving and becoming a critical part of the preconstruction process. From virtual reality, to drone flyovers, to point clouds that create a 3D virtual representation of a building, the value of BIM services on a project continues to increase. The historic Duluth Central High School building, built in 1892, is being renovated into an apartment complex. Faced with a crumbling building with virtually no existing documentation, the estimating team looked to the BIM department to fill in the gaps. They used a drone to create a set of drawings of the exterior elevation, which allowed the team to quantify building volumes and elements. Just one example of a project made possible by the talent, expertise, and technology from the BIM department.

Tune into the latest episode of the Build Me Up podcast for a more in-depth discussion on these topics. You can subscribe to Build Me Up wherever you listen to your podcasts.