The architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry is evolving everyday. This is due to advancements in knowledge reach and among stakeholders int he industries. Interestingly, projects have become more complex, multidisciplinary, and data-driven, demanding seamless coordination between teams and accurate information at every stage of the design and construction process.

At Symbion Consulting Group, we acknowledged quite early that traditional 2D-based workflows for our architectural practice could no longer be reliable to support the level of precision, speed, and collaboration our projects demand. To stay ahead, we needed a smarter, intelligent and a more integrated way of working — one that would allow our teams to design, document, and deliver with efficiency and confidence. We thus transitioned to Building Information Modelling (BIM.

Understanding BIM: Beyond 3D Models
Whenever the term BIM is mentioned, many people — including professionals — often think of it merely as the process of creating 3D models. But that’s only part of the story. At Symbion, we understand BIM as a comprehensive process — one that enables a collaborative way of working by integrating design, data, and technology to manage the entire building lifecycle.

Through BIM, all elements of a building – from walls and windows to finishes, fixtures- carries embedded information that supports design development, decision-making, availability, applicability, and constructability long after the drafting stage. This information-rich model enables us, as architects to collaborate seamlessly with other consultants and contractors, allowing projects to be visualized, analysed, and coordinated better than ever before. Our decision to fully transition into BIM was driven by one key realization: better information leads to better buildings.

Before adopting BIM, project coordination across disciplines relied heavily on manual processes such as overlaying engineers’ drawings with architectural layouts, modelling structural elements such as columns and beams within our own architectural files, and exchanging 2D information through multiple iterations. These methods often led to inconsistencies, inaccuracies, rework, and time delays that affected project efficiency.

We sought to eliminate these inefficiencies by establishing a single source of truth — a model that every consultant could trust throughout the project’s lifecycle. BIM provides exactly that: enabling real-time collaboration, enhanced visualization for clients, and a data-driven foundation that supports sustainable and informed design decisions. The technology to achieve this already exists within the industry and offered by many players and in our case, it is made possible through platforms such as Autodesk Revit and the Autodesk Construction Cloud.

At Symbion, we regard BIM not merely as a tool, but as a process and mindset — one that transforms how we think, communicate, and ultimately deliver value to our clients.

Our BIM Approach: Defining Clarity Through LOD, LOG, and LOI
As we adopted BIM across our projects, we quickly realized that successful implementation depends as much on clarity as it does on software. Clear definitions of what to model, when, and to what level of detail are what keep teams coordinated and deliverables consistent. These definitions are closely aligned with our plan of work, which is derived from the RIBA Plan of Work and adapted to our practice.

Symbion’s BIM workflow is structured around three critical concepts — Level of Development (LOD), Level of Geometry (LOG), and Level of Information (LOI) — and how these are represented within the Autodesk Revit platform.

LOD (Level of Development)
This defines the extent of detail that each building element should contain at various design stages — from concept design to construction documentation.

At the conceptual level, for example, a wall may be represented simply as a double line with a fill colour linked to a legend, while a door may appear only as an opening along that wall, with a single-line swing indication. Using Autodesk Revit, this process becomes intuitive through a combination of view templates and detail level controls.

As the project progresses, the level of detail increases. That same wall evolves to display its core materials, layered assemblies, dimensions, and construction details, reflecting both design intent and technical accuracy.

LOG (Level of Geometry)
Closely related to LOD — and often inseparable from it — LOG focuses on the graphical representation of model elements. It ensures that each component’s geometry accurately reflects its intended purpose within the model, allowing for reliable visualization, coordination, and clash detection.

LOI (Level of Information)
LOI governs the non-graphical data embedded within each element. In Autodesk Revit, this becomes highly efficient, as every modelled element can be scheduled, quantified, and analysed directly. This data may include material specifications, performance parameters, manufacturer details, and other key attributes required for design validation, procurement, and facility management.

By establishing these parameters early in a project, we at Symbion are able to set clear expectations, maintain consistency, and ensure that every discipline contributes accurate and relevant information to the model. This structured approach minimizes rework, enhances model quality, and ensures efficient handovers to contractors for construction and to facility managers for maintainace.

BIM transforming Our Workflow
Today, BIM forms the backbone of how we deliver projects at Symbion. It enables our teams to collaborate in real time, identify and resolve clashes before construction, and maintain a high standard of accuracy across all documentation.

Clients also benefit from the enhanced visualization and coordination BIM provides as they can explore design options interactively, understand spatial relationships better, and make informed decisions early in the process.

Beyond the design phase, BIM supports sustainability, cost analysis, and facility management, creating value that extends far beyond the drawing board.

Symbion Leading the Future through BIM Adoption
Symbion has always been at the forefront of architectural innovation in East Africa, and our BIM journey is no exception. We’ve invested in both technology and people from developing in-house Revit standards and templates to conducting company-wide Revit training and skills assessments.

Our collaboration with technology partners and continuous learning culture ensures that our teams remain equipped to deliver projects that meet global standards. By embracing BIM, we’re not just improving how we design; we’re redefining how projects are conceived, coordinated, and delivered across the region.

The future of architecture lies in intelligent collaboration where data, design, and technology converge to create sustainable and efficient built environments. At Symbion, we’re proud to be leading that transformation. Our adoption of BIM not only represents a change in tools but also reflects our commitment to innovation, quality, and leadership in the architectural landscape of East Africa.

BIM transcends time: it captures the story of a building’s past, shapes its present performance, and safeguards its future.

Article by
Arch. Solomon Ndirangu October 2025