Sign up for a VIM demo at Autodesk University, Las Vegas, November 18-21
ATLANTA (November 14, 2019) – VIM, a virtual information modeling firm providing the most efficient 3D format for building design data, and Skender, a pioneer of Lean construction and modular manufacturing, announce today a partnership to implement VIM’s software in Skender’s modular manufacturing facility. VIM’s platform, which provides 3D, virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) building models, will help Skender clients visualize their modular buildings and make informed design decisions before manufacturing and construction begins.
“This is a breakthrough in digital collaboration and communication,” said Stacy Scopano, CTO at Skender. “VIM gives Skender clients and integrated project teams an important lens to see what is possible through modular building. It helps them understand their complete palette of design options, including materials, finishes and systems. It also provides critical context, helping clients experience their building on the city street where it will be built. This is a powerful tool to inform early decision-making and maximize value.”
“Today, the industry approaches each project as a custom consortium, where designers, builders, vendors and suppliers come together, many for the first time, to deliver on an owner’s vision,” said Joel Pennington, VIM’s Head of Product. “Along the way, typical implementation challenges are addressed by diluting design integrity, sustainability features and material quality. It’s an age-old scenario that is radically changing as VIM’s approach to better, more sustainable designs joins forces with Skender’s breakthroughs in high-quality, super-efficient modular construction.”
Where it’s working
In the face of unprecedented demand for affordable housing and increasing construction labor shortages, Skender’s modular solutions provide significant schedule reductions and quality gains for multifamily projects, as well as healthcare and hospitality. In Skender’s upcoming Chicago projects, multifamily housing modules will leave the factory 95% complete. Once on-site, apartment modules will be stacked together with a bolt-and-pin system and additional welding. Stone accents and brick claddings can be added to help the building blend into the specific neighborhood, bringing the project in at least 40% faster than that of a traditional model.
“VIM’s advances in mixed reality, connectivity, compute power and data management are helping Skender merge digital and physical worlds into a single, blended and seamless working environment to realize the promise of modular construction,” said Christopher Diggins, Head of Research at VIM. “By migrating many building processes to a factory model, all supported by VIM’s parametric technology, Skender can achieve standardization and continuous optimization.” Both VIM and Skender are hiring additional professionals as they prepare for increased demand.
“The synergies of VIM and Skender pay off when high-end specifications intersect with repeatable work, dispelling the misconception that a modular approach sacrifices quality,” said Tim Swanson, Chief Design Officer, Skender. “We recently unveiled a smart apartment prototype that surprised visitors with its luxury features and finishes. By front-ending the effort with VIM’s 3D software, we will also preserve higher levels of light, oxygen, circulation and safety. One of the reasons the VIM/Skender alliance works so well is the common vision of both organizations to deliver better buildings without compromising our increasingly fragile environment.”
See the synergies live: Autodesk University
Owners, designers, and builders are invited to learn more by visiting VIM’s booth (AE220) at
Autodesk University Expo, November 19-21 in Las Vegas (
sign up for VIM demonstrations here).
Also, at the Autodesk University preconference on November 18, Stacy Scopano, Chief Technology Officer at Skender, will present “PIVOT: A Legacy Builder Relaunches as a Design, Manufacturing, and Construction Firm.”
For more information and a full schedule, visit https://www.autodesk.com/autodesk-university/conference/las-vegas/overview.
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About VIM
VIM provides the universal format for fast BIM access, enabling construction industry professionals to visualize, construct and operate better buildings. By migrating the parametric data code into compelling real-time experiences VIM unlocks large, complex BIM implementations into accessible, game-ready content. By removing the artificial barriers between AEC disciplines, VIM enables teams to deliver and sustain a building’s design intent, from its originally approved conception to its ongoing operation – for years to come. By combining our decades old expertise in business, art and science, VIM pioneered the industry’s rallying cry to assure a better future for our planet’s population.
About Skender
Skender integrates design, construction, and manufacturing in its 105,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Chicago. Using its unique model, Skender delivers predictable, quality construction outcomes along with reduced time and money through its modular construction techniques which it has applied to various healthcare, hotel and apartment projects. As a leading pioneer of Chicago’s Lean construction movement, Skender is a founding member of the Lean Construction Institute’s Chicago Community of Practice. Skender has been delivering its unique brand promise through its team of more than 300 industry experts for more than 60 years.
Media Contact
Alexa Wolford
(404) 702.9199
