Services Design & BIM – What a Mess?
Watch the episode on YouTube right here!
In recent years, the Construction Industry has raced to embrace Building Information Modeling (BIM) and more structured approaches to Services design. But despite the availability of powerful tools and the promise of greater coordination, one question remains:
Why is it still such a mess?
We created a podcast episode, ”Services Design & BIM: Can it be fixed?,” featuring Gary Cowan, Head of Digital Construction/ Kane Group. Join us when we explore how BIM and Services design are being used across the Construction Industry. Is it even working? What’s missing? And how can we move toward smarter, more automated processes?
BIM is often viewed as a solution to many of the industry’s coordination problems. But its implementation is far from perfect.
Services design – which encompasses all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) elements —relies heavily on BIM for spatial planning and clash detection. When the process works well, it can prevent costly errors and ensure efficient installation.
However, the reality on most projects is far from seamless.
BIM models are often developed too late, not integrated with the design intent, or overly complex to be practical. Meanwhile, services designers frequently struggle to keep up with ever-changing inputs and project pressures.
How do we solve this problem?
In the following article, we’ll discuss:
- Challenges and opportunities with Services design and BIM.
- What needs to change?
- Time to rethink coordination.
Challenges and opportunities with Services design and BIM
One of the main challenges is the growing complexity of buildings themselves.
As energy requirements and building regulations become more demanding, the pressure on services engineers increases. Yet the tools meant to help—like BIM—can sometimes hinder instead of help.
Models are often overloaded with information that isn’t useful for actual delivery.
Or they’re stripped back so far that they lose their value as coordination tools.
This tug-of-war between simplicity and completeness causes confusion and inefficiency on-site.
Gary believes automation can help bridge this gap.
With the right digital tools and smarter processes, repetitive tasks like updating duct layouts or verifying clearance zones can be automated, freeing up engineers to focus on solving real design challenges.
He points out that while automation is often feared as a job killer, it’s actually a tool for amplifying value. It helps teams work smarter – not harder.
It also creates consistency across projects.
Let’s take a deeper look into the more specific changes we need.
What needs to change?
There are three key areas where change is needed:
- Earlier Engagement: Services design needs to be considered much earlier in the project timeline. Waiting until the architectural model is “ready,” often means that services must be shoehorned into a space that doesn’t accommodate them well.
- Better BIM Training and Standards: Many professionals still struggle with BIM platforms due to inconsistent training or lack of clear guidelines. Investing in better upskilling and shared standards will pay dividends in delivery.
- Data-Driven Collaboration: BIM should be more than a 3D model. It should be a dynamic source of truth that enables cross-disciplinary collaboration through data.
Forward-thinking teams are already using generative design, rule-based automation, and centralised data systems to streamline Services design. These innovations show that progress is possible, but they require a mindset shift across the industry.
Time to rethink coordination
When engineers, architects, and contractors align their processes digitally, Services design transforms from a chaotic afterthought into a strategic asset.
So, is Services design and BIM still a mess?
…. Sometimes, yes.
But that doesn’t mean it has to stay that way.
We can build a more intelligent and less fragmented future. We can do this by embracing automation, improving digital coordination, and elevating the role of services designers from executors to integrators,
Are we ready to give Services design the respect it deserves?
Can BIM become the tool it was always meant to be?
Let’s keep asking these questions, challenging old habits, and pushing for better processes in every project.