Dorchester, MA – Harry R. Feldman, Inc. and Existing Conditions Surveys, Inc., working under extremely limited access conditions and time restraints, recently completed a 3D Laser Scanning survey and produced a 3D Revit Building Information Model of the U. S. Senate Chamber for the Edward M. Kennedy Institute.
The two firms are again collaborating on the restoration of the Massachusetts Senate Chamber led by CBT Architects of Boston.
The Edward M. Kennedy Institute is planning a memorial library to be built next to the JFK Library in Dorchester. One of the exciting challenges of this project will be to build a precise replica of the U.S. Senate Chamber inside the new building. The first step the architect needed to take was to obtain an Existing Conditions survey and then a BIM of the Senate Chamber for their design. Since the Senate was still in session and arranging access to the Capitol is a large endeavor, all of the survey work needed to be completed in one, four-hour period between the hours of 6pm – 10pm.
Existing Conditions Surveys, Inc. was contacted by the project architect, Raphael Vinoly’s office to perform the measurements, 2D drawings and a 3D Revit Model. They teamed up with the 3D division of Harry R. Feldman, Inc. (Feldman3d) to perform the 3D Laser Scanning for the critical dimensions and 3d Visualization of the Chamber.
The team from Existing Conditions Surveys, Inc. collected all of the field data in a very short period of time – only four hours between sessions of the U.S. Senate. This project also required advance planning and scheduling due to stringent security requirements and a heightened sensitivity to the building occupants. Another challenge was they were required to produce the highly detailed 3D Revit 2009 model in only 14 days after the field work – without the chance of a return visit.
Existing Conditions Surveys utilized a methodical measuring strategy, detailed drawing checklist and highly trained staff. By using Leica lasers, Autodesk Revit 2009 and the most advanced Photomodeler software, they were able to take the precise field dimensioned data sets and create highly accurate 3D drawings of the space. They were also able to detect any potential clashes between the field data and model before it was finalized, to avoid risks during the construction phase. All of this is what made it possible for the delivery of 2D drawings and 3D BIM of superior quality and accuracy.
The Feldman3d team utilized both a Leica Scan Station 2 and an HDS 6000. With millimeter survey accuracies, the team scanned the entire chamber including all of the statues of the Vice Presidents one by one. Collecting millions of points at a spacing as small as 1/8”, the team was able to then layer photos over the point cloud data to show a 3D, photo-realistic animation of the chamber that the architects could then use to look at positions of seats, colors of rugs and curtains and architectural details of the moldings. Also, this data was used to check critical dimensions of other details like the domed ceiling and certain patterns on the doors.
