Historic municipal building LOD 200: Digital As-Built Model for Building Operations

Project Key Facts

• Location: Thun, Switzerland

• Building type: Historic municipal building

• Project size: 2,890 m²

• Tools/Software: Autodesk Revit

• Team size: 4 specialists (3 BIM modelers, 1 Revit expert)

• Delivery: 10 working days

  
  

Data Basis

• Unstructured and georeferenced point cloud in .rcs format

Tools/Software used by our partner

• Leica RTC 360 and Leica Cyclone Register 360

Delivered data

• LOD 200 3D model in .rvt and .ifc formats including architectural elements, roof structure, and sanitary installations, with existing deformations considered.

Rathaus 1

Rathaus 2

Rathaus 3

Rathaus 4

Rathaus 5

Rathaus 6

Project description Historic municipal building

The City Hall of Thun is a historic municipal administrative building. To support building operations as well as future planning and development activities, a BIM model at LOD 200 was created for the city administration.

The model includes architectural elements, sanitary installations, and the roof structure. Existing structural deviations and deformations were also taken into account.

Architecturally, the building reflects traditional Swiss civic architecture, characterized by:

• Solid masonry construction

• Symmetrical façades with historic detailing

• Complex roof geometries

• Non-standard wall alignments typical of older public buildings
  

From a BIM perspective, the main challenge was the accurate representation of the as-is condition, including visible deformations and irregular geometries that differ from idealized or original design documentation.

What is the model being used for?

The BIM model is used by the City of Thun for building operations, maintenance planning, and future refurbishment and planning activities.

Were there any difficulties or particular challenges in the modeling process?

“Due to the historic fabric and continuous use of the building, certain areas required detailed analysis and interpretation of as-built data. Key challenges included the representation of existing deformations, non-orthogonal geometries, and the complex roof structure.

What makes the project special?

Direct operational use by the city administration, supporting daily maintenance, facility management, and future refurbishment and planning activities.

Were there any innovative methods or solutions applied?

The project followed an established workflow, leveraging the combined expertise of three BIM modelers and one Revit expert to ensure efficiency and consistent quality control.

What lessons were learned for future projects?

The project was carried out by a highly experienced team, meaning that no fundamentally new insights were gained in the strict sense. However, several important conclusions and best practices emerged, which are consistently applied in future projects:

• Early coordination of data standards is essential: Defining IFC requirements and the model LOD at an early project stage significantly improves workflow efficiency and reduces post-delivery revisions.

• Modeling deformations is critical for historic buildings: For operational use and maintenance planning, an accurate representation of structural deviations and irregular geometries is essential to provide reliable and actionable information.

After only 10 working days, the 3D model with a total gross floor area of 2,890 m² was successfully delivered.

Do you have questions about this project or would you like to discuss a future one with us? Feel free to contact us by email at hello@miviso.com or by phone at +43 512 931824 200.