Vancouver, BC— When our client BC Hydro was ready to launch the Site C Clean Energy Project, the organization wasn’t just taking on a $16 billion hydroelectric dam. They were addressing one of the most complex construction challenges in Canadian history. A project spanning more than a decade, integrating multiple disciplines and entailing teamwork that conventional methods could hardly support. As the demand for coordination increased, the need for BIM integration and advanced 3D modeling workflows grew rapidly. However, experienced professionals capable of supporting projects at that scale remained limited.

That’s where Modelo Tech Studio steps in. As a Vancouver-based BIM and 3D modeling expert with 12 years of experience, we have helped architects, engineers, and contractors work within a unified project environment across the various stages of the construction cycle. We supported the development of a fully integrated, model-based delivery framework designed to match the project's scale and ambition.

Traditional 2D Coordination Reached Its Limits

During the initial development of Site C, the project mainly relied on a conventional 2D AutoCAD framework. With its existing structure, that approach soon reached its limits as the project grew and the number of participating consultants and disciplines increased. Without the ability to see how systems are integrated, clashes often went unnoticed until late in the process. At this point, they became time-consuming and expensive to resolve. This created the need for BIM coordination services capable of supporting large-scale multidisciplinary collaboration.

The shift towards BIM became evident in 2014. This was the time when industries were still learning how to implement these tools on a large scale. No hydroelectric project of this scale had ever been developed in Revit. Since there was no established industry roadmap, workflows, standards, and best practices had to be developed from the ground up in real time.

Resourcing presented its own set of challenges. Demand for experienced BIM experts was increasing while supply remained limited. We developed a structured, dual-role production workflow in response: 3D Modelers and Annotators.

Dedicated 3D Modelers focused on building and managing coordinated models. Annotators were experienced 2D drafters integrated into this BIM workflow through targeted training. They were responsible for producing drawings and documentation from those models in a supervised environment.

This approach preserved project knowledge, improved production, and ensured quality across multiple offices and teams.

Maintaining a Stable BIM Ecosystem Across 12+ Years

To support delivery at scale, we implemented a structured BIM Execution Plan that established project-wide standards, workflows, governance procedures, templates, naming conventions, file structures, and coordination protocols.

The implementation created a centralized BIM ecosystem capable of supporting hundreds of interconnected systems and stakeholders over a project duration exceeding 12 years.

A carefully designed file structure supported the workflow: Revit working files (child models) were used strictly for 3D modeling, while Revit host files (parent files) linked all discipline models together and drove drawing production.

This separation reduced file complexity and minimized the risk of corruption. Across 165 active models and four major Revit platform upgrades, only a small number of models experienced corruption. A testament to the stability of the controlled environment maintained throughout.

Open BIM: Federating Across 40+ Companies and 9 Platforms

Site C’s BIM implementation was developed with an open approach to model integration. Discipline models were generated from nine different platforms. This includes Revit, Inventor, Tekla, Advance Steel, Catia, Solid Edge, Civil 3D, SolidWorks, and AutoCAD. Each team handling the project retained the ownership of its model. However, all were unified under a federated environment, creating a coordinated source of truth without forcing every team onto a single platform.

In May 2018, just a month after Autodesk BIM 360 was officially released, Site C became one of the largest infrastructure projects onboarded onto the platform. It transitioned from a SharePoint-based file-sharing system to a fully cloud-based collaboration through Autodesk Construction Cloud. The transition supported BC Hydro’s broader objective of maintaining centralized collaboration across distributed project teams. The value of that transition became entirely clear during COVID-19, when teams maintained full coordination while working remotely.

Coordination Beyond Clash Detection

Modelo Tech Studio implemented Autodesk Navisworks to run regular multi-discipline coordination sessions that went beyond standard clash detection. It covered equipment access validation, operational workflows, construction sequencing, maintainability reviews, and safety considerations.

All 165 discipline models were exported and reviewed weekly. This created a consistent feedback loop that kept design progress on track, allowing BC Hydro to maintain a consistent coordination and review cycle throughout construction. As-built LiDAR data from the site was also integrated to validate models against actual field conditions, adding a critical layer of real-world accuracy.

3D models were used to directly generate construction drawings, making them the single source of truth. Since drawings were generated from models, updates were automatically carried across disciplines and documentation. This eliminated inconsistencies introduced by parallel 2D drafting workflows. Our integrated 3D modeling services reinforced the value of model-based workflows by improving design accuracy, reducing errors, and ensuring consistency throughout the project

The model further supported quantity take-offs, 4D construction sequencing, payment validation, installation tracking, as-built verification, and asset data management. This supported long-term operations and maintenance.

Scale of Implementation

1. 165 discipline working models coordinated across all systems and trades
2. 70+ host models used for drawing production
3. Thousands of drawings generated directly from 3D models
4. 40+ companies contributing fabrication and vendor models
5. 9 modeling platforms integrated into a single federated environment
6. 4 major Revit platform upgrades executed without loss of model integrity

Results

Early clash detection prevented major issues from reaching the field. This helped reduce rework, avoid schedule pressure, and save time and money. Coordination between disciplines was enhanced, making construction sequencing smoother and schedules more predictable. Bidders were also given access to coordinated models during procurement. This helped BC Hydro improve bid accuracy and reduce downstream construction uncertainties.

Visualization tools, in some cases virtual reality, accelerated stakeholder decision-making and reduced assumptions. Automation and model-based workflows reduce manual effort, and asset data embedded directly into the model enables efficient extraction without duplication.

About Modelo Tech Studio

Modelo Tech Studio provides BIM and VDC execution services for complex infrastructure and building projects, from kickoff through closeout. As a team of BIM & 3D modeling experts, we support BIM execution planning, standards development, federated model coordination, QA/QC, clash and constructability reviews, model-based drawing production, LiDAR or scan-to-BIM validation, and record model preparation for facilities management and asset lifecycle use.

Site C stands as proof of what full-lifecycle BIM execution delivers. Not as a concept, but as a verified outcome on one of the largest infrastructure projects ever built in Canada for BC Hydro. The Site C Clean Energy Project demonstrates how full-lifecycle BIM/VDC execution can support coordination, constructability, and scalable delivery across large infrastructure developments.

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Modelo Tech Studio
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Website: https://www.modelotechstudio.com/