ITcon Vol. 30, pg. 1354-1376, http://www.itcon.org/2025/55

Synergistic Integration of BIM and Prefabrication for Enhanced Architectural Excellence

DOI:10.36680/j.itcon.2025.055
submitted:May 2025
revised:August 2025
published:September 2025
editor(s):Purushothaman M B, GhaffarianHoseini A, Ghaffarianhoseini A, Rahimian F
authors:Ali Bidhendi, PhD Candidate,
Department of Built Environment Engineering, School of Future Environments, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8285-5859
ali.bidhendi@autuni.ac.nz

Zahra Nahri, Msc,
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Iran
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3413-5354
zahra.nahri@modares.ac.ir

Mahdi Motamed Manesh, Assistant Professor,
Department of Architecture, Faculty of Arts and Architecture, Tarbiat Modares University (TMU), Iran
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9799-0562
m.motamed@modares.ac.ir

Mani Poshdar, Associate Professor,
Department of Built Environment Engineering, School of Future Environments, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9132-2985
mani.poshdar@aut.ac.nz

Ali Ghaffarian Hoseini, Professor,
Department of Built Environment Engineering, School of Future Environments, Auckland University of Technology (AUT), New Zealand
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0787-8399
ali.ghaffarianhoseini@aut.ac.nz
summary:The construction industry faces escalating costs and inefficiencies driven by challenges including affordability barriers for sustainable practices, limited scalability of green technologies, and gaps in integrating sustainability metrics into architectural design. This research proposes a strategic approach harnessing Building Information Modelling (BIM) and prefabrication to overcome these challenges while enhancing architectural outcomes.Through a mixed-methods approach combining literature review, expert interviews, and simulation of a case study project in New Zealand, this study explores the collaborative potential of these technologies to elevate architectural excellence in sustainable construction. Architectural excellence is examined through four dimensions: project costs, building safety, project scheduling, and energy efficiency. Expert interviews with nine industry professionals revealed construction projects face material waste (15-30%), cost increases (10-20%), and suboptimal completion timeframes. The simulation validated integration benefits through clash detection and design coordination capabilities at LOD 350.The research demonstrates that effective integration of BIM and prefabrication can streamline project schedules and enhance architectural design processes. The triangulation of expert knowledge with simulation results provides compelling evidence that integrating prefabrication and BIM can reduce construction costs, prevent material wastage and excessive energy consumption, reduce project execution time, prevent rework, increase safety, and ultimately improve architectural excellence.
keywords:Building Information Modelling (BIM), Prefabrication in Construction, Sustainable Construction, Architectural Excellence, Construction Technologies
full text: (PDF file, 1.119 MB)
citation:Bidhendi A, Nahri Z, Motamed Manesh M, Poshdar M, Ghaffarian Hoseini A (2025). Synergistic Integration of BIM and Prefabrication for Enhanced Architectural Excellence, ITcon Vol. 30, Special issue Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), pg. 1354-1376, https://doi.org/10.36680/j.itcon.2025.055
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