October 2, 2015

UW Dept. of Construction Management, Skanska launch new certificate program in ‘building information modeling’

The University of Washington’s Department of Construction Management and Skanska, one of the world’s leading construction and development firms, have partnered to offer a new certificate for Building Information Modeling.

The new program was created to fill a current gap in the field of people trained to use data-rich virtual-reality modeling tools in building design.

The 11-week program began Sept. 29 and is open to UW students and industry professionals locally and nationwide through online streaming. During the course, students will build software skills and gain an understanding of virtual design and construction processes that have real-world applications.

The program was developed collaboratively by the UW and Skanska to help the industry define and formalize a knowledge base for building information modeling — or BIM — managers. The course will be taught by Carrie Sturts Dossick, associate professor of building management and director of the Center for Education and Research in Construction, with Mike Choquette, virtual design and construction director for Skanska.

“Students will come away with a very concrete and applied understanding of current practices using building information modeling tools and processes,” Dossick said. “From a hands-on skill-based level, they’ll know how to use the software to work with models and interpret the information, and from a conceptual level, they’ll know why BIM applications are valuable to a project.”

Choquette said, “Skanska’s rich history of integrating emerging technology into the construction process will give students an inside look on BIM’s growing impact on a rapidly changing industry.

“Ten years ago, it was difficult to predict how valuable this technology would be in construction. Today, three out of four of our active projects use BIM tools, and they help us do everything from working more safely to deliver customer value by optimizing schedules, improving quality, minimizing waste and enhancing lifecycle management.”

Dossick said the program, called the UW-CERC/Skanska Building Information Modeling Certificate, has the potential to significantly help shape the career trajectory of graduates.

“Nationally, we’re seeing the emergence of a specialized role for these professionals and a trend where they’re moving from being BIM managers all the way to executive roles for technology,” Dossick said.

She said the Center for Education and Research in Construction plans to develop more industry-responsive certificate programs on other topics in the future. The construction management department is part of the UW College of Built Environments.

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To learn more, contact Dossick at 206-221-4894. For questions about enrolling in the program, contact Julie Angeley at jcomiske@uw.edu.