Santa Clara Utah - High Efficiency Custom Home Coordination with BIM
Introduction
This case study explores a custom home project in Santa Clara, Utah, where the UtahBIM team employed Building Information Modeling (BIM) and Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) techniques to address a range of engineering and design challenges. The project featured custom architectural plans, geopier foundations to stabilize soil over blue clay, and a host of innovative visualization tools to guide critical decisions.
Method
BIM & VDC Workflow: By integrating BIM and VDC principles, the team centralized all project data—architectural drawings, structural details, and engineering requirements—into digital models. This approach enabled real-time collaboration and ensured that all stakeholders had the most up-to-date information.
PDF & Drone Overlays: Using software like Bluebeam, the team overlaid architectural and structural PDFs to identify conflicts. Drones paired with DroneDeploy provided aerial footage that helped confirm geopier locations, revealing potential layout discrepancies early in the process.
VR Visualization: Twinmotion was utilized for immersive walk-throughs. An iPhone 14 LiDAR scan of a client was incorporated into the model, allowing homeowners to see themselves at accurate scale. A Meta Quest 3 headset and a capable gaming laptop (such as the HP Victus) provided a budget-friendly yet high-quality VR setup.
Problems and Solutions
Soil & Geopier Challenges:
Problem: The presence of blue clay required specialized foundation solutions, such as geopiers.
Solution: By overlaying the engineer’s geopier layout onto drone imagery, the team pinpointed several geopier locations that needed adjustment, preventing costly on-site redesigns.
Discrepancies in Drawings:
Problem: Architectural and structural plans did not align perfectly, notably around ceiling types, the size of TJI joists, and setback requirements.
Solution: The BIM/VDC approach allowed for rapid PDF overlays and 3D model reviews, highlighting conflicts so they could be resolved before construction.
Complex Mechanical & Layout Issues:
Problem: The home included multiple mini-split HVAC systems and heated flooring, each requiring strategic placement and insulation. Additionally, large multi-slide glass Panda Doors and certain plumbing elements needed to be reconfigured.
Solution: Detailed visualization through VDC methods revealed the need for adequate joist and rafter spacing and ensured the doors’ size and alignment would meet both functional and aesthetic goals.
Client Decision-Making & Visualization:
Problem: The homeowners struggled to understand design nuances through 2D plans, especially concerning ceiling options (flat vs. sloped) and kitchen/bathroom layouts.
Solution: Immersive VR sessions allowed them to explore multiple design variations in real time, making decisions about ceiling height, door placements, and overall aesthetics more confidently.
Conclusion
By integrating BIM and VDC processes with accessible visualization tools, this custom home project avoided many common pitfalls and ensured a more seamless design-to-construction transition. Early detection of layout conflicts, strategic planning for mechanical systems, and real-time client feedback all contributed to a successful build. The ability to see themselves—and their future home—in a realistic digital environment fostered stronger emotional investment from the homeowners and led to more informed, timely decisions. Ultimately, this case study demonstrates how technology-driven methods can elevate custom home projects and deliver exceptional results.
