BIM plays
major role in
LYT Architecture’s
airport design
Interviewed by Tony Korsten Written by Mark Pettipher
Our role was to develop
solutions and plans for
increasing the size of the
airport, which included
an ultra-modern
terminal building…
In conversation with Similo Ndima and Brooke Le Roux
Building Information Modelling (BIM), Autodesk
Construction Cloud (ACC), 2D conversions to 3D,
Autodesk Revit and Enscape are terminologies and
software that architects, project managers and construction
managers are all familiar with and use. Asset spoke to
LYT Architecture’s Similo Ndima and Brooke Le Roux,
Architecture and Interior Design Strategic Key Account
Manager at Modena, about the use of tech in completing
Ghana’s Kumasi International Airport.
Kumasi International Airport started out as a military airforce base during World War Two, used by Britain’s Royal
Air Force. It became a domestic airport in 1999 and gained
international status in 2014. In 2022 the airport handled
over 450,000 passengers. Kumasi International Airport
is situated six kilometers from Ghana’s Ashanti region’s
capital Kumasi and is Ghana’s second busiest airport after
Kotoka International Airport in Accra.
LYT Architecture were introduced to
the project during Phase Two of the
construction of the airport by UK engineers,
Nurizon Consulting Engineers, who
reported to Brazilian contractors, Contracta
Engenhira Ltd. Similo says, “We were
not the original architects. We took over
designs from GAPP Architects. Our role
was to develop solutions and plans for
increasing the size of the airport, which
included an ultra-modern terminal building
to accommodate upwards of a million
passengers a year, the air traffic control
building which houses the fire station,
and several amenity buildings. We also
increased the size of the runway as well
as the parking facilities in front of the
terminal building.”
“Nurizon, with offices in Pretoria, were
responsible for the engineering part
of the airport while we were brought
in to collaborate on the architecture.
The architecture is inspired by the
local Ghanaian Ashanti culture, whose
influence is apparent in a number of
aspects of the building’s colourful
façade and many of its interior design
features. What excites me about this
project is that it was one of my first
projects that I got to work on after
graduating from Wits,” he adds.
Building Information Modelling
By using BIM we can see the project
as a miniature version of the realworld building, which allows for a
bolder, richer engagement…
world building, which allows for a bolder, richer engagement with all persons connected to the project.” He adds that if one were only to use 2D
drawings, one might miss something important. As an example, if there are ducts going through a certain space, with a 3D model one is better able to visualise their positioning and act before moving on site and realising that there is an avoidable construction issue. Brooke explains how new technology is helping consultants connect and collaborate. “Before Covid a few of us were used to working in a Zoom/Teams environment, but the pandemic caused
Importance of technology
For this project, BIM has played
an important part in visualising
and rendering the concepts.
Similo pointed out that they
used Autodesk Revit for much of
the work. As with all clients, it’s
important for them to see what
the project is going to look like.
In this case the end client was
the Ghanaian Government. “We
modelled all aspects of the build
and took the client through the
buildings using walk-through
software Enscape,” Similo explains.
“The detail that we can achieve
using BIM and Autodesk Revit in
particular, is incredible. Within
the building we were able to
render the smallest of detail,
such as etched-in Ashanti flags
on columns.”
LYT had to work with a number
of engineers who, at the time,
were working on AutoCAD
producing 2D drawings. These
drawings needed to be translated
into 3D and that is where BIM
came into its own. “Buildings
are 3D spaces,” says Similo. “As
architects we’re trained to work
in and with 3D spaces. By using
BIM we can see the project as
a miniature version of the real
Using cloud technology, everything is co-ordinated in real time.
us all to use tech as a norm. Many large
companies hire consultants from different
parts of the world and new technology
allows us to collaborate much more easily
by using tools such as ACC which are cloudbased. Before cloud technology we were
all working on our own local servers, which
meant that we were office bound, but now
you don’t need to work from an office. You
can be on-site, in your home or in an airport
lounge and we can all access the many
facets of a project. It’s not a hindrance
to the team. If you must work with an
overseas company using cloud technology,
it’s like working with them here.”
Before the advent of cloud technology,
consultants, architects and engineers
would work separately on a local model.
Each aspect would need to be packaged
and assembled by individual members
of the professional team. Using cloud
technology, everything is co-ordinated in
real time. As one person finishes an aspect
of their model, it basically synchronises
and all that is needed is for an end-user to
pull it down from the cloud and its live in
that model. A model can be built once at
the beginning of the project. Thereafter
updates happen automatically as and
when a team member makes amendments to the model.
To get the highest quality renders we used a
combination of BIM tools and for the final presentation
our in-house visualisation team used Autodesk ds Max
to produce our renders.
that African countries do not have
to adopt anything from overseas. Using BIM as a visual rendering tool, combined with regional influences, allows for African countries to be able to bring their own unique African-ness into their design and have a sense of home about them.
It is hoped that the Kumasi project will be the litmus for other countries to upgrade their airports. For Similo, freshly graduated, working on the Kumasi Airport was a prime opportunity to be exposed to working as a team, internationally and at home. He worked with all branches of the built environment industry: quantity surveyors, engineers, construction project managers, landscapers and interior designers.
A sense of achievement
Similo is particularly proud of the Kumasi Airport project. He joined LYT Architecture as an intern in 2016. After finishing his Masters in 2018, he rejoined LYT in 2019. The Kumasi Airport was his first big project. “Seeing the project come to life from a working model and seeing it finished looking like it is today from what the virtual renders were, is testament to the skills and dedication to attention to detail that our teams expected of each other,” says Similo. “We did many renditions throughout the life of the project. That’s the beauty of working in Revit and using 3D visual arts – the images and reality are almost indistinguishable,” he says. “To get the highest quality renders we used a combination of BIM tools and for the final presentation our in-house visualisation team used Autodesk 3DS Max to produce our renders. For an immersive presentation to the client, we used Enscape to generate live flythroughs of the buildings. To communicate with our project teams and client we worked on Zoom and Teams, shared screens and literally did our walk-throughs. From the walk-throughs you get a good sense of volume and space without having built the building.” BIM is having an influence on the future of airport design, and while every airport terminal is different, many aspects are common to all. Depending on the region, each region has its own influence, size and cultural requirements. Kumasi International Airport is a great example that demonstrates
Similo is particularly proud of the Kumasi Airport project. He joined LYT Architecture as an intern in 2016. After finishing his Masters in 2018, he rejoined LYT in 2019. The Kumasi Airport was his first big project. “Seeing the project come to life from a working model and seeing it finished looking like it is today from what the virtual renders were, is testament to the skills and dedication to attention to detail that our teams expected of each other,” says Similo. “We did many renditions throughout the life of the project. That’s the beauty of working in Revit and using 3D visual arts – the images and reality are almost indistinguishable,” he says. “To get the highest quality renders we used a combination of BIM tools and for the final presentation our in-house visualisation team used Autodesk 3DS Max to produce our renders. For an immersive presentation to the client, we used Enscape to generate live flythroughs of the buildings. To communicate with our project teams and client we worked on Zoom and Teams, shared screens and literally did our walk-throughs. From the walk-throughs you get a good sense of volume and space without having built the building.” BIM is having an influence on the future of airport design, and while every airport terminal is different, many aspects are common to all. Depending on the region, each region has its own influence, size and cultural requirements. Kumasi International Airport is a great example that demonstrates
Student advice
Advising up-and-coming graduates, Similo says: “Design-wise it’s about freedom of expression. Don’t be afraid and don’t get bogged down with the end function. Be free to explore and bring that creativity into your project, and that goes for any project. “In terms of students coming into the work environment, they tend to be a bit isolated within their particular discipline of the industry. It’s important to be aware of the other disciplines within the industry and engage with other role players in the industry. “As for universities, there is a need for universities to engage more with the working industries and encourage graduates not to work in silos. They need to keep up-to-date with technology because it is fast-moving and ever-evolving. While studying to be an architect, drawing buildings by hand is among the things you are taught before transitioning into using tools like Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit. Doing construction drawings by hand is a great skill to possess but with the fast pace and scale of projects today it would take longer to complete a project.
Advising up-and-coming graduates, Similo says: “Design-wise it’s about freedom of expression. Don’t be afraid and don’t get bogged down with the end function. Be free to explore and bring that creativity into your project, and that goes for any project. “In terms of students coming into the work environment, they tend to be a bit isolated within their particular discipline of the industry. It’s important to be aware of the other disciplines within the industry and engage with other role players in the industry. “As for universities, there is a need for universities to engage more with the working industries and encourage graduates not to work in silos. They need to keep up-to-date with technology because it is fast-moving and ever-evolving. While studying to be an architect, drawing buildings by hand is among the things you are taught before transitioning into using tools like Autodesk AutoCAD and Revit. Doing construction drawings by hand is a great skill to possess but with the fast pace and scale of projects today it would take longer to complete a project.
To get the highest quality renders we used a
combination of BIM tools and for the final presentation
our in-house visualisation team used Autodesk ds Max
to produce our renders.
Coupled with cloud technology such as ACC,
3D modelling as a tool is the way the world
of architecture is heading.
As the saying goes ‘time is money’ and that’s where BIM tools such as Autodesk AutoCAD and Autodesk Revit come in to speed up the process of drafting. Coupled with cloud technology such as ACC, 3D modelling as a tool is the way the world of architecture is heading. It presents a visual rendition that makes it difficult to discern what is real and what is an artist’s impression.
“While many universities offer built environment curriculums, those universities need to have projects where all the built environment disciplines come together in collaboration to make projects become real. They also need to allow for greater exposure to all aspects of the industry that the students will eventually enter,” he concludes
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