Michael DeLacey described an ambitious turnover condition in our 2018 interview: the owner receives the building with working maintenance information available on day one. That outcome starts much earlier than closeout.
It begins when the owner decides what the model is for, who needs to shape it, and which information must survive the move from design through construction into operations.
Start at the operational decision
Michael said the team should work from “the idea of beginning with the end in mind.” In his description, an educated owner sets clear expectations for how building information will be used beyond construction and communicates those goals to the design and construction team.
The goal cannot stop at delivery of a model. Operations may need equipment data, commissioning information, preventive maintenance records, or another defined set of information. Naming the end use gives the team a basis for deciding what belongs in the model and when it should be reviewed.
Give the next user access before the handoff
Michael DeLacey described a design-bid-build pattern in which contractors might receive drawings during bidding and gain access to the model only after award. The construction team could then have to redevelop parts of the model around actual equipment and fabrication needs.
His comparison with design-build was about timing and participation. When contractors and major trades join earlier, they can bring constructability and installation information into the process before key model decisions are closed.
Make the execution plan a working agreement
Michael described the BIM execution plan as the place to define responsibility, software versions, delivery points, level of detail, and participant expectations. He also warned that a standard can become a box-checking exercise when the team treats it only as a contractual requirement.
A useful review begins with one operational need and traces it backward through the model. Identify when the information first becomes available, which participant is responsible for it, and where the owner will confirm that it can be used. Those decisions belong before the file is produced.
