New Life for Building Materials – AI Enhances Demolition and Reuse 

This text was translated with the help of AI.

When two companies from different fields combine their expertise, the result can be something truly innovative that drives entire industries forward. This was the case following Helsinki’s circular economy cluster program innovation challenge, where the property technology startup Make a BIM and the architectural firm Studio MPRA began collaborating at the request of the competition jury. The companies shared second place in the innovation contest. 

“Even before the judges suggested we team up, we realized that our AI-based building information modeling and Studio MPRA’s design tool had many similarities. We eagerly started creating a seamless data transfer process between our tools,” says Leo Salomaa, founder of Make a BIM. 

A Digital Model Based on Architectural Drawings

The planning tool developed in the pilot promotes the reuse of building materials and optimizes demolition planning. 

Make a BIM’s AI-based software automatically generates BIM models from architectural drawings of buildings. Studio MPRA’s design tool inventories building components and generates reuse options based on the BIM model. The tools were made compatible by developing an algorithm that enabled data transfer between the software. 

“Previously, we only had old drawings or mass data obtained through demolition assessments. With the BIM model created by Make a BIM, we can directly generate lists of building components, such as columns and wall elements, for further planning and calculations,” says Maija Parviainen, an architect at Studio MPRA. 

Testing the Tool on a Skanska Property

Make a BIM and Studio MPRA piloted the tool using data from a commercial and office building slated for demolition in Vattuniemi, Helsinki, owned by Skanska. The input data consisted of the building’s architectural drawings and observations made during a site visit. 

Make a BIM generated the BIM models, after which Studio MPRA inventoried the building components and used them to design new column-beam structures. This process identified components that could be recycled or reused. 

“The pilot demonstrated that BIM modeling simplifies and speeds up data collection and component inventory. Comprehensive information about building components can be obtained early in the planning phase, even before a demolition decision is made. The more accurate and detailed the data on building components, the more effective and well-informed reuse plans can be. This streamlines and facilitates the work of designers,” says Leo Salomaa. 

Ongoing Development – Advancing Sustainable Construction

The pilot was not only about integrating tools but also advancing each company’s own innovations. 

Studio MPRA further developed its analysis and planning processes related to the inventory of buildings scheduled for demolition. 

“Our tool enables the management of large datasets more efficiently and accurately at the building component level. Thanks to further development, we can now better manage circular economy planning data using model-based approaches. Additionally, we can automatically design alternative new buildings using column-beam structures, ensuring that each component remains traceable to the original demolished building,” says Maija Parviainen. 

Make a BIM’s technology is also integrable into other companies’ solutions. This has already been done, and BIM modeling has been successfully piloted in several circular economy projects in Finland and abroad. 

“Architectural and design firms, as well as demolition companies, can benefit from BIM modeling. It also enhances quantity surveying. In the near future, we will offer our customers the ability to model materials using AI,” says Leo Salomaa.

Studio MPRA and Make a BIM will continue their collaboration beyond the pilot. Their jointly developed process can be used in various renovation and reuse projects. Thanks to automated data processing, the process is particularly suitable for the early planning phase, where little initial information is available. 

“This solution can benefit all parties involved in building renovation or potential reuse of components – especially cities and large property owners who need to assess extensive building inventories,” says Maija Parviainen.