Autodesk AEC Headquarters and Integrated Project Delivery Factor Ten Engineering Case Study

This case study examines the construction of the Autodesk AEC Solutions Division Headquarters in Waltham, Massachusetts, as a demonstration of how Building Information Modeling (BIM) combined with Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) can create radical process efficiencies. By aligning the financial incentives of the owner, designer, and builder, the project achieved its goals under budget and on time, while securing LEED-CI Platinum certification.

• The project utilized an Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) framework to align the interests of the owner, designer (KlingStubbins), and builder (Tocci Building Corporation). This approach replaced traditional linear design sequences with early stakeholder involvement, shared risk, and a multi-party contract structure to avoid common industry problems like oversized equipment and construction shortcuts.
• A specific financial incentive structure called the Incentive Compensation Layer (ICL) was implemented to reward the team for meeting goals. If the project finished under budget, 60 percent of the savings went to the team; conversely, budget overruns or schedule delays were deducted from the ICL and contingency funds.
• BIM was used to optimize the office layout for multiple benefits, including daylighting and views. By using an open office plan with 48-inch cubicle partitions and placing private offices in the core with glass walls, the team ensured 97 percent of regularly used space had an outside view and over 75 percent of the space achieved a minimum 2.5 percent Daylight Factor.
• The integrative design process resulted in a lighting power density (LPD) that was 35 percent lower than the ASHRAE Standard 90.1 2004 standard. This was achieved by reducing ambient light and integrating task lighting on desktops, helping the project earn six out of seven possible LEED points for lighting performance.
• To prevent costly construction delays and rework, the team employed BIM for 'interference checks' to identify spatial conflicts between building systems in a shallow ceiling plenum. Additionally, laser-scanning the existing building at approximately $0.60 per square foot identified a 1.5-inch dip in the concrete slab that would have otherwise caused fieldwork revisions.
• The project demonstrated the utility of BIM in fabrication and facilities management. The team used BIM to produce complex, compound-curved wood ceiling panels via computer-numerical-control milling and later transitioned the BIM database to facilities staff for managing equipment and furniture.
• Despite the overall success, the project encountered barriers regarding model interoperability. Some subcontractors used software that could not directly access the BIM database, requiring the team to use a third-party software program to mesh the designs.

APA

Bendewald, M., Franta, L., & Pradhan, A. (2010). Autodesk AEC Headquarters and Integrated Project Delivery Factor Ten Engineering Case Study. RMI. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2010-16_AutodeskCaseStudy.pdf

Chicago

Bendewald, Michael, Lindsay Franta, and Alok Pradhan. Autodesk AEC Headquarters and Integrated Project Delivery Factor Ten Engineering Case Study. RMI, 2010. https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2010-16_AutodeskCaseStudy.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bendewald |first1=Michael |last2=Franta |first2=Lindsay |last3=Pradhan |first3=Alok |title=Autodesk AEC Headquarters and Integrated Project Delivery Factor Ten Engineering Case Study |publisher=RMI |date=August 2010 |url=https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2010-16_AutodeskCaseStudy.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bendewald2010autodesk, author = {Bendewald, Michael and Franta, Lindsay and Pradhan, Alok}, title = {{Autodesk AEC Headquarters and Integrated Project Delivery Factor Ten Engineering Case Study}}, institution = {RMI}, year = {2010}, month = aug, url = {https://rmi.org/app/uploads/2017/05/RMI_Document_Repository_Public-Reprts_2010-16_AutodeskCaseStudy.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }