Services
Virtual Design & Construction
We leverage VDC to give our clients accuracy and speed to market while mitigating risk
Virtual Design and Construction (VDC) is one tool Salas O’Brien uses to deliver facilities faster, with fewer surprises, and with higher quality.
VDC is more than a tech stack; it’s a process shift. It connects 3D design with 4D simulation, laser scanning, augmented and virtual reality, and prefabrication to create a coordinated plan before construction begins. It transforms the traditional design and construction model into one that parallels the manufacturing industry’s approach for years.
With VDC, we’re helping clients:
- Hit aggressive timelines
- Reduce rework and associated costs
- Improve safety
- Build confidence in every decision
Technology alone doesn’t solve construction challenges. But when paired with a process that mirrors how the most advanced industries build, it does. For clients building facilities that house advanced technology, it makes sense that the design and construction process match.
Virtual Design & Construction Projects
Achieving speed to market for data centers
What we can offer
Not just better technology—a better process
Technology alone doesn’t solve construction challenges. But when paired with a process that mirrors how the most advanced industries build, it does.
4D simulation
By adding time to 3D BIM, 4D modeling enables project teams to visualize the construction sequence before work starts. Salas O’Brien leverages 4D modeling to:
- Identify clashes in scheduling between trades before they impact the schedule
- Plan crane and equipment access, laydown space, and material deliveries to minimize site congestion
- Spot safety hazards early and make adjustments in a virtual environment
The 4D model doesn’t just show what will be built, but also when and how. That visibility improves coordination and helps contractors avoid delays and cost overruns.
Laser scanning and reality capture
On retrofit and expansion projects, accuracy matters. Salas O’Brien uses laser scanning to provide a high-fidelity capture of existing conditions, reducing the risk of surprises during demo and construction.
It also allows for precise alignment of prefabricated elements, like equipment skids and conduit racks, making off-site construction more viable.
Prefabrication that fits the schedule
Off-site fabrication can reduce installation time and limit labor demand on-site. But it only works when the model and schedule are fully aligned. Salas O’Brien combines laser scanning, 3D modeling, and 4D sequencing, to help teams sequence delivery to match just-in-time installation and validate fit-up virtually before a single part is shipped.
Immersive collaboration
Salas O’Brien uses AR/VR tools and dedicated BIM stations to bring models to life to support real-time decision-making. These allow stakeholders to virtually walk through the project, identify issues, and make changes early before those changes become expensive field fixes.
Virtual design and construction can improve the way design, procurement, and construction work together. By engaging all project stakeholders early—engineers, architects, contractors, fabricators, and owner representatives—we build a shared model that reflects the realities of construction.