Case Study: Gilbane Building Company achieves fast‑track delivery of a high‑tech, prefabricated academic facility with Autodesk

Builders School the Future Workforce in Prefabrication for Construction

Gilbane Building Company took on a fast-track, highly technical 78,000 sq ft engineering and lab building for Wentworth Institute of Technology in a tight urban Boston site, and needed to meet an aggressive 15‑month schedule while using the project as a “living classroom” for students. To coordinate complex MEP systems, prefabrication, and stakeholder review, Gilbane used Autodesk tools—notably Revit and Navisworks from the Autodesk Architecture, Engineering & Construction Collection—and VR to streamline preconstruction and design-assist workflows.

Using Autodesk Revit and Navisworks as a common BIM platform and VR for stakeholder sign‑off, Gilbane enabled detailed off‑site prefabrication (including a nine‑section penthouse and 20‑ft mechanical racks) and parallel construction workflows, improving QA/QC and safety. The Autodesk-enabled approach cut on-site assembly time dramatically (the penthouse was assembled in a weekend versus an estimated month), maximized usable space, supported on‑time delivery on the 15‑month schedule, and created a practical training environment for future construction professionals.

Gilbane Building Company

John Myers

Director of Virtual Design and Construction