The Challenge

In the heart of Dubai's New Sheikh Zayed Road, a luxury hotel development was taking shape, ambitious in its blend of elegance, sustainability, and complex mixed usage. The client envisioned a space where design wasn’t just visual appeal but a fully realized experience from finishes to fittings, from structure to ambiance. However, with such high standards came equally high demands: the need to coordinate every inch of the design before a single brick was laid.

What the client had was a design development model, what they needed was a complete construction-ready model that left no room for guesswork. BIM wasn't just a tool here, it had to be the framework for flawless execution.

Client’s Initial Hurdles

• The interior design team provided only 2D PDFs and DWGs, with minimal integration into the 3D environment.
• Architecture and structural models were shared at LOD 300, insufficient for fabrication and material workflows.
• Visualizing the interaction between materials, finishes, and bespoke furniture installations was nearly impossible at this stage.
• The client lacked visibility into how different trades would intersect on-site leading to potential rework and material wastage.

Why This Was Critical

Why was it important to improve the model at this stage?

Any misalignment during the design stage would have led to costly rework once construction began especially given the bespoke nature of the interiors.

What made coordination a challenge?

The project’s luxury nature meant multiple trades (lighting, HVAC, finishes, furniture) had to integrate seamlessly there was no room for on-site improvisation.

What was at stake?

Brand value, delivery timelines, and client reputation in one of Dubai’s most visible locations.

Why did manual methods fall short?

Traditional coordination through 2D drawings couldn’t capture material transitions, furniture placements, or conflicts across trades.

What was the biggest internal challenge for the client?

Managing a model bloated with irrelevant views, sheets, and legends that slowed down every step of the process.

Gaps in Existing Information

Though the interior design was visually rich on paper, the digital design environment didn’t reflect the same detail. Transition zones between different finishes, custom-made furniture, and vertical alignments between floors were undefined. Without enhancing the models, there was no way to preemptively address on-site issues.

Why Specific Requirements Mattered

The hotel wasn’t just a space it was an experience. From handcrafted furniture to carefully planned lighting accents, every detail mattered. Generic modeling wouldn't suffice. The client needed precise BIM-based documentation that allowed vendors to fabricate directly from models and installers to place everything without second guesses.

The Desapex Solution

• Upgraded all architectural and interior models from LOD 300 to LOD 400.
• Developed detailed shop drawings from BIM models for all interior trades.
• Used Dynamo scripting to clean up over 1000 redundant sheets, views, and legends in each discipline’s model.
• Split heavy models and implemented Revit worksets to improve performance (reduced load time from 3 hours to minutes).
• Automated sheet generation using pyRevit and DiRoots add-ins, boosting production speed and accuracy.
• Facilitated smoother coordination of transitions between materials, floors, and elements through model enhancements.

Project Timeline & Milestones

• Start: Design Development Model Review
• Month 2–4: Model cleanup and Revit optimization
• Month 5–8: LOD 400 upgrades, including interior detailing
• Month 9–12: Shop drawing production and final delivery for construction & procurement

Software & Technology Used

• Autodesk Revit
• AutoCAD
• Blue Beam Revu
• Navisworks

The Real Business Value Delivered

• Full coordination of interiors before construction began
• Significant reduction in rework and material waste
• Faster procurement thanks to BIM-extracted material submittals
• Smooth handover of drawings to vendors and contractors
• Improved model performance allowed multi-stakeholder collaboration with minimal friction

What This Means for Future Projects

What started as a luxury hotel vision on Dubai’s Sheikh Zayed Road soon became a complex coordination challenge. For the client, this wasn’t just about architecture, it was about delivering an immersive, high-end experience where every finish and feature had to be flawlessly aligned before construction began. They needed clarity, precision, and a partner who could translate vision into execution.

Desapex stepped in not just to enhance the model, but to simplify complexity. From removing digital clutter and optimizing model performance to automating shop drawings, every step brought greater speed, accuracy, and coordination to the project. Our BIM-led approach ensured every design detail was not just visible but also buildable.

For the client, this collaboration proved that design ambition and construction certainty can go hand in hand when BIM is used strategically. And for both sides, it became more than just a project it became a benchmark. A model for how future mixed-use developments can be delivered with precision, confidence, and digital-first clarity.