MINNEAPOLIS (April 14, 2008) – Ryan Companies US, Inc. announced that it has promoted Dick Bates to regional director of virtual building. Bates, a four-year employee with Ryan, is now responsible for developing, coordinating and ensuring the interoperability of all aspects of Ryan’s Building Information Models (BIM).
“Dick has always enjoyed collaborating with his teams to find innovative ways to efficiently deliver a better building,” said Will Jensen, vice president of architecture and engineering, Ryan Companies US, Inc. “His breadth of experience in commercial real estate – spanning facility management, architectural design and jobsite labor – combined with his technical expertise makes him the ideal team leader to manage the process that encompasses all development, architecture, engineering, construction and operations information.”
Bates brings more than 20 years of construction industry background to his work at Ryan, with work experience as a laborer, equipment contractor, foreman and superintendent. He built his technology background in architectural design in a similar manner, working as a drafter, 3D modeler, database manager and job captain.
Bates joined Ryan in 2004 as CAD manager, and has worked with the Ryan Architecture and Engineering team to implement the software and processes to build the foundation for BIM at Ryan. In that role, he has supported a wide variety of Ryan design projects, from education buildings such as the Cristo Rey Jesuit High School/Colin Powell Youth Leadership Center in Minneapolis, Minn., to entertainment venues like the Sears Centre in Hoffman Estates, Ill., office buildings Two MarketPointe in Bloomington, Minn., and the Metropolitan Airports Commission’s 2010 Vision Projects for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
In his new role, Bates will oversee the BIM process to produce, leverage and deliver the models to each project’s design-build team so the entire project team – within and outside of Ryan – can make the most informed decisions possible. A single-source repository for the resources and knowledge that go into a project, BIM organizes and enhances the data that is available for all decisions that go into designing and building that project. All of the information fed into the process contributes to the speed and accuracy of project communication, which is the cornerstone of any successful project. As a communication tool, the entire team can see the impact of a single change on the design, assuring the smartest possible design. The entire team can qualify and quantify all design and construction decisions, allowing the team to build a building before a shovel breaks ground.
Bates received an Associates of Science degree in Architectural Technology from MCTC, University of Maryland. A LEED Accredited Professional, he’s a member of the National Building Information Model Standards’ Development and Consensus task teams, the National Institute of Building Sciences, and buildingSMART Alliance, and the Association of General Contractors’ BIMForum.
About Ryan Companies, US, Inc.
Ryan Companies US Inc., a nationally recognized developer, design-builder and real estate manager, has specialized in fully integrated solutions for more than 70 years. Ryan builds lasting relationships with a project delivery model based on full-service customized solutions and total collaboration – pairing the customer’s needs and expectations with the talents of a team of developers, financiers, architects, engineers, constructors and property managers. In addition to its Minneapolis office, Ryan has offices in Chicago, Phoenix, San Diego, Tampa, Cedar Rapids, Davenport and Des Moines, Iowa. Ryan was named the 2007 National Developer of the Year by the National Association of Office and Industrial Properties (NAIOP).
Editor’s note: Interviews with Ryan executives are available by contacting Sarah Voigt at 612-455-1784 or svoigt@psbpr.com