In the ever-evolving landscape of the construction and retail industries, success hinges on embracing innovation and technology. As project stakeholders strive to enhance collaboration, improve decision-making, and deliver projects on time and within budget, the adoption of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and related technologies emerges as a transformative force.

By harnessing BIM, stakeholders can unlock a wealth of advantages, enabling clients to make more informed choices, leading to greater satisfaction and trust in the project team. Furthermore, the potential for upselling and offering value-added services becomes clearer as clients grasp the value of tailored BIM solutions.

This encapsulates what GetReal, a technology-driven professional architectural and BIM services specialist, does. It offers precise digital documentation of laser scanned retail spaces, virtual tours, and aerial imagery of sites to businesses in the retail sector, leveraging laser scanning, BIM, VR, and drone technologies. With two decades of industry expertise and an intimate knowledge of CAD and BIM systems, GetReal excels at providing the best documentation for the start of every project.

The company does more than just modelling; it focuses on what matters most for each project. "Our success lies in the ability to seamlessly translate the client's design concepts and brand standards into reality, even when confronted with varying existing conditions and spaces in different buildings across the country," says Matthew Stretton, principal of GetReal.

The company’s approach to each project is client-centric and adaptable. It commences with a thorough exploration of the client's objectives, desired outcomes, and the hurdles faced, creating a step-by-step plan that emphasizes achievable milestones. For instance, when a task is limited to a small section, GetReal doesn't scan the whole building; instead, it prioritizes the affected areas. This ensures the drawings are usable on-site, giving clients the most value from services.

“Our approach is pragmatic and focused on attainable milestones, rather than attempting to tackle everything all at once. We firmly believe in the method of 'starting with the end in mind,' a principle long embraced in the BIM industry,” says Viorel Iosif, principal of GetReal.

While GetReal predominantly relies on Revit for most aspects of work, ensuring consistency and efficiency, the company goes the extra mile with more advanced BIM adoption. It develops and maintains clients’ BIM libraries, collaborates on the creation of intelligent content, and delves into data analytics. These advanced clients are positioned to harness the full potential of BIM, enabling mission-related insights and budgeting flexibility.

In instances where clients are in the early stages of BIM adoption, GetReal takes a dual approach, utilizing both Revit 3D and alternative methods as needed to effectively progress the project. Throughout the project, information is seamlessly conveyed between the store planning, design and architectural teams, ensuring alignment and consistency. As the project nears completion, the company conducts a new laser scan to capture site conditions, aiding in understanding the construction and providing a reference for future projects.

In a recent project, GetReal proposed using 3D Revit for a retail client’s unique interior store design. They created a specialized library for all store fixtures, helping with accurate layouts, schedules, and tailored details. When the client wanted the same for signage and decor, it made a dedicated library, saving costs and improving planning. This success demonstrated Revit's value and showed the company’s ability to quickly meet client needs, ensuring client satisfaction through innovative solutions.

"Every building is distinct, every project is distinct, and our strength lies in our ability to seamlessly blend brand standards with the individuality of each location, delivering completed projects that maintain their standards," concludes Nick Aleksich, principal of GetReal.

Without using any proprietary technology but enabled by extensive experience and highly versed staff, GetReal excels in providing full store planning design and construction services to retailer across North America.