| Summary: | Purposefully-designed buildings are complex by nature, because they are host to a variety of human activities that require them to perform adequately and be well suited to their intended functions. Building ‘performance’ has been an area of major research interest, so that efficient buildings are constructed that operate effectively to support the functional purposes for which they are being used. It is a complex concept that has been difficult to measure and incorporate into building design. Many methods and approaches have been developed to assess ‘performance’ for the purpose of addressing the gap between predicted – and actual – performance. However, it is acknowledged that these methods/approaches lack accuracy, are time consuming and do not provide a holistic view of the complex procedures and processes involved during the design and physical construction of the building. Building Information Modelling (BIM) provides a new way of integrating information technology within the construction industry. Its capability as a digital platform has supported managing, sharing and exchanging interdisciplinary information between multi-disciplinary stakeholders. BIM has supported some aspects of assessing building ‘performance’ by emphasising energy consumption, sustainable design and building behaviour. BIM technology excels in situations that have quantitative-based aspects, which often are derived from those involved in the building delivery process. However, the design of successful buildings-in-use, through concepts like building performance, requires incorporating information from multiple perspectives, which requires going beyond the consideration of the characteristics that are quantitative. This investigation aimed to explore how BIM can enhance the delivery of better construction performance for buildings. A case-study research method was used in this research where data was gathered using semi-structured interviews, documentary analysis, and feedback reports from the building delivery team, facility management team and building occupants. The research journey was developed through three case studies where one case study influenced the direction of the next case study. Initial findings showed that ‘space’ as one of the building aspects was used as a reference concept for building performance because it provided a way for situating different meanings of building performance by different stakeholders. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the findings for each case study. The key finding from the case studies showed that there is a gap between data and experience. ‘Systems thinking’ analysis was used to investigate this gap, as it concerns the complexity, the handling of information modelling and supports addressing ‘softer’ human aspects. It showed that the reason for the gap between data and experience is that different stakeholders see the parts and the whole differently. Soft systems analysis was then used to explore this gap, as it provides a holistic approach to the situation being investigated. The use of this approach allowed the opportunity to understand the problems and possible conflicts within a particular situation. Wilson’s approach of ‘soft systems’ was also used, as it goes beyond conceptual models to information categories, which can support bridging the gap between data and experience. An overview of the problem, emphasising its complexity through proposed themes is presented. The delivery of building performance requires richer representation that acknowledges the significance of different parts in a construction project and how they influence stakeholders. Using the information requirements identified through soft systems analysis, a ‘space strategy model’ was proposed, which suggests that space designs in BIM should, in Zuboff’s concept, be informated in order to identify the significance of different parts of a the build and build design, and support richer cognition of emergent characteristics that influence different experiences within a building project.
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