Dico si Tiganas – BIM early adopters in Romania

Due to its lower adoption rate of Building Information Modelling technology in construction projects, Romania needs consistent legislation and skilled professionals to advance in this field. Engineer Florin Dico and architect Serban Tiganas (former president of Romanian Order of Architects) are early adopters and BIM promoters with visible results. "Dico si Tiganas Architecture and Engineering", established in 1997 and based on AutoCAD Autodesk technology at the time, is currently delivering complex – BIM compliant projects in many areas: Architecture, Urban Design, Structural Engineering, MEP Engineering (Mechanical, Electrical and Plumbing), Interior Design and Architecture.

As an architect focused on development, Serban Tiganas is also a definition of success, due to his hard work, intelligence and involvement. With two terms as President of Romanian Order of Architects and dozens of projects, he is an expert, also with a human feature, essential for the image of a 21^st century, modern professional. Serban Tiganas violently rejects the "potential disaster of unusual size" revealed to us by “Colectiv tragedy", fights against building projects in Faget and campaigns against Somes river bank developments, which will ultimately lead to felling (cutting down trees) and destroying eco systems. "Let's think about people, not square meters" represents his creed as an architect but also as a person. 

Florin Dico, partner and former student of Serban Tiganas, is one of the Romanian BIM experts. Technical University graduate as a civil engineer, he decided to attend classes at “Ion Mincu University of Architecture and Urbanism, hence the combination of two trends within BIM technology evolved naturally. Co-author of dozens of projects and prize winner (Cluj Arena, Binarium and others) Florin Dico is deeply involved in many company departments: Structure, MEP, Quality and BIM.

Of course, BIM's advantages translate into many commissioned projects, apart from nominations and prizes. Cluj–Napoca Stadium (2011 project and 2013 Winner of Architizer A + Awards Popular Choice and Architecture Biennale), Olimpia Business Center - shortlisted for BREEAM Awards in 2016, Binarium – office headquarters project Awarded by the Romania Green Building Council in 2017 as Green Project of the Year and BREEAM Awards winner in 2019, Craiova’s "Ion Oblemenco" Stadium nominated for the European Mies van der Rohe Awards in 2019, are all complex and remarkable achievements.

“Dico si Tiganas” is structured by departments. According to complex design needs, the largest is Department of Architecture with 20 members, the rest: Department of Structure (11 engineers), MEP Department (6 engineers), Administrative Departments, Quality, Technical-Economic, Financial and Legal department complete the organization chart, with a special role reserved for BIM Department. The proposed design solutions are integrated and based on modern 3D modeling software. 3D views have a special versatility and allow interactive action with customers and every needed modification can be implemented easily. According to Serban Tiganas in a recent interview: "You have to sit back and complete your projects, otherwise you can't have an opportunity to have it the way you want it, or at least close to it."

Selection of projects is made considering objective criterias, while company’s wide range of customers is a signal of competence and anticipation: 

• Industrial Projects (Bosch AE, De Longhi, Emerson, Bergenbier)

• Office spaces (Binarium, Sentosa, Olimpia Business Center, Cluj Arena Tower)

• Commercial Projects (Liberty Center, Tiago Mall, Korona Center), Condominiums (Biasini Residence, Central Park, Newton Residence).

For their ongoing projects (Somes Bridge, Citadela Residence, Orchard Park, Courthouse), "Dico si Tiganas" targets holistic and integrated approaches within sustainability concepts, Virtual Reality technologies and parametric design, preserving their avant-garde trend in modern Romanian design.

photo source: dicositiganas.ro

We definitely need more architects with vision, to be able to surpass our gap in BIM design, compared to other countries that already promote it, but also to reduce costs and time frame necessary for buildings that subsequently will benefit from a more efficient and suitable management.