We’ve been navigating a lot of back-and-forth lately around the ideal Level of Development (LOD) for MEP BIM modeling during the design development phase. Some teams are comfortable pushing models to LOD 200 at this stage, arguing that it gives enough detail to continue coordination and cost estimation without investing too heavily too early.
On the other hand, I’ve seen more projects (especially large-scale commercial or hospital builds) where teams are modeling up to LOD 300, or even selectively LOD 350, to avoid major rework later in the construction documentation or prefabrication stages. That often raises debates about efficiency, budget allocation, and how soon is too soon for highly detailed MEP systems in the model.
What’s the general consensus in your teams or firms?
Are you sticking to LOD 200 in DD and refining later?
Or are you already pushing for higher LOD during DD to reduce surprises downstream?
Also curious—do you vary LOD by system (e.g., HVAC gets more attention than fire protection or electrical)?
We’re finding that client expectations are shifting too. Some want detailed MEP BIM Services early, especially when modular or prefab strategies are involved. But that also puts pressure on design teams to lock things in faster than usual.
Would be great to hear how others are approaching this. What’s worked, what hasn’t, and how you’re communicating LOD expectations across stakeholders.
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