Tech on the rise

A major construction change required in building the final floor of the Altaira high-rise condominium in Bonita Springs could have brought a round of frowns from Suffolk Construction work crews. And the shift nearly shot the firm's completion schedule for the luxury residential project at The Colony Golf & Bay Club.

But the calamity was avoided, thanks to high-tech building information modeling, BIM, and specifically its sophisticated Revit program. Now the high-rise will be done in June — a bit ahead of schedule.

With the 21-floor Altaira nearly topped off and interior work about to start, Suffolk officials learned that a single buyer wanted both penthouses converted to a single penthouse. Modifications would have to be done to the top unit's intricate ceiling decor, the ceiling's elevation, arches in the master bedroom and the electrical, sprinkler and HVAC features above the ceilings.