Case Study from: MEPDesign
Learn how MEPDesign cut time by 50% on a 50-storey mixed-use tower with h2x.
Name: Joe Kirrane
Role: Mechanical Engineer
Company: MEPDesign
Location: Manchester, England
Results at a glance:
~50% less design time on a 50-storey mixed-use tower
Direct export to Revit for clash detection and coordination
Clear error warnings, fewer oversights, less rework
See how this was done:
The Background
Greengate, Plot HJ is a 50-storey mixed-use high-rise in Salford, combining residential apartments with a gym, swimming pool, and shared amenities. The scale and variety of uses demanded a flexible approach to early-stage design and a reliable path to coordinated, construction-ready outputs.
MEPDesign sought a way to move from concept to validated design faster, without sacrificing clarity or control. As the team put it: "It is very quick to produce concept designs in h2x using the loading nodes, combined with the ease of inputting base plans and the speed of drawing the pipework/layouts."
The Challenge
Early design phases are notoriously fluid: layouts change, assumptions evolve, and iteration speed becomes the bottleneck. Traditional methods turned that fluidity into friction, each revision required rework, while complex tools made quick exploration difficult. "Traditional software can be difficult to learn... it is almost a process in itself," the team reflected.
That learning curve, paired with time-intensive calculations and manual checks, slowed momentum on high-rise projects. The team needed a workflow that supported rapid modelling, caught errors early, and maintained coordination as architectural drawings developed.
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The Solution
MEPDesign adopted h2x to accelerate concept modelling and de-risk coordination. Loading nodes and quick base-plan input enabled the team to sketch system intent quickly and iterate as layouts evolved. Drawing pipework and risers became a fast, visual process rather than a slow, clerical one; ideal for the project's early stages.
Quality controls were built into the flow. Clear error warnings reduced the chance of oversights, while direct export to Revit supported clash detection and multidisciplinary coordination. As Joe Kirrane (Mechanical Engineer) put it: "h2x is very well designed, using the software is common sense if you already have design experience."
The Results
Across the life of the project, MEPDesign estimates a 50% reduction in design time compared to previous software. "Over the length of this project, I have spent 50% less time designing than I would on our previous software," they noted. That time saving was most pronounced at concept, when fast iteration produces the greatest downstream benefits.
Design quality and coordination improved in parallel. The Revit export streamlined clash detection, while clear error warnings helped ensure no human error slipped through. Joe summed it up simply: "It is very intuitive... In my opinion, this is h2x's main strength."
h2x: All-In-One Tool for Calculating, Designing, Estimating, and Paperwork
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