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— BIM and CAD infrastructure
IT for BIM and CAD, built for heavy files and live projects
BIM models and CAD drawings are some of the heaviest files a business can run, and the wrong setup means slow workstations, painful file sync between site and office, storage that keeps filling up and backups that cannot keep pace. We build the infrastructure behind your design work so the files open fast, stay in one place, and are properly protected.
★★★★★
120+ 5-star Google reviews
Built for heavy project files
TOMLINSON · CONSTRUCTION
SHEET 07
SCOPE
BIM & CAD IT
SECTOR
Construction, architecture & engineering
REGION
South West · UK-wide
CERT
Cyber Essentials Plus
RATING
120+ reviews · ★ 5.0
EST.
2008
BIM and CAD infrastructure at a glance
Core problem
Heavy models and drawings on the wrong setup: slow machines, sync pain, storage filling up, fragile backups.
What we do
Right-spec workstations, fast large-file storage, proper file sync and version control, and tested backup.
Site and office
Reliable access to the same current files from the office, from site and for remote design work.
Protected
Your models and drawings are the business, so they are backed up securely and tested to actually restore.
Where
Across the South West: Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, Somerset, Cornwall and Bristol.
— Sound familiar?
Why do BIM and CAD grind to a halt on the wrong setup?
These are the four that slow design teams down and put project data at risk.
Problem 01
Workstations that cannot cope
Underspecced machines struggle with large models and drawings, so designers wait on the hardware instead of getting on with the work.
Problem 02
File sync and version pain
Heavy files copied between site, office and home drift out of sync, and it gets hard to know which model is the current one.
Problem 03
Storage that keeps filling
Project files grow fast, local drives run out, and there is nowhere central, fast and big enough to hold them properly.
Problem 04
Backups that cannot keep up
Models and drawings are the business, but large files are often poorly backed up, so a failure can mean redoing real work.
— What we do
How do we make BIM and CAD fast and safe?
The right infrastructure behind your design work, matched to heavy files and live projects.
Right-spec the workstations
Machines specified for the models and software you actually run, so the hardware stops being the bottleneck.
Fast, large central storage
Storage that is big enough and quick enough for project files, with one current copy everyone works from.
Sync and version control
Proper file sync and versioning across site, office and remote, so the right revision is always clear.
Backup that fits the files
Tested backup sized for large models and drawings, so a device failure or attack never resets a project.
— How it works
How do we set up your BIM and CAD infrastructure?
A staged approach, matched to your software and how your team works.
1
Assess the workload
We look at the models, software and file sizes you run, and where the current setup slows people down.
2
Specify the kit and storage
We right-spec workstations and fast, large central storage so heavy files open and move without the wait.
3
Sort sync and protection
We set up file sync, version control and tested backup, so files stay current, in one place and safe.
4
Support and scale
We support it day to day and scale it as projects, models and the team grow.
— Why Tomlinson
Design infrastructure from a partner who knows construction
We build the IT behind BIM and CAD around how design and project teams actually work, not a generic office setup.
Built for construction
Infrastructure designed for heavy models, drawings and the realities of site and office working.
Real construction clients
We support firms like EHV Structures, Thorverton Stone and Co-Create Architects. Named clients you can ask.
Local to the South West
Based in Paignton, covering Devon, Exeter, Plymouth, Somerset, Cornwall and Bristol. On a call, or on site, fast.
120+ 5-star reviews
A 5.0 Google average and an NPS of 90+, from clients who stay with us year on year.
Files protected properly
Tested backup sized for large project files, so your models and drawings are never one failure from gone.
Virtual IT Director approach
Design infrastructure planned as part of your roadmap, not a one-off fix that dates quickly.
More for construction
Related guides
Construction IT support
Microsoft 365 for construction
Site connectivity for construction
Cyber security for construction
Good to know
BIM and CAD IT: your questions, answered
Why do BIM and CAD need special IT setup?
BIM models and CAD drawings are among the heaviest files a business runs. On an underspecced setup they open slowly, sync badly between site and office, fill up storage and are hard to back up. The right workstations, storage and protection behind them make the difference between a design team that flies and one that waits.
What spec of workstation do we need for BIM and CAD?
It depends on the software and the size of the models you work with. The point is to match the machine to the real workload so the hardware is not the bottleneck. We assess what you actually run and specify workstations accordingly, rather than over or under-buying.
How do you handle large project files across site and office?
We set up fast, large central storage with one current copy of each file, plus proper sync and version control. That means the office, the site and remote designers all work from the same up-to-date model or drawing, instead of heavy files drifting out of sync.
How do you back up large BIM and CAD files?
With backup sized and tested for large files, held securely and proven to actually restore. Your models and drawings are the business, so the aim is simple: a device failure, ransomware attack or lost machine never means redoing real design work.
Can designers work on heavy files remotely?
Yes. We set up secure, reliable access so designers can work with large project files from the office, from site or remotely, without copying files around and losing track of versions.
Do you support BIM and CAD infrastructure for construction firms across the South West?
Yes. From our base in Paignton, Devon, we support BIM and CAD infrastructure for construction, architecture and engineering firms across the South West, including Exeter, Plymouth, Torbay, Somerset, Cornwall and Bristol, and UK-wide.
No obligation
Stop your design team waiting on the hardware
Book a free assessment and we will show you, plainly, where your BIM and CAD setup is slowing people down and what is worth fixing first. No jargon, no pressure.