by Brianna Crandall — October 31, 2012—Indicating the growing importance of Building Information Models (BIM) to the building industry, the International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has launched the Building Information Models Lifecycle Operations Community of Practice (BIMLO COP) to convene BIM practice leaders to prepare educational content necessary for the nearly 23,000 IFMA members worldwide.
BIMLO COP will hold its kickoff meeting at IFMA’s World Workplace Conference and Expo in San Antonio, Texas. The agenda includes a review and open discussion with attendees of the group’s draft strategic plan and election of the first Board of Directors. The group is seeking eligible and interested professionals with some BIM expertise to serve on the board.
The development and use of Building Information Models (BIM) provides value to architects, engineers and contractors (AEC) by reducing project risk, costs and time while improving the overall quality of the project via improved communication and collaboration of design intent. Building owners and facilities managers also benefit from BIM by being part of the early design process which can include energy modeling of heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems resulting in lower operating expenses over the life of the building. Although complex, BIM is meant to be a collaborative process and impacts contracts, insurance, intellectual property rights as well as work performance.
IFMA Chair, Marc S. Liciardello CFM, MBA, CM noted, “This is another critical step forward in advancing the sustainability of real property assets over their lifecycle. This tool will empower FM’s with more robust data and innovative business practices that will ultimately enhance building value and workplace performance. Increasingly we are seeing government, including the U.S. and European Union, require BIM utilization in public procurement. IFMA’s board of directors, on behalf of our membership, are committed to delivering the BIM to FM knowledge transfer of this important technology to the FM community with the manifestation of that commitment by the establishment of this community of practice.”
