This Weekend, I Modeled

This weekend, I modeled. But not in the usual BIM sense—no walls or windows. Instead, I created a data model specifically for architects and planners.

Why? To solve a huge (yet often overlooked) issue: manual data entry.

In an architectural office, we start with simple plan headers: project name, client info, revision details, and so on. But here’s the issue. This information is needed across a sea of systems:

• Bookkeeping
• CRM (if you have one)
• Modeling software like SketchUp or Revit
• Various documents, headers, and the IFC model

Every time this info gets re-entered, it’s an opportunity for errors and wasted time. In fact, studies show critical project data is re-entered an average of 6.5 times! Now imagine how often that data changes, and you see the issue: mistakes, misalignments, and more admin time than design time.

So, I set out to fix it with a centralized data model—a one-stop-shop for core information that flows automatically to the right places. Think of it as creating a "single source of truth."

The blueprint I followed? The IFC Schema. Most know it as a format, but it’s actually a complete data structure covering almost every building element. It’s a model designed to hold nearly everything an architect needs, saving time and avoiding errors.

Curious about how I set it all up, including my full tech stack and how this approach could work in your office? Head over to BIM Pirate for the full breakdown!

👉 Read the full article on BIM Pirate! (In Pirate Talk and with more meet on the bone!)