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!)