09/23/2025

Message from Beth--September 24, 2025

ACEC Ohio Partners with OFCC on BIM Standards and Contract Updates

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC) has launched a working group to develop Building Information Modeling (BIM) standards for the State of Ohio. This initiative is part of a broader effort to move public facility projects toward more comprehensive digital deliverables that improve long-term asset management and operational efficiency.

Over the past several weeks, the working group has held informational sessions covering BIM, Digital Twins, National BIM Standards, and Digital Data Governance. These sessions provided state agency representatives and industry experts an opportunity to explore how standardized facility models can close critical gaps in facility documentation, streamline data management, and support future maintenance needs.

The next phase of the initiative will shift from learning to working sessions, where stakeholders will define the specific data and deliverables needed for state-owned facilities. A major focus will be on the development of “Facility Models,” which go beyond traditional design documents to integrate design, coordination, and construction data into an accurate, usable digital model for owners.

ACEC Ohio is proud to have two technical representatives participating in this working group, ensuring that the voice of Ohio’s engineering industry is represented. Their role is to provide feedback on how proposed standards align with industry practices and to advocate for workable solutions that balance state objectives with the realities of design and construction.

In addition to the BIM initiative, ACEC Ohio has also participated on the OFCC working group tasked with updating all State of Ohio contracts. Draft documents reflecting these updates will be published on OFCC’s website in mid-October. Like previous updates, OFCC plans to retain copies of the new documents as well as prior versions and comparison documents for reference. These updates incorporate revisions previously reviewed, feedback from stakeholders, and legislative changes effective September 30, 2025.

We will continue to update members as both the BIM Standards and contract updates progress toward final publication.  If you are interested in working on these types initiatives, please consider joining the ACEC Ohio  Vertical Development Committee.

~Beth