Texas BIM Standards: Texas Facilities Commission Responds
by dbourbon
Chris Tisdel Of the Texas Facilities Commission responded quickly yesterday to the post on Texas BIM Guidelines. He states that TFC is working to include the IFC format in their guidelines and that it is not TFC’s intent to exclude any part of the AEC industry from providing usable data.
Jeffrey W. Ouellette, Assoc. AIA
Mr. Ouellette and all Vectorworks users, Please be aware the you will not need to take any litigation-type steps versus Texas Facilities Commission as our BIM guidelines and standards are currently being revised. I believe that you will be more agreeable to them in their next iteration. Said update will include avenues for the acceptance of the IFC format.
Project Architect, Integrated Practice
Nemetschek North America, Inc.
7150 Riverwood Drive
Columbia, MD 21046 USA
While it is my contention that owners need good, useable [sic] data in order to operate and maintain their building stock, it is understandable that the level of technology across all disciplines is not completely interchangeable or interoperable and as such, TFC is very willing to work with the entire AEC industry, to get the useable [sic] data that is needs.
I will say that this update to the inclusion of the IFC format is a response to the current level of native interoperability between major software platforms and not due to negative response from the AEC industry. I have personally only heard from one Graphisoft vendor with similar views as to the TFC adoption of BIM. I find it unfortunate that instead of contacting TFC directly to discuss thoughts or opinions of the BIM adoption, the reaction is to simply make an open call for litigation.
Regardless, the entire AEC community has and always will be eligible for TFC projects and we have no doubt, extremely capable of meeting our BIM requirements. Chris Tisdel April 29, 2010 6:19 PM Texas Sustainability said…
Mr. Tisdel, Thank you for your quick response. It’s good to know that TFC is keeping up with the rapid advances in software and the open architecture that excludes no one. GSA requires all submittals in IFC format and have a program which reads IFC. BTW, Graphisoft makes Archicad. Vectorworks is made by Nemetschek North America, which acquired Graphsoft in 2000. April 29, 2010 9:36 PM
David Bourbon 
David,Chris and I had a very good conversation this afternoon and were able to clear up the situation. The TFC does NOT intend to discriminate against any particular technology vendor or user. Chris has indicated that they are revising their guidelines to include IFC and that the current situation was only the result of time and their understanding of the capabilities of BIM technologies available today. I hope Nemetschek North America can be of help to him and the TFC in finding solutions to their concerns and needs in the BIM process and providing any information or support they need.Best Regards,Jeffrey W. Ouellette, Assoc. AIAProject Architect/BIM SpecialistIntegrated PracticeNemetschek North America, Inc.7150 Riverwood Drive Columbia, MD 21046 USA T 410-290-5114T 443-542-0621 (direct)S jouellette_nvw (Skype)E jouellette@vectorworks.net http://www.vectorworks.netLearn more about Vectorworks and BIM:http://www.vectorworks.net/bim/index.phpOn your desktop. Around the world. News about Vectorworks.http://planet.vectorworks.net
<html><body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><div>Jeff, I’m glad you and Chris were able to clear up the misunderstanding. Please let me know if I can help in any way.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards,<br><br><div>David Bourbon</div><div><br></div><div>Texas Sustainability</div><div><a href="mailto:dbourbon@sbcglobal.net">dbourbon@sbcglobal.net</a></div><div>214-502-6568</div><div><a href="http://texas-sustainability.blogspot.com">texas-sustainability.blogspot.com</a></div><div>twitter: @greenshelter</div></div><div><br></div></body></html>