Announcing new research product - BIM-Masonry Project 3

Words: David Biggs
The Charles Pankow Foundation is pleased to announce that the following new Research Product is available for download at no cost at the CPF website (www.pankowfoundation.org). Please click under the Research Grants tab.

In this project the Georgia Tech team will depart to a degree from our previous approach of being platform neutral. Though we fully support the Open BIM approach and will develop neutral schemas (i.e., IFCs) for masonry wall information models in Phase III, we recognize that Autodesk Revit is the one of the primary BIM authoring tool in use in North America. Therefore, we feel that for maximum impact, we should focus on a single BIM authoring tool first, in order to lead others by example. However it is important to point out our commitment to make our work extensible to other BIM systems through the development of neutral specifications. Therefore, we feel that for maximum impact, we should focus on Revit, while also ensuring that our work is extensible to other BIM systems through the development of IFCs.

Visit http://www.pankowfoundation.org

The Charles Pankow Foundation wishes to acknowledge the contributions of David Biggs and the masonry industry support for the Building Information Modeling for Masonry Initiative (BIM-M).
Helical Beaming: Strengthening Masonry from the Inside Out
February 2026

In the world of masonry restoration and retrofit, the goal is always the same: preserve the character and craftsmanship of historic structures while ensuring their long-term stability. But anyone who has worked on century-old brick or stone buildings know

Tiffany Tillema
Technical Talks
Read More
A Practical Guide to Modern Masonry Restoration
February 2026

THE MYTH: Masonry Lasts Forever It’s strong, yes, but movement, moisture, and time still take their toll. Common Causes Why Masonry Fails: - Differential movement - Thermal expansion & contraction - Moisture intrusion & freeze–thaw - Corrosion of steel

MAP Partner
Read More
The 2026 MCAA Annual Online Auction
February 2026

The Mason Contractors Association of America is thrilled to announce the 2026 Annual Online Auction, the masonry industry’s premier event for scoring the best equipment at a fraction of costs. Whether you are looking to expand your equipment stockpile or

Justin Stengel
Industry News
Read More
CMU Partitions: How Much Reinforcement Is Actually Required?
February 2026

Walk onto almost any job site and you’ll find masons laying out interior partitions much the same way they did decades ago. The work looks straightforward: stack the units, strike clean joints, and keep the wall plumb. And the function of these partitions

Technical Talks
Read More
Interested in working with us? Learn about and join the Masonry Alliance Program →