BIM-M Initiative awards contract to Dr. Franca Trubiano of the University of Pennsylvania

Words: David Biggs
Dr. Franca Trubiano of the University of Pennsylvania has been awarded a contract from the BIM-M (BIM for Masonry Initiative). The work will include researching the range of masonry workflows that were used in the construction of Huntsman Hall, a signature masonry building at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Her work will be part of the BIM-M Benchmark project and coordinated with similar work being performed at Georgia Institute of Technology.

BIM-M is an initiative of the masonry industry with major sponsorship from Masonry Contractors Association of America (MCAA), International Masonry Institute (IMI), International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers (IUBAC) and National Concrete Masonry Association (NCMA) with assistance from the Charles Pankow Foundation.

For more information please contact David Biggs, P.E., S.E., BIM-M Program Coordinator via email at biggsconsulting@att.net or visit Masoncontractors.com.
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