Fort Myers, FL – The 2025 BIM/Prefab Forum saw a record number of nearly 40 attendees coming together to collaborate and learn.  

“I really enjoyed seeing what other companies were doing and how they solved similar issues that we are experiencing. I was impressed with the whole group and their willingness to share. Felt like we were all on the same team working for the same company,” stated Mark Galek with Legacy Mechanical. 

 On the first morning, there was a Flow of VDC (Virtual Design & Construction) into Prefabrication Panel where the group discussed how prefab drawings are sent to shops and who is involved in the decision-making process for prefabrication. We then had presentations on 3D Scanning from Noe Gamez with B&I Contractors. Later, Augmented Reality was the focus, with David Moorehead from B&I Contractors and Chuck Schaeffer from Blauch Brothers sharing their real-world experiences of integrating AR technology into their operations. 

Cameron Webster, B&I's new data scientist, discussed how B&I is building a data-driven culture, emphasizing the importance of creating custom, scalable solutions in-house rather than relying on purchased tools. He highlighted that true innovation thrives through collaboration, and the key to a competitive edge in analytics is the speed at which questions are answered, enabling faster decision-making.

The afternoon featured a B&I Contractors Overview & Tour, where attendees toured B&I’s impressive facilities to see their BIM and prefab processes for sheet metal, piping, and plumbing in action. A special thank you extended to B&I Contractors for hosting the group.

“B&I employees were all so generous with their time and effort to make everyone feel welcomed while sharing their knowledge and successes,” stated Todd Jacks with Wiegmann Associates. 

Friday, members continued the momentum with more panels and discussions. Ricky Ramos presented on shop drawing standards, delving into the importance of setting consistent practices across the industry. The highly anticipated ITM vs. Revit Families Panel followed, where panelists discussed the benefits and challenges of using ITMs and RFAs across platforms, and how their teams manage data and software libraries.

In the afternoon, add-ins people are using was discussed, led by Gregg Kennedy of Intech Mechanical. Attendees participated in a hands-on session where they shared the best and worst add-ins they’ve used, helping others discover new tools to improve workflows. The Best Ideas segment, where companies like Peterson Sheet Metal and VHV Company shared successful strategies and software tools they’ve implemented, including BuildCentrix updates and Scribe SOP practices. Later in the day, participants took part in a Breakout session, where they discussed their challenges in BIM and Prefabrication and brainstormed potential solutions for the future. The final session of the day, leading coordination on a project, was on the complexities of project coordination, estimating, and managing costs.

“If I didn’t attend this meeting, I would’ve missed building relationships with others,” Bryan Baker of VHV Company said. “The relationships created here are priceless.”


Upcoming Forums include Small/Special Projects, Human Resources and Construction! If you are interested in learning more about attending a meeting or becoming a member of The Unified Group, contact Janet Kelleher at [email protected].