SolidCAD Insights

BIM Management & Mentorship: Sustaining Your Digital Transformation

Written by Michael Rotolo | National Director — AEC | Jun 24, 2025 2:34:18 PM

 

BIM Management & Mentorship: Sustaining Your Digital Momentum

In our previous blog series, we explored how Canadian AECO firms are evolving with Building Information Modeling—from the initial rollout in BIM Implementation to system-wide refinement through BIM Optimization.

But what happens after the tools are in place, the templates are cleaned up, and the workflows are running?

How do you keep your BIM standards alive, your teams supported, and your digital strategy moving forward—without falling back into old habits?

The answer: BIM Management and Mentorship.

This third and final blog in our BIM services series explores how SolidCAD supports firms beyond implementation—providing expert guidance, agile support, and technical mentorship to help your team deliver better outcomes, project after project.

“Think of mentorship as the pit crew in your digital transformation journey—keeping your system fueled and your team moving, without needing to rebuild the engine every time.”
— Adam Wilson, Technical Solutions Consultant, SolidCAD

Supporting BIM Managers—Not Replacing Them

At SolidCAD, we recognize that many firms already have skilled BIM managers leading their digital efforts. Our BIM Mentorship service is designed to empower, not replace, these leaders.

Think of it like specialized IT support—we provide expert bandwidth when:

  • Workloads spike

  • New projects launch

  • Teams need targeted technical guidance

This lets your BIM manager stay focused on strategic leadership while we support execution.

What Is BIM Mentorship?

BIM Mentorship is a flexible, expert-led monthly support program that helps AECO firms:

  • Stay aligned with evolving BIM standards and project requirements

  • Access technical expertise without a long-term consulting commitment

  • Build in-house skills through hands-on coaching and task-based training

  • Provide backup for BIM managers during high-demand periods

  • Fill critical gaps when no internal BIM lead is available

Ideal for short-term projects or long-term digital support, mentorship scales with your needs.

Two Common Scenarios We Support

Scenario 1: No BIM Manager in Place

You’ve lost a BIM lead or are starting a project with specific BIM deliverables. Mentorship bridges the gap—ensuring business continuity and forward momentum.

Scenario 2: Your BIM Manager Needs Backup

Your internal BIM lead is managing multiple teams or strategic initiatives. You need additional help for:

  • Template development

  • Health checks

  • Staff training

  • Workflow planning

SolidCAD tailors every mentorship engagement to your goals, team structure, and timeline.

Real Firms. Real Support.

Parkin Architects

SolidCAD helped modernize Parkin’s outdated Revit Standards Manual and aligned it with day-to-day project conditions through mentorship and documentation refinement.

“The final document was well organized, well written, and is used daily by our Revit staff.”

Read the full story →

RAW Design

Originally an optimization engagement, RAW Design benefited from continued mentorship with staff training and project-specific coaching that improved Revit proficiency and project delivery.

 

Read the full story → 

Western University

To improve campus-wide BIM collaboration, Western University worked with SolidCAD to develop a centralized BIM strategy. Through mentorship, the team gained clarity, structure, and long-term support.

 

Read the full story → 

What a 3-Month Mentorship Plan Looks Like

Here’s an example of a tailored monthly mentorship roadmap for an architecture firm:

 

Month 1:

  • Lineweight updates

  • Family creation

  • Project setup

Month 2:

  • Model health checks

  • Title block standardization

  • Mentoring sessions

Month 3:

  • Workflow documentation

  • Template refinement

  • Custom training

This agile structure helped stabilize standards and build staff confidence—without delaying active projects.

Why Ongoing BIM Management Matters

You’ve implemented BIM. You’ve optimized it. But BIM systems are never static.

  • Templates degrade

  • Teams change

  • New projects introduce new expectations

Without proactive oversight, even well-designed systems can unravel.

SolidCAD’s mentorship ensures you:

  • Stay current with evolving best practices

  • Support your teams in real time

  • Maintain consistency across departments

  • Identify and solve issues before they impact delivery

“Mentorship helps you finish the race—but if you want to keep racing, you eventually need to tune the engine. That’s where SolidCAD’s lifecycle approach makes the difference.”

What’s Included in BIM Mentorship

  • Monthly planning cycles (2–4 weeks at a time)

  • Fixed pricing based on support needs

  • One-on-one access to a BIM specialist

  • Task tracking, reporting, and on-demand training

  • Optional add-ons: BIM audits, documentation, ACC integration

Whether you need task execution, BIM lead support, or organization-wide scaling, mentorship delivers both structure and flexibility.

Not One-Size-Fits-All—and That’s the Point

Every mentorship starts with a discovery phase to understand your unique needs.

We’ve supported:

  • Architects refining workflows

  • Civil engineers standardizing templates

  • Government agencies scaling adoption

No matter your team size or maturity level, we build a plan that fits you.

 

Ready to Maintain Momentum?

Over this three-part series, we’ve explored the full lifecycle of a modern BIM strategy:

 

  • BIM Implementation – Build your digital foundation

  • BIM Optimization – Refine your tools and workflows

  • BIM Management & Mentorship – Sustain performance and support evolving project needs

Whether you’re just starting or scaling your BIM maturity, SolidCAD helps you thrive—every step of the way.

 

Explore BIM Management Services

 


Watch the BIM Mentorship Webinar

Stay Connected

Want more BIM insights, success stories, and industry best practices?
Subscribe to SolidCAD Communications and stay informed.