From a success story to a finalist at the BIM Forum Award: that’s the path built through the collaboration between Blocks® and Portobello.
Portobello’s entry into BIM digitalization marked a turning point in Blocks’ history. Started in 2021, it was one of the company’s first successful cases.
After three years of intense development and collaborations, we nominated Portobello for one of the most prestigious awards in Brazil’s BIM community: the BIM Forum Award.
This award was created to celebrate standout contributions to the BIM world and is divided into six categories: academia, builder, supplier, public client, private client, and designer.
In 2024, Portobello, in partnership with Blocks, was named a finalist in the supplier category.
Curious to learn how Portobello earned this recognition? Keep reading and explore the full story behind this award-winning BIM partnership.
What is the BIM Forum Award?
The BIM Forum Award is an initiative from BIM Forum Brasil (BFB), created to highlight and reward innovative uses of BIM (Building Information Modeling) in architecture, engineering, and construction sectors.
In each edition of the BIM Forum Award, BFB selects one winner for each t of the following categories:
- Builder: For construction companies and installers operating in Brazil that use BIM during the design or construction phases.
- Private Client: For private developers, property managers, or owners who require BIM in their construction projects.
- Public Client: For government agencies or institutions that require BIM in project tenders.
- Designer: For individual professionals or firms that have developed architectural BIM projects in Brazil.
- Supplier: For manufacturers and suppliers who offer free BIM libraries of products sold in the Brazilian market.
- Academia: For Brazilian universities and training centers that include BIM in technical, undergraduate, or graduate programs.
More than just a competition, the BIM Forum Award is a catalyst for spreading BIM knowledge and encouraging excellence across the industry, recognizing those who are setting new standards for innovation and digital transformation.
BIM Forum Brasil (BFB)
BIM Forum Brasil is a national, neutral and non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the concept and practice of Building Information Modeling (BIM).
For several years, the organization has played a key role in shaping Brazil’s BIM ecosystem, launching impactful initiatives like the BIM Forum Award and the BIM Forum Conference.
To maintain its neutrality, BFB is not governed by any single group. Instead, its structure is managed by specialized Working Groups under the Scientific and Technical Committee (CCT, its acronym in Portuguese: Comitê Científico e Técnico).
Through regular meetings, these groups develop and coordinate a wide range of BIM-focused projects, from partnerships and content creation to training programs, events, and more.
What is the BIM Forum Award’s goal?
The BIM Forum Award exists to foster innovation and drive BIM adoption throughout Brazil’s AEC industry. Its main objectives include
- Encouraging the use of BIM in construction projects and companies;
- Showcasing successful BIM initiatives and sharing their outcomes with the broader market;
- Promoting best practices in BIM implementation across the industry;
- Supporting education and academic research on BIM in Brazilian universities;
- Motivating suppliers to develop BIM libraries for construction materials and components;
- Driving public sector engagement in adopting BIM standards.
By pursuing these goals, BFB leads a wide range of initiatives designed to engage more architects, engineers, and builders, helping expand knowledge, inspire innovation, and strengthen BIM adoption nationwide.
Portobello: the 2024 finalist manufacturer!
Becoming a finalist in the BIM Forum Award marks a major milestone for both Portobello and Blocks, a clear reflection of the success and impact of their collaboration in the BIM space.
This partnership began in 2021 when Portobello sought out Blocks to digitize their product catalog.
The goal was to integrate the brand’s products directly into the daily workflows of architects, engineers, and builders, a vision brought to life through the creation of a robust and highly accessible BIM library.
The synergy between the teams proved so effective that Portobello was ultimately recognized as a finalist in the 2024 edition of the BFB Award.
Jonathan Debona
Marketing Analyst | Portobello®
“Being a finalist in the BIM Forum Award is a great honor for Portobello, as it reinforces the company’s commitment to adopting practices that continuously improve its processes. The BIM methodology enabled significant advances in efficiency and team collaboration, reflecting our dedication to delivering quality and innovative projects. This recognition is also an opportunity to reaffirm Portobello’s commitment to solutions that combine design, technology, and environmental responsibility. It’s an important step that shows our consistent efforts to evolve and create value for partners, clients, and collaborators.”
What Are the Key Phases in Developing Portobello’s BIM Library?
To better understand how Portobello’s BIM library was developed in collaboration with Blocks, we’ve outlined the four key stages of the digitalization process:
1. Planning
The first step involved analyzing Portobello’s portfolio, market positioning, and strategic goals to define the most effective approach for each product type.
2. Specification
Next, we defined the applicable use scenarios, information levels, and compliance with relevant industry standards, ensuring the models would meet both technical and practical demands.
3. Development
Using specialized BIM software, we developed the objects with intelligent geometry and structured data optimized for performance and usability.
Thanks to Blocks’ streamlined workflow, this stage also enabled integrations, such as interactive 3D previews, enhancing the user experience.
4. Validation
Finally, the objects underwent joint validation by the Blocks and Portobello teams. Each model was rigorously tested and reviewed through internal QA processes to ensure quality and accuracy before final delivery.
The Strategic Decision Behind Portobello’s BIM Library
The development of a BIM library directly mirrors the growing adoption of this methodology across Brazil.
As BIM has become a global standard, Portobello identified an opportunity to become part of the everyday workflow of architects, engineers, and construction professionals.
With BIM, it’s possible to create highly detailed virtual replicas of real products and structures, significantly enhancing the quality and accuracy of both architectural and engineering projects.
According to a study by FGV IBRE, the percentage of construction companies in Brazil using BIM rose from 9.2% in 2018 to 20.6% in 2024.
This steady increase shows how BIM adoption by manufacturers is becoming increasingly vital in a market that demands more precision, efficiency, and digital integration.
In response to this shift, Portobello made a pivotal decision in its history: to develop its own BIM library.
Mariana Macedo
Commercial Coordinator | Blocks®
“Being a finalist in the BIM Forum Award is a significant acknowledgment of the work we’ve done on Portobello’s BIM library. It’s important to understand the weight of this nomination, especially considering it was evaluated by Professor Toledo, a renowned academic reference on BIM in Brazil. For us at Blocks, this nomination validates our development methodology and the technical standards applied in the BIM families we create for the many manufacturers we serve.”
BIM Forum Award: Judging Criteria
Each BIM Forum Award category has its own evaluation criteria and is judged by a panel of BIM specialists. These criteria are:
- For Builders: Scope of BIM uses, level of innovation, metrics applied, and lessons learned.
- For Clients (Public or Private): Quantitative data on BIM disciplines, quality of coordination processes, number and relevance of BIM uses, BEP structure, compliance with standards, metrics, and lessons learned.
- For Designers: BIM use cases, internal design process, applied metrics, and lessons learned.
- For Suppliers: number of components in the BIM library, quality of information provided, availability in different formats , and lessons learned.
- For Academia: Curriculum quality and updates, content scope, teaching methodology, number of students reached, performance metrics, and outcomes achieved.
The judging committee of the BIM Forum Brazil 2024 reserves the right not to name a winner in any category.
It’s worth noting that Portobello remains a finalist, and the results will be announced during the BIM Forum Brasil Conference 2025,on May 21st–22nd.
If you’d like to attend the BIM Forum Brasil Conference 2025, visit the official event website and secure your tickets.
Blocks: Leading BIM Innovation in the AEC Industry
Blocks® is a Brazilian startup leading the digital transformation of the AEC industry through BIM.
Our core mission is to provide high-quality BIM objects and structured data to manufacturers, architects, engineers, builders, and designers.
For AEC professionals, we’ve developed the exclusive Blocks plugin for Revit®, a powerful tool offering access to over 5,000 parametric families.
For manufacturers, we deliver end-to-end BIM digitalization strategies, covering everything from object development to technical marketing and content publishing.
Blocks® is a pioneer in BIM content creation in Brazil, supported by a multidisciplinary team of BIM experts and specialists.
Conclusion
Being named a finalist in the BIM Forum Award is a significant milestone for the collaboration between Portobello and Blocks.
This isn’t the final step — and your support means a lot as we await the official results of the BFB Award.
Winners will be announced at the BIM Forum Brasil Conference 2025, and tickets are already available on the event’s official website.
Want to stay updated on how BIM is shaping the future of architecture and construction? Be sure to follow the Blocks® Blog for more!
