Powering Digitalisation in Construction: Build Digital Partner Profiles 

As we enter year three of the Irish BIM mandate, the industry is preparing for the step-down in threshold values under the CWMF. From 1 July 2026 (Milestone 7) the requirement will apply to design teams on projects over €5 million, and from 1 January 2027 (Milestone 8) it will apply to contractors and the supply chain on projects over €5 million. By the same date in early 2027 (Milestone 9), the design team's requirement will extend to projects exceeding €1 million, with the contractor/supply chain requirement to follow by mid-2027 (Milestone 10). By that time, all public-sector contracts, even those under €1 million, are intended to have BIM requirements embedded. 

Supports for complying with these requirements, including templates for the required ISO 19650 documents (Information Management Plans), are available through Build Digital Exchange. 

Build Digital 

Build Digital is a government-funded initiative that supports digital transformation across the construction and built environment sectors in Ireland. Build Digital partners include representatives from Ireland’s Higher Education Institutes, including Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Munster Technological University (MTU), South East Technological University (SETU), Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), and University College Dublin (UCD). These partner organisations help in creating supports and tools to assist the construction industry in embracing digital workflows, using digital tools and aligning with the Irish BIM Mandate. 

Irish BIM Mandate Supports and Resources 

Many exciting deliverables have been developed by the Build Digital partners, including organisational strategies for information management that support the implementation of the Irish Government’s BIM mandate, dynamic material passports (DMP’s), digital product passports (DPP’S), information requirements guidance and templates. Supports, guidance, templates and reports are accessible through the Build Digital website. 

Profiles of some of the Build Digital Partners 

Jimmy Fahy, ATU 

Jimmy Fahy is the Partner Lead for Build Digital for ATU. Jimmy is a Lecturer in the Department of Building and Civil Engineering at ATU Galway and specialises in Digital Construction. Alongside his role, Jimmy serves as Programme Chair for the MSc in BIM and Digital Leadership and Programme Manager for the Digital Academy for the Sustainable Built Environment (DASBE).  

Jimmy has over twenty years of experience across the civil, structural, MEP, and contracting sectors, and has worked on a wide variety of projects, from government developments to residential schemes. 

In 2025, Jimmy and his team at ATU have partnered with Atkins Réalis, to engage with the industry to develop practical tools to support improving BIM maturity. Key focus areas from industry feedback included leadership buy-in and establishing clear digital transformation strategies. ATU and AtkinsRéalis engaged in workshops to create clear outputs, including digital roadmaps and technology deployment strategies. According to Jimmy: 

“We aim to be agile in our response to industry need. We can create outputs within a year and get the industry to the table to guide us. We need engagement and that’s critical from my point of view.” 

Emma Hayes, TU Dublin 

Emma Hayes is the Build Digital Partner Lead for TU Dublin. Emma is a Lecturer in Digital Construction and contributes to the MSc in Applied BIM Management and BSc in Digital Construction programmes. Emma is Managing Director of Digital Built Consultants, a Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Digital Construction consultancy which she launched in 2018. Emma has over 27 years’ experience in the AEC industry and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists and a Chartered Architectural Technologist. 

Emma is a non-executive director on the board of the Construction IT Alliance and on the Judging Panel for the Irish Construction Excellence Awards. She mentors and supports the development of women’s careers in BIM through her role as the Irish Lead for the Women in BIM (WiB) network. 

Emma and the Build Digital team at TU Dublin have been developing Information Requirements guidance and templates, as well as identifying CWMF information requirements. The aim is to create a single, ISO 19650-compliant foundation for information management across public works, improving efficiency, governance and collaboration. According to Emma: 

“Knowing what the stages and decision gates are in the public sector requirements, mapped to the ISO 19650s standards, is the starting point for your information requirements for future projects.” 

Dr. Ken Thomas, SETU 

Ken is the SETU Partner Lead for Build Digital and is Head of the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment at SETU Waterford. Ken has previously served as an EU Expert Evaluator and an accreditation reviewer for Engineers Ireland and the International Engineering Alliance. Ken is also Director of 3DWIT Additive Manufacturing DAC and Co-founder/Director of the Irish Construction IT Alliance. 

Ken and the Build Digital team at SETU have been developing guides and supports on dynamic material passports (DMP’s) and digital product passports (DPP’S) for products and materials used in the life cycle of a construction project. In 2027, mandatory EU regulations will be in place that require digital product passports (DPP’s), so the development of practice guidance for the Irish Construction Industry is urgent. This work aims to develop a framework for DMPs that enables sustainable material management. According to Ken: 

“The overall message from Build Digital is that our role is to help participants in the Irish Construction Sector with their digital transformation journey for tangible benefits - faster, higher quality, safer, sustainable and smarter.”