The International Facility Management Association (IFMA) has teamed up with software company Autodesk to launch the Building Lifecycle Management Initiative (BLMI).

With a global focus spanning North America, EMEA, Asia-Pacific, and LATAM, the new initiative is a technology-agnostic, standards-aligned endeavor that aspires to unify commercial real estate stakeholders—from owners and facilities managers (FMs) to architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) professionals, technology providers, and regulatory agencies—around a common approach to lifecycle management.

According to the co-founders, BLMI envisions a future in which the built environment operates with intelligence, efficiency, and interoperability at every lifecycle phase: design, construction, operations, renovation, and deconstruction. By emphasizing industry-wide collaboration and the adoption of best practices and advanced technologies, the initiative aims to establish a cohesive, holistic approach to lifecycle management that will help industry stakeholders reduce costs and improve asset longevity while addressing decarbonization and regulatory challenges.

BLMI places a strong focus on stakeholder collaboration, data governance, interoperability, and advanced technology integration, such as building information modeling, digital twins, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence, enabling smarter decision-making, reducing inefficiencies, and creating a connected data ecosystem. The objective is to deliver tangible value to every sector of commercial real estate, including:

• Owners & Investors: Extend asset lifespan, optimize operational costs, and improve long-term financial performance.
• Facility Operations: Move from reactive maintenance to proactive lifecycle management, improving efficiency and tenant satisfaction.
• AEC: Ensure design and construction integrate seamlessly with operational needs, reducing costly retrofits.
• Technology & Service Providers: Align digital solutions with industry-wide standards for seamless adoption and interoperability.

IFMA and Autodesk note their initiative does not seek to create or replace industry standards; rather, it will foster a framework for aligning stakeholders around a common approach to lifecycle management. By leveraging global industry standards—like ISO 19650 (Building Information Modeling), ISO 8000 (Data Quality), ISO 41001 (Facility Management Systems), and OSCRE data models—the initiative aims to ensure that buildings are managed with consistency, efficiency, and long-term value in mind.

“Given that operations represent the longest of the building lifecycle phases, IFMA is excited for the potential benefits the Building Lifecycle Management Initiative will deliver to our FM professionals. Adoption of this lifecycle management approach is long overdue,” said Lynn Baez, FMP, SFP, IFMA Fellow, chair of IFMA’s global board of directors.

Learn more about BLMI at the initiative’s website here.

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