Capitol staff demonstrate HBIM "digital twin," outline glass-floor, landscape and ceiling projects

Rob Blackshaw, executive director of the Michigan State Capitol Commission, demonstrated the commission’s historical building information model (HBIM) — a digital twin created with Autodesk Tandem — and updated commissioners on multiple preservation and facilities projects at the commission’s March 3 meeting in Lansing.

The HBIM, Blackshaw said, combines the building information models produced by architects and engineers with facility-management data so staff can view three-dimensional plans, live environmental readings and linked records for artifacts, decorative finishes and mechanical equipment.

Blackshaw told commissioners the HBIM is already linked to the building-management system, photographic records, decorative-surface integrity values and maintenance histories. “We are creating our HBIM with the use of Autodesk Tandem, which is now called a digital twin,” he said, adding that the model will act as “a repository and a first source” for staff and contractors.

Why it matters: Commission staff said the tool will both speed planning and reduce risk to historic fabric by making accurate measurements and maintenance histories available without physically moving furniture or using ladders. Blackshaw said the model has attracted national attention and that Autodesk showcased Michigan’s work as a beta project at a recent conference.

What staff showed and reported - HBIM capabilities: Blackshaw and technical staff demonstrated a bird’s-eye view, detailed interior scans (including portrait and ceiling imagery) and the ability to “cut away” walls to reveal mechanical, electrical and (eventually) plumbing runs. The model can show live temperature and humidity readings tied to the building-management system; Blackshaw said engineers use the “heat map” each morning to detect hot or cold spots before physical walkthroughs. - Governor’s Suite pilot: Staff said the Governor’s Office Suite will be used as a test area for the highest level of detail (laser scans of portraits, lighting, furniture and decorative finishes), with other rooms receiving detail commensurate with their preservation priority. - Decorative surfaces and integrity values: The model includes data from the building conservator (BCA) that color-codes decorative surfaces by last treatment and preservation condition; Blackshaw said that helps prioritize conservation work.

Related projects covered in the update - Glass-floor replacement: Blackshaw described the glass-floor project as five phases, each about two months long. He said Lansing Glass removes existing glass and grout back to bare metal, painters then paint the underside of the quadrant, and Lucid Glass is manufacturing replacement panes. Blackshaw said Lucid Glass can produce about 70 pieces every 4 to 6 weeks and that new glass is scheduled to begin arriving in April; noisy cutting work will move to nighttime for future phases to reduce disruption. - Landscape master plan and hazard trees: Staff said the commission is beginning a first phase of the Landscape Master Plan (redone in 02/2023 with Beckett and Rader) focused on removing large, hazard trees along Capitol Avenue whose branches have fallen. Blackshaw cited an incident when a large branch struck a farmers market tent and said staff will return to the commission with a specific removal-and-replanting plan before work begins this summer. - Fourth Floor ceiling project: Blackshaw said the commission is accepting bids this week and next for the Fourth Floor ceiling conservation work; three decorative-painting firms have submitted bids and staff will select a vendor to secure experienced craftsmen. - Visitor access and Saturday openings: Blackshaw reported the commission has opened the building one Saturday a month and said attendance has grown rapidly; he said cameras and desk checks showed more than 260 visitors on one recent Saturday and that the commission will re-evaluate after six months to a year how many Saturdays to continue.

Security and public access Blackshaw warned commissioners that the HBIM currently is limited to staff and a small set of external partners because it can be linked to sensitive systems such as live camera feeds or building controls. “We have myself and four other people on-site have access to it to navigate and learn,” he said. He and other commissioners discussed future public-facing uses, such as guided videos or limited web-based navigation, but Blackshaw said firewall and filtering requirements must be solved before any broader public release.

Commissioners’ response and next steps Vice Chair Bauer asked who currently has access and raised security concerns; Blackshaw reiterated the tool is an internal resource for now and that limited access is granted to outside architects and contractors on a controlled basis. Commissioner Hobbs and Commissioner Star praised the tool’s educational and operational potential; Hobbs said virtual access could be valuable for constituents and school groups.

Administrative notes mentioned in the meeting Commissioners confirmed April 7 as the next meeting date. The commission approved the minutes for the prior meeting by unanimous consent after a motion to approve by Commissioner Oberlin and a second by Vice Chair Bauer; the meeting adjourned on a motion from Vice Chair Bauer supported by Commissioner Star.

Looking ahead: Blackshaw told the commission he will return with more detail on the glass-floor phasing, the landscape first phase (tree removals and replanting schedule) and further development of the HBIM, and said staff plan to expand internal access after training and quality-control checks.