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Tamera McCuen

Tamera McCuen

Professor
Robson BIM + Viz Lab Director
Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science

Tamera McCuen.
  • Associate DBIA, Design-Build Institute of America. (February 2015-Present).
  • LEED AP, United States Green Building Council. (August 2009-Present).

Dr. Tamera McCuen is a nationally recognized leader in Building Information Modeling (BIM) and its integration into higher education. A pioneer in the field, she began her career testing early BIM software at a beta site in 1992 and later brought that expertise into academia, where she has helped shape BIM standards and processes across the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry. Her collaborative work with the National Institute of Building Sciences and the Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering has advanced the development of interoperable frameworks and cost-estimating protocols that support BIM adoption across disciplines.

Dr. McCuen has authored more than 70 articles and technical reports, and her expertise is regularly sought at national and international conferences. She has led over 25 professional workshops and continuing education seminars for AECO practitioners and academic audiences. In recognition of her impact, she received the Building Information Modeling Award for Curriculum Development from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) Technology in Architecture Practice, and has twice been honored by AACE for her leadership in BIM technical standards and information exchange.

Before entering academia, Dr. McCuen worked as a cost estimator and project manager in the construction industry, grounding her scholarship in real-world experience. Today, she continues to advance BIM education and practice through research, teaching, and service, shaping the next generation of professionals in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.


  • University of Oklahoma
    PhD, Instructional Psychology and Technology
  • University of Oklahoma
    MBA
  • University of Oklahoma
    MS, Construction Science
  • University of Oklahoma
    BA, Interior Design

  • Chavan, A., Ghosh, S., & McCuen, T. Current State of Use of Virtual Reality in Construction Education. International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation, May 2025, in press.
  • Rahman, M. & McCuen, T. BIM and AI for Sustainable Built Environment: Current Status and Future Directions. CIB World Building Congress 2025: Sustainable Built Environment – the Role of the Construction Community in Meeting the United Nation Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), May 2025.
  • Christian, C., Dossick, C., Borhani, A., Dimitrov, D., Benjamin, L., McCuen, T., et al. Project BIM Requirements Standard. National BIM Standard-United States® (NBIMS-US™) Version 4, National Institute of Building Sciences, Washington, DC, August 2024.
  • Chavan, A., Ghosh, S., & McCuen, T. Use of Virtual Reality in Construction Higher Education in the US. Associated Schools of Construction International, Proceedings of the 60th Annual International Conference, April 2024.
  • Ghosh, S., Mukherjee, N., & McCuen, T. Use of Visual Dashboards in Construction Projects. Associated Schools of Construction International, Proceedings of the 60th Annual International Conference, April 2024.
  • Mayo, G., McCuen, T., & Shelbourn, M. BIM Data Handover from Construction to Operations. Associated Schools of Construction International, Proceedings of the 59th Annual International Conference, April 2023.
  • Rahman, M. & McCuen, T. Knowledge and Skills Required for NZEB Project Construction. Associated Schools of Construction International, Proceedings of the 59th Annual International Conference, April 2023.
  • Najmi Sarooghi, E. & McCuen, T. Smart Cities’ Strategies for Contractors: A Thematic Analysis of Selected Documents. Associated Schools of Construction International, Proceedings of the 58th Annual International Conference, April 2022.
  • Wu, W., Mayo, G., McCuen, T., Issa, R., & Smith, D. Guide to the Building Information Modeling Body of Knowledge: Metrics, KSAs, and Learning Outcomes for Developing BIM Talent. John Wiley & Sons, Hoboken, NJ, 2021. ISBN-13: 978-1119687283.
  • McCuen, T., Mayo, G., Shelbourn, M., & Scott, L. Digital Transformation and Construction Education: Case Studies of Construction Programs in the United States, Great Britain, and Ireland. In Underwood, J. & Shelbourn, M. (Eds.), Driving Transformational Change in the Built Environment. IGI Global, ISBN-13: 978-1799866008 (print), 978-1799866022 (eBook), USA, May 2021.
  • Wu, W., Mayo, G., McCuen, T., Issa, R., & Smith, D. Building Information Modeling Body of Knowledge Part II: Consensus Building & Use Cases. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 144(8), May 2018.
  • Wu, W., Mayo, G., McCuen, T., Issa, R., & Smith, D. Building Information Modeling Body of Knowledge Part I: Background, Framework & Initial Development. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 144(8), May 2018.
  • McCuen, T., & Pittenger, D. Building Information Modeling for Airports. ACRP Synthesis Report 70 (pdf), Transportation Research Board, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, May 2016.

  • 2023 University of Oklahoma Provost’s Award for Outstanding Faculty Service
  • 2022 University of Oklahoma College of Architecture, Outstanding Service Award
  • 2019 Associated Schools of Construction 55th Annual International Conference, Best Conference Paper – Honorable Mention, McCuen, T., Gunderson, D., & *Rahman, M.
  • 2015 University of Oklahoma College of Architecture, Outstanding Service Award
  • 2012 Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International, Outstanding Technical Subcommittee Chair
  • 2009 Association for the Advancement of Cost Engineering International, Technical Excellence Award recipient, project – BIM for Cost Estimating
  • 2008 American Institute of Architects, AIA Fourth Annual Technology in Architecture Practice Building Information Modeling Award recipient in the Academic Program or Curriculum Development category for BIM Intersession, an interdisciplinary course, McCuen, T., & Fithian, L.
  • Sadri, A., Kolar, R., Floyd, R., Muraleetharan, M., Klier, J., Siddique, Z., Xu, B., Atiquzzaman, M., Habibi, G., Filley, T., & McCuen, T., MiniSim™ Driving Simulator Acquisition for AI-Enhanced Connected and Autonomous Transportation, Strategic Equipment Investment Program, $72, 607.00, University of Oklahoma Vice President for Research and Partnerships, November 2024.
  • McCuen, T. (PI), Workforce Training for People with Disabilities to Fill High Demand Positions in the Transportation and Highway Sector, Southern Plains Transportation Center, $19,073, 2024.
  • Zaman, M., Floyd, R., Molina, M., Mohaimin Sadri, A., Ashik Ali, S., McPherson, R., McCuen, T. (co-PI), Southern Plains Transportation Center: Regional UTC, U.S. Department of Transportation, $6,000,000, 2023 – 2025.
  • McCuen, T. (PI), Advancing Student Awareness about Design-Build across the AEC Disciplines, Design-Build Institute of America – Southwest Region, Faculty Grant, $2,000, 2022.
  • McCuen, T., Kenneth Robson Center for Constructive Learning BIM+Viz Lab, Construction Science Advisory Board, $135,000, 2016.
  • McCuen, T. (PI), Pittenger, D., Building Information Modeling (BIM) for Airports, Airport Cooperative Research Program, National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, $20,000 of 40,000, 2015.