Samples of Ephany API Calls in Python

This post contains a collection of code snippets and examples that demonstrate how to use the Ephany Framework API. As the project evolves, I’ll continue to add more samples.

Ephany is Now Open Source

Today, we’re excited to introduce Ephany Framework, an open-source platform for managing assets, their metadata, and their relationships to projects. This is the backbone of the entire Ephany ecosystem: the data structure, the REST API, and the relational logic that ties it all together.

Consolidated Blog Posts: BIM Extension + OpenDefinery + Ephany

Over the years I’ve spun up a handful of blogs, each tied to its own project. Now that I’m focused on Triple Zero Labs full-time, I’ve consolidated my content.

Common Construction-Phase Issues in Retail FF&E (and How to Mitigate Them) – Part Two

Cost Overruns

Budget overruns are a pervasive issue in construction, and retail store projects are no exception. Changes, delays, and misestimates during construction all compound the problem.

Artificial Intelligence and Data Validation

Artificial intelligence might seem like magic, but even magic needs rules. One of the biggest misconceptions about AI is that it always gets things right.

The State of Physical Retail 2022-2025

Despite the rise of e-commerce, physical retail in the U.S. is proving far more resilient than many expected — especially in the big-box and grocery sectors. Over the past three years, retailers like Walmart, Target, Costco, and Aldi have not only maintained but strategically expanded their physical footprints. While 2022 and 2023 saw more store openings than closures, 2024 brought a wave of store closings driven mostly by bankruptcies and weak specialty chains — not the major players in grocery or big-box retail.

Common Construction Issues with Retail Fixtures – Part One

Building out physical retail stores is a high-stakes game—where a single misstep can cost thousands (or even millions).

McDonaldization of Construction: Owner-Furnished Items & Scalability

McDonaldization describes how industries optimize for efficiency, predictability, uniformity, and control. This principle doesn’t just apply to burgers; it’s the secret sauce behind how companies like Walmart, Dollar General, and Wegmans scale their physical stores to thousands of locations worldwide.

Decluttering Your Data: Why AI Alone Won't Solve the Mess

Imagine your home is overflowing with clutter. You hire a professional organizer who tidies everything up—but without proper shelves and storage, the clean items just end up in a neat pile on the floor. That’s what happens when you rely solely on AI to clean up your asset data, especially when managing furniture, fixtures, and equipment for owner-furnished items in repeatable commercial spaces.

Lean Out Your BIM Data and Processes with Ephany

Let me tell you a little secret about working in BIM: the more data you cram into your model, the more of a nightmare it becomes to manage. Early in my career as a BIM Manager, I thought it was smart to add as much data as possible to Revit Families for owner-furnished items.