diff --git a/src/gui/src/chiplet3DWidget.cpp b/src/gui/src/chiplet3DWidget.cpp
index 71daf61c207..c8de4493bb9 100644
--- a/src/gui/src/chiplet3DWidget.cpp
+++ b/src/gui/src/chiplet3DWidget.cpp
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ void Chiplet3DWidget::buildGeometries()
     return;
   }
   const odb::Cuboid global_cuboid = chip_->getCuboid();
-  const odb::UnfoldedModel model(logger_, chip_);
+  const odb::UnfoldedModel* model = chip_->getDb()->getUnfoldedModel();
   const odb::dbTransform center_transform
       = odb::dbTransform(odb::Point3D(-global_cuboid.xCenter(),
                                       -global_cuboid.yCenter(),
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void Chiplet3DWidget::buildGeometries()
   }
 
   int index = 0;
-  for (const auto& chip : model.getChips()) {
+  for (const auto& chip : model->getChips()) {
     odb::Cuboid draw_cuboid = chip.cuboid;
     center_transform.apply(draw_cuboid);
     // Color by Depth (proportional to Z)
diff --git a/src/odb/include/odb/db.h b/src/odb/include/odb/db.h
index 17997135754..fe47766e549 100644
--- a/src/odb/include/odb/db.h
+++ b/src/odb/include/odb/db.h
@@ -184,6 +184,8 @@ class dbExtControl;
 // Custom iterators
 class dbModuleBusPortModBTermItr;
 
+class UnfoldedModel;
+
 ///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
 ///
 /// A box is the element used to represent layout shapes.
@@ -7550,6 +7552,9 @@ class dbDatabase : public dbObject
   ///
   dbChip* getChip();
 
+  void constructUnfoldedModel();
+
+  const UnfoldedModel* getUnfoldedModel() const;
   ////////////////////////
   /// DEPRECATED
   ////////////////////////
diff --git a/src/odb/src/3dblox/3dblox.cpp b/src/odb/src/3dblox/3dblox.cpp
index b81c47472c2..887fbd24101 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/3dblox/3dblox.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/3dblox/3dblox.cpp
@@ -209,8 +209,8 @@ void ThreeDBlox::readDbx(const std::string& dbx_file)
 
 void ThreeDBlox::check()
 {
-  Checker checker(logger_);
-  checker.check(db_->getChip());
+  Checker checker(logger_, db_);
+  checker.check();
 }
 
 namespace {
diff --git a/src/odb/src/3dblox/CMakeLists.txt b/src/odb/src/3dblox/CMakeLists.txt
index ec0cc33f07b..b6423b687de 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/3dblox/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/odb/src/3dblox/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ add_library(3dblox
   dbvWriter.cpp
   dbxWriter.cpp
   3dblox.cpp
-  unfoldedModel.cpp
   checker.cpp
 )
 
diff --git a/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.cpp b/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.cpp
index 3c9f6e8e7d8..22067fd2633 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.cpp
@@ -91,14 +91,18 @@ bool isValid(const UnfoldedConnection& conn)
 
 }  // namespace
 
-Checker::Checker(utl::Logger* logger) : logger_(logger)
+Checker::Checker(utl::Logger* logger, dbDatabase* db) : logger_(logger), db_(db)
 {
 }
 
-void Checker::check(dbChip* chip)
+void Checker::check()
 {
+  dbChip* chip = db_->getChip();
+  const UnfoldedModel* model = db_->getUnfoldedModel();
+  if (model == nullptr || chip == nullptr) {
+    return;
+  }
   auto* top_cat = dbMarkerCategory::createOrReplace(chip, "3DBlox");
-  UnfoldedModel model(logger_, chip);
   checkLogicalConnectivity(top_cat, model);
   checkFloatingChips(top_cat, model);
   checkOverlappingChips(top_cat, model);
@@ -108,9 +112,9 @@ void Checker::check(dbChip* chip)
 }
 
 void Checker::checkFloatingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                 const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                 const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
-  const auto& chips = model.getChips();
+  const auto& chips = model->getChips();
   // Add one more node for "ground" (external world: package, PCB, ...)
   utl::UnionFind uf(chips.size() + 1);
   const size_t ground_node = chips.size();
@@ -120,7 +124,7 @@ void Checker::checkFloatingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
     chip_map[&chips[i]] = i;
   }
 
-  for (const auto& conn : model.getConnections()) {
+  for (const auto& conn : model->getConnections()) {
     if (isValid(conn)) {
       // Case 1: Both regions exist - connect the two chips together
       if (conn.top_region && conn.bottom_region) {
@@ -181,9 +185,9 @@ void Checker::checkFloatingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
 }
 
 void Checker::checkOverlappingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                    const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                    const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
-  const auto& chips = model.getChips();
+  const auto& chips = model->getChips();
   std::vector<int> sorted(chips.size());
   std::iota(sorted.begin(), sorted.end(), 0);
   std::ranges::sort(sorted, [&](int a, int b) {
@@ -220,10 +224,10 @@ void Checker::checkOverlappingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
 }
 
 void Checker::checkInternalExtUsage(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                    const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                    const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
   dbMarkerCategory* cat = nullptr;
-  for (const auto& chip : model.getChips()) {
+  for (const auto& chip : model->getChips()) {
     for (const auto& region : chip.regions) {
       if (region.isInternalExt() && !region.isUsed) {
         if (!cat) {
@@ -246,7 +250,7 @@ void Checker::checkInternalExtUsage(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
 }
 
 void Checker::checkConnectionRegions(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                     const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                     const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
   auto describe = [](const UnfoldedRegion* r, dbMarker* marker) {
     marker->addSource(r->region_inst);
@@ -261,7 +265,7 @@ void Checker::checkConnectionRegions(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
   };
   int count = 0;
   dbMarkerCategory* cat = nullptr;
-  for (const auto& conn : model.getConnections()) {
+  for (const auto& conn : model->getConnections()) {
     if (!isValid(conn)) {
       if (!cat) {
         cat = dbMarkerCategory::createOrReplace(top_cat, "Connection regions");
@@ -283,11 +287,11 @@ void Checker::checkConnectionRegions(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
 }
 
 void Checker::checkBumpPhysicalAlignment(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                         const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                         const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
   dbMarkerCategory* cat = nullptr;
   int violation_count = 0;
-  for (const auto& chip : model.getChips()) {
+  for (const auto& chip : model->getChips()) {
     for (const auto& region : chip.regions) {
       for (const auto& bump : region.bumps) {
         const auto& p = bump.global_position;
@@ -318,15 +322,15 @@ void Checker::checkBumpPhysicalAlignment(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
 }
 
 void Checker::checkNetConnectivity(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                   const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                   const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
 }
 
 void Checker::checkLogicalConnectivity(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                       const UnfoldedModel& model)
+                                       const UnfoldedModel* model)
 {
   std::unordered_map<const UnfoldedBump*, const UnfoldedNet*> bump_net_map;
-  for (const auto& net : model.getNets()) {
+  for (const auto& net : model->getNets()) {
     for (const auto* bump : net.connected_bumps) {
       bump_net_map[bump] = &net;
     }
@@ -341,7 +345,7 @@ void Checker::checkLogicalConnectivity(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
   };
 
   dbMarkerCategory* cat = nullptr;
-  for (const auto& conn : model.getConnections()) {
+  for (const auto& conn : model->getConnections()) {
     if (!isValid(conn)) {
       continue;
     }
diff --git a/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.h b/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.h
index e37de374d27..404a9ec21cf 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.h
+++ b/src/odb/src/3dblox/checker.h
@@ -3,16 +3,17 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
-#include "odb/db.h"
-#include "odb/unfoldedModel.h"
-#include "utl/Logger.h"
+namespace utl {
+class Logger;
+}
 
 namespace sta {
 class Sta;
 }
 
 namespace odb {
-class dbChip;
+class dbDatabase;
+class UnfoldedModel;
 class dbMarkerCategory;
 
 struct MatingSurfaces
@@ -25,26 +26,27 @@ struct MatingSurfaces
 class Checker
 {
  public:
-  Checker(utl::Logger* logger);
+  Checker(utl::Logger* logger, dbDatabase* db);
   ~Checker() = default;
-  void check(dbChip* chip);
+  void check();
 
  private:
   void checkLogicalConnectivity(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                                const UnfoldedModel* model);
   void checkFloatingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                          const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                          const UnfoldedModel* model);
   void checkOverlappingChips(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                             const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                             const UnfoldedModel* model);
   void checkInternalExtUsage(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                             const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                             const UnfoldedModel* model);
   void checkConnectionRegions(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                              const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                              const UnfoldedModel* model);
   void checkBumpPhysicalAlignment(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                                  const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                                  const UnfoldedModel* model);
   void checkNetConnectivity(dbMarkerCategory* top_cat,
-                            const UnfoldedModel& model);
+                            const UnfoldedModel* model);
   utl::Logger* logger_;
+  dbDatabase* db_;
 };
 
 }  // namespace odb
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/CMakeLists.txt b/src/odb/src/db/CMakeLists.txt
index 4eadccb6736..3b9a4f2b6d7 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ add_library(db
     dbGroupGroundNetItr.cpp
     dbGDSLib.cpp
     dbSwapMasterSanityChecker.cpp
+    unfoldedModel.cpp
     # Generator Code Begin cpp
     dbAccessPoint.cpp
     dbBusPort.cpp
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
index 6b8229cbbfe..bd616c50c78 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.cpp
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@
 #include "odb/dbDatabaseObserver.h"
 #include "odb/dbObject.h"
 #include "odb/dbStream.h"
+#include "odb/unfoldedModel.h"
 #include "utl/Logger.h"
 // User Code End Includes
 namespace odb {
@@ -207,6 +208,8 @@ _dbDatabase::_dbDatabase(_dbDatabase* db)
   chip_bump_inst_itr_ = new dbChipBumpInstItr(chip_bump_inst_tbl_);
 
   chip_net_itr_ = new dbChipNetItr(chip_net_tbl_);
+
+  unfolded_model_ = nullptr;
   // User Code End Constructor
 }
 
@@ -446,6 +449,7 @@ _dbDatabase::~_dbDatabase()
   delete chip_conn_itr_;
   delete chip_bump_inst_itr_;
   delete chip_net_itr_;
+  delete unfolded_model_;
   // User Code End Destructor
 }
 
@@ -495,6 +499,8 @@ _dbDatabase::_dbDatabase(_dbDatabase* /* unused: db */, int id)
   chip_bump_inst_itr_ = new dbChipBumpInstItr(chip_bump_inst_tbl_);
 
   chip_net_itr_ = new dbChipNetItr(chip_net_tbl_);
+
+  unfolded_model_ = nullptr;
 }
 
 utl::Logger* _dbDatabase::getLogger() const
@@ -685,6 +691,19 @@ dbChip* dbDatabase::getChip()
   return (dbChip*) db->chip_tbl_->getPtr(db->chip_);
 }
 
+void dbDatabase::constructUnfoldedModel()
+{
+  _dbDatabase* db = (_dbDatabase*) this;
+  delete db->unfolded_model_;
+  db->unfolded_model_ = new UnfoldedModel(db->logger_, getChip());
+}
+
+const UnfoldedModel* dbDatabase::getUnfoldedModel() const
+{
+  _dbDatabase* db = (_dbDatabase*) this;
+  return db->unfolded_model_;
+}
+
 dbTech* dbDatabase::getTech()
 {
   auto techs = getTechs();
@@ -993,6 +1012,7 @@ void dbDatabase::triggerPostRead3Dbx(dbChip* chip)
   for (dbDatabaseObserver* observer : db->observers_) {
     observer->postRead3Dbx(chip);
   }
+  constructUnfoldedModel();
 }
 
 void dbDatabase::triggerPostReadDb()
diff --git a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.h b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.h
index c6c1480f9cd..dd9e6c818d9 100644
--- a/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.h
+++ b/src/odb/src/db/dbDatabase.h
@@ -282,6 +282,7 @@ class _dbNameCache;
 class _dbTech;
 class _dbLib;
 class _dbGDSLib;
+class UnfoldedModel;
 // User Code End Classes
 
 class _dbDatabase : public _dbObject
@@ -335,6 +336,8 @@ class _dbDatabase : public _dbObject
 
   utl::Logger* logger_;
   std::set<dbDatabaseObserver*> observers_;
+  UnfoldedModel* unfolded_model_;  // non-persistent object
+
   // User Code End Fields
 };
 dbIStream& operator>>(dbIStream& stream, _dbDatabase& obj);
diff --git a/src/odb/src/3dblox/unfoldedModel.cpp b/src/odb/src/db/unfoldedModel.cpp
similarity index 100%
rename from src/odb/src/3dblox/unfoldedModel.cpp
rename to src/odb/src/db/unfoldedModel.cpp
diff --git a/src/odb/test/check_3dblox.tcl b/src/odb/test/check_3dblox.tcl
index aa301d689d2..e7ea5241ada 100644
--- a/src/odb/test/check_3dblox.tcl
+++ b/src/odb/test/check_3dblox.tcl
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ set p [odb::Point3D]
 $p set $x1 $y1 [expr $z1 + $t1]
 $inst2 setLoc $p
 
+$db constructUnfoldedModel
 check_3dblox
 check "Touching chips not floating" { get_3dblox_marker_count "Floating chips" } 0
 
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@ check "Touching chips not floating" { get_3dblox_marker_count "Floating chips" }
 $p set $x1 $y1 [expr $z1 + $t1 + 10000]
 $inst2 setLoc $p
 
+$db constructUnfoldedModel
 check_3dblox
 check "Vertical gap detected as floating" { get_3dblox_marker_count "Floating chips" } 1
 
@@ -42,6 +44,7 @@ set inst3 [odb::dbChipInst_create $top_chip $master1 "inst3"]
 $p set [expr $x1 + 10 * $w1] [expr $y1 + 10 * $h1] $z1
 $inst3 setLoc $p
 
+$db constructUnfoldedModel
 check_3dblox
 # Should find 2 sets of floating chips (inst1, inst2 and inst3 are all separate from each other)
 check "Multiple floating sets detected" { get_3dblox_marker_count "Floating chips" } 2
@@ -52,6 +55,7 @@ set p [odb::Point3D]
 $p set [expr $x1 + $w1 / 4] [expr $y1 + $h1 / 4] [expr $z1 + $t1 / 2]
 $inst2 setLoc $p
 
+$db constructUnfoldedModel
 check_3dblox
 check "Partial overlap detected" { get_3dblox_marker_count "Overlapping chips" } 1
 
diff --git a/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerFixture.h b/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerFixture.h
index a0a4c141688..783594124b8 100644
--- a/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerFixture.h
+++ b/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerFixture.h
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ class CheckerFixture : public tst::Fixture
   void check()
   {
     db_->setTopChip(top_chip_);
+    db_->constructUnfoldedModel();
     ThreeDBlox three_dblox(&logger_, db_.get());
     three_dblox.check();
   }
diff --git a/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerLogicalConn.cpp b/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerLogicalConn.cpp
index 26026e9a4e6..c09265be3c8 100644
--- a/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerLogicalConn.cpp
+++ b/src/odb/test/cpp/Test3DBloxCheckerLogicalConn.cpp
@@ -75,6 +75,7 @@ class CheckerLogicalConnFixture : public CheckerFixture
   void check()
   {
     utl::Logger logger;
+    db_->constructUnfoldedModel();
     ThreeDBlox three_dblox(&logger, db_.get());
     three_dblox.check();
   }