A BIM Coordinator participates on projects in various capacities for working in several industries connected to construction and manufacturing. BIM Coordinators are responsible for pulling people together, supervising the design process, and approving models used on construction projects involving architecture, structural design, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineering by coordinating various functions into a coherent and coordinated endeavor. Responsibilities as a BIM Coordinator include working with contractors, Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers to ensure that BIM standards related to a project are followed as well as preparing construction documents using BIM modeling.

What Is a BIM Coordinator?

BIM Coordinators are tasked with managing projects related to construction or manufacturing. Their jobs typically involve developing strategies, coordinating modeling, facilitating collaboration among professionals, managing projects, and maintaining communication with both colleagues and clients. BIM Coordinators ensure that everyone involved on a project stays in lockstep from initial planning through completion by managing and coordinating the BIM modeling used throughout the assignment.

BIM Coordinators have to make sure that initial concepts are viable for construction by analyzing designs for making sure that ideas are not just aesthetically pleasing but structurally sound as well as compliant with local codes and zoning regulation through applying BIM procedures. Responsibilities for BIM Coordinators involve ensuring the integrity of a design through 3D modeling for examining shapes, lines, and points of a structuring design.

Once a plan goes forward, BIM Coordinators are responsible for supervising the modeling of an architectural design involved with construction. This includes working with Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers by overseeing the modeling used in structural design along with MEP engineering.

Job Requirements

BIM Coordinators manage and coordinate the digital technology involved with designing models used on construction projects. Among the requirements for working as a BIM Coordinator is being able to work with BIM software like Autodesk Revit and Navisworks Manage for ensuring that construction projects get finished on time and on budget while applying high standards. BIM Coordinators help with transforming design concepts into 3D models that can help others involved on a project with understanding architectural designs and engineering concepts. With the emergence of digital technology and its influence on every aspect of life nowadays, skills for working with BIM software can open up a myriad of career options in design with the construction industry.

BIM Coordinators must have strong knowledge of BIM processes and standards. The work requires expertise with BIM software and tools like Revit for managing and coordinating digital technology to use in 3D modeling on construction and manufacturing projects. BIM Coordinators need to also have good communication skills for working within a team that includes Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers with responsibilities for coordinating BIM models. This responsibility involves not only collaborating with colleagues but also dealing directly with clients and shareholders for being able to present a clear vision for the outcome of a project as well as helping with design adjustments for getting everyone on the same page.

A BIM Coordinator must also have strong analytical skills as well as a knack for solving problems. The job requires having training and experience in architecture, engineering, and construction management. Additionally, gaining certification in areas of Building Information Modeling management or coordination can also help with finding work. BIM Coordinators design construction plans based on clients’ specifications that include developing designs for structural systems. BIM Coordinators can apply skills using BIM software like Revit for designing building structures as part of the job of creating construction drawings and blueprints.

Job Responsibilities

Working as a BIM Coordinator requires skills in an area of digital technology for working in construction and manufacturing. Skills for working with Building Information Modeling can enhance career opportunities for people with the ability to create 3D models on construction and manufacturing projects due to how the software facilitates modeling along with opening up collaboration with colleagues like Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers. BIM also helps with recognizing trends or forecasting weather before commencing construction.

Listed below are several job responsibilities associated with working as a BIM Coordinator.

Coordination and Collaboration

A BIM Coordinator has responsibilities for collaborating with others on construction projects, mainly with Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, and clients involved. BIM Coordinators ensure that all concerned parties are appropriately informed. Among the most common issues with any project involves distributing data to both the people working on the assignment as well as the people paying for that work. There are times when some involved get confused about the status. This may occur for several reasons, including the complexity of the information or procedures involved or disagreements about the direction or progress of a venture. While Architects and Engineers have specific areas of expertise and responsibilities, BIM Coordinators along with Project Managers have a more comprehensive involvement and must be able to understand and explain what’s going on with nearly every aspect of development in order to effectively manage and coordinate a project to its completion.

Learn BIM

  • Nationally accredited
  • Create your own portfolio
  • Free student software
  • Learn at your convenience
  • Authorized Autodesk training center

Learn More

Time Management

With responsibilities for overseeing a construction or manufacturing project from its inception to its completion, BIM Coordinators have to be able to manage a schedule for how models get developed into structures as work progresses to completion. BIM Coordinators manage modeling and design throughout a project’s development with status reports, updates, and revisions while keeping an eye on the calendar for meeting the deadline. Time management represents a stressful aspect on any project for collaboration among a team of professionals with the goal of keeping Architects, Engineers, Project Managers, and clients on the same page and happy with results by keeping everything on or ahead of schedule. Specifically, BIM Coordinators are responsible for the BIM 2D and 3D modeling involved with defining and ensuring the direction of a project for optimizing the appearance, structural design, and system integrity.

Accuracy and Precision

BIM Coordinators are responsible for ensuring that the design and specifications with modeling on a project are precise and accurate. BIM stands for Building Information Modeling, and the biggest advantage of the methodology is not only with how it provides an appealing representation of how a structure will look through 3D modeling, but with also providing information on how structurally sound a design should be. The details and data provided through BIM technology allow BIM Coordinators to collaborate with Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers for moving forward on a construction or manufacturing project while also visually demonstrating to clients and shareholders what a design will look like or how it may function.

Quality Assurance

Part of a BIM Coordinator’s responsibilities include focusing on quality assurance that involves making sure that information and design on projects are accurate by assuring that geometric elements get positioned correctly. Quality assurance with BIM includes tracking the status of a project for keeping team members informed of any issues or difficulties as well as quickly identifying and addressing potential problems. Quality assurance also means maintaining a keen focus on workflow for being able to quickly identify and fix problems before anything gets out of hand. It’s also important to keep clients informed of any potential issues in order to avoid conflicts down the road.

Managing Project Changes

BIM Coordinators are usually responsible for managing project change as well as providing updates to colleagues and clients. As with quality assurance, managing changes also requires keeping people informed so that everyone involved remains in sync by applying the spirit of full disclosure. BIM Coordinators set projects in motion by managing and coordinating modeling designs through completion of an assignment.

Skills

Aside from needing thorough knowledge of BIM technology and methodologies, BIM Coordinators also have to be able to coordinate various details and parties involved with construction or manufacturing projects. Skills for working with BIM requires knowledge in design and construction, specifically in areas like architecture and engineering. Working with BIM, of course, requires training in BIM tools such as Autodesk products like Revit, Navisworks, BIM 360, Formit, or Infraworks along with Graphisoft’s Archicad or Dalux software.

Additionally, working as a BIM Coordinator requires skills in communications and presentation for helping put both clients and colleagues on the same page. This includes solving problems using BIM modeling on construction projects along with making sure that clients remain updated on status along with maintaining realistic expectations.

Why Do Businesses Need BIM Coordinators?

BIM Coordinators have vital responsibilities for getting construction and manufacturing projects completed. BIM Coordinators manage the Building Information Modeling process for controlling workflows as well as collaborations among Engineers, Architects, and clients through understanding every detail of any project from the BIM aspect. BIM Coordinators have to manage BIM efficiently for reducing cost on projects through correcting errors in design as well as managing conflicts among parties involved.

A BIM Coordinator is also responsible for adhering the boundaries set by permits, approvals, and inspections. BIM Coordinators have become an essential ingredient with industries like construction and manufacturing for being able to use digital technology to more efficiently take concepts from idea to reality. On the whole, BIM Coordinators facilitate workflow efficiency for businesses from the design stage through completion of projects that helps with saving costs and improving quality control by keeping the people working on a project as well as the people paying for it well-informed.

Where Do BIM Coordinators Usually Work?

BIM Coordinators typically work in the construction industry with roles in architecture, engineering, and interior design. Architects use BIM software for rendering building concepts with blueprints or 3D modeling with construction drawings and other designs related to building things. BIM Coordinators work with Engineers to create BIM models on building projects for providing detailed imaging of how a concept will look upon completion. BIM Coordinators work closely with clients by keeping them informed on the progress of a construction project for making sure that everything is moving forward along with being able to adjust budgets or comply with client requests.

BIM Coordinators also work in interior design for being able to create layouts and 3D models for interior spaces. BIM helps with visualizing and coordinating interior spaces in detail for not only making sure that interior structures are practically placed but for also communicating ideas with where counters or furniture might best be placed by giving clients a clear impression of what the results may look like.

Businesses involved with infrastructure, manufacturing, and facilities management also benefit from hiring BIM Coordinators for prototyping and modeling with designing structures or products. Skills in 3D modeling can help with ideas about how a building or other concepts may look and can be used in creating actual tools using 3D printing.

BIM Coordinator Salary and Job Outlook

BIM Coordinators work on projects in various capacities for several industries, mainly construction and manufacturing. BIM Coordinators are typically tasked with getting people together, designing building structures or physical products like tools, and modeling involved with different areas of construction projects with architectures, structural design, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, and plumbing) engineering by combining various functions into a coherent and organized unit. The average yearly income for a BIM Coordinator throughout the United States ranges from $57,000 to $121,000, depending, of course, on where individuals live along with their level of experience. Responsibilities as a BIM Coordinator include collaborating with general contractors, Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers for ensuring that BIM standards related to a project are followed. BIM Coordinators also prepare construction documents related to BIM modeling.

How Long Does it Take to Become a BIM Coordinator?

A BIM Coordinator is a mid-level supervisory position in several industries, mainly with construction and manufacturing. The role typically requires anywhere from seven to 10 years of training and experience from working in different areas with BIM to qualify for employment in the profession. As stated, becoming a BIM Coordinator typically involves working in construction or manufacturing, and most candidates often have a college education related to engineering, business, construction management, architecture, computer science, or graphic design for working with BIM software, tools, and processes for designing and developing products or building structures. A college degree typically requires about four years but could take more or less time depending on the circumstances involved in a person’s life. There are also training programs for learning BIM software like Autodesk Revit or Navisworks, Graphisoft Archicad, or Trimble Connect, which focuses on workplace collaboration using BIM, for gaining or improving on skills to become a BIM Coordinator. VDCI, for example, provides certificate programs for gaining expertise with Autodesk products. Enrolling in BIM training programs or acquiring the appropriate certifications may enhance anyone’s options for employment as a BIM Coordinator for working in various industries.

BIM Coordinator vs. Similar Career

BIM is a relatively new area of technology used mainly in the construction and manufacturing industries for modeling, data analytics, and structural design. BIM Coordinators work on projects for various industries with responsibilities for bringing distinct and separate parties together along with developing models and maintaining quality control in areas such as architecture, structural design, and MEP engineering for fitting different parts into a coherent, organized unit. The average annual income for BIM Coordinators in the United States ranges from $57,000 to $121,000, depending, of course, on where people live along with their level of experience. BIM Coordinators usually work with Engineers, Architects, Project Managers, and General Contractors with responsibilities for ensuring that BIM standards related to a project get followed.

Listed below are a few careers similar to becoming a BIM Coordinator with comparable skills and responsibilities.

BIM Coordinator vs. Data Analyst

Skills in data analytics combined with training in BIM software can help with identifying trends, optimizing building models, and generating facilities management reports. Data Analysts must understand and apply historical data by finding patterns within numbers that help in clarifying the current status of a project along with how problems associated with a project might get solved. This can include working on risk assessment and weather forecasting. The yearly salary for a Data Analyst working in the United States ranges from $50,000 to $129,000 for work in gathering data from a variety of sources.

BIM Coordinator vs. CAD Designer

A CAD Designer needs to have skills with AutoCAD for creating 2D and 3D models for working on a variety of design projects and provides similar functions as BIM. While CAD skills and BIM skills are not the same, knowledge in CAD can complement skills for working with BIM. Becoming a CAD Designer requires technical skills and expertise for designing and drafting. People who have skills with AutoCAD can work in industries such as manufacturing, engineering, product development, and construction. A CAD Designer can earn from $43,000 to $109,000 a year around the country.

BIM Coordinator vs. Architect

Architects design construction plans based on a client’s specifications, which includes developing designs for structural systems; central air, heating, and ventilation systems; electrical systems; and plumbing. Architects can apply skills with BIM software combined with AutoCAD for designing building structures as part of their job for creating construction drawings and blueprints. Working as an Architect requires being able to hand draw as well as design blueprints during the concept stage on construction projects. Architects working throughout the United States can make between $67,000 and $173,000 a year.

Learn the Skills to Become a BIM Coordinator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers training for learning BIM technology, software, and procedures through VDCI. VDCI is an authorized Autodesk training center that provides education and certification related to various technologies, including BIM. BIM, or Building Information Modeling, is a digital process for designing, developing, and managing projects for working as Architects, Engineers, Interior Designers, Project Managers, and BIM Coordinators in various industries like construction and manufacturing. BIM Coordinators, in particular, have to manage projects by applying 2D and 3D modeling in construction and manufacturing with responsibilities for handling costs, collaborating with other professionals, and interacting with clients.

VDCI offers a Revit Certification Training Bundle that is ideal for students looking to learn the broad strokes of BIM skills that aspiring professionals need to master. This course covers introductory and advanced Revit skills, making it ideal for beginners and experienced designers alike. In addition, students enrolled in this course will be able to take the Revit Certification exam as a part of their tuition, making it a practical option for future professionals. VDCI also offers focused courses in the important daily tasks involved in BIM projects, such as the BIM Construction Documents I course or the BIM Detailing course.

Anyone considering becoming a BIM Coordinator might want to enroll in a certificate program or get certification in the methodology or similar technologies. To be clear, certificate programs and certifications are not the same. Certificate programs provide hands-on training in BIM or similar technologies for working as Engineers, Architects, or BIM Coordinators. Certifications, on the other hand, verify an individual's expertise in a particular area such as a programming language, software, type of tool, or methodology like BIM. Education providers like Noble Desktop also offer various AutoCAD-related certification training, including the AutoCAD Certification Program that offers a comprehensive program that prepares candidates for Autodesk certification exams. Training involves learning the fundamentals of technical drawing along with skills for drafting and creating 2D and 3D drawing using AutoCAD.

Achieving certification requires passing an exam administered by an industry recognized organization. Ambitious BIM Coordinators can pursue certification through Autodesk, which offers several paths contingent on a person’s career ambitions. The Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP), for example, confirms a candidate’s skills with AutoCAD, including being able to solve complicated problems with workflows and designs related to the design software. BIM Coordinators can also gain certification for improving career options through tools like Autodesk Revit for working in BIM modeling for designing and analyzing building structures. This can include taking on the Revit Certified Professional certification program for gaining expertise for work in creating and managing architectural models using the Revit software.