A BIM Coordinator works on projects in various capacities with responsibilities for pulling people together, supervising 3D modeling, and collaborating with colleagues tasked with handling architecture, structural design, and engineering for coordinating varying functions into a coherent unit. Responsibilities as a BIM Coordinator include working with General Contractors, Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers to ensure that BIM standards related to a project are followed as well as preparing construction documents along with 3D modeling.

BIM Coordinators work with digital technology for designing 3D 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 for ensuring that construction projects get finished on time and within budget while applying the appropriate standards. BIM Coordinators help with transforming design concepts into 3D models that can help other people involved on a project with understanding architectural designs or 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 with design in the construction industry.

What Is a BIM Coordinator?

BIM Coordinators are tasks with managing projects related to the construction industry. Their jobs typically involve developing strategies, coordinating 3D modeling, collaborating with Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers, and maintaining communication among colleagues as well as clients. BIM Coordinators ensure that everyone involved on a project stays in lockstep with responsibilities for creating, managing, and coordinating 3D modeling from the planning stages through completing construction.

BIM Coordinators have to make sure that proposed concepts are viable for construction projects by thoroughly analyzing designs to make sure that they are not only aesthetically pleasing but structurally sound as well as compliant with local codes and zoning regulation through applying BIM processing. BIM Coordinators’ responsibilities include assuring the geometry of a design revealed through 3D modeling for examining shapes, lines, and points within design for determining structural integrity.

Once a plan goes forward, BIM Coordinators are responsible for supervising 2D and 3D modeling involved with construction projects related to architectural design and engineering. This requires working with Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers for overseeing modeling with an emphasis on structural design and MEP engineering. 

BIM Coordinator Skills

Aside from possessing thorough knowledge in BIM technology and methodologies, a BIM Coordinator must also be able to manage various aspects and people involved on construction projects. Skills for working with BIM require experience in design and construction, specifically with architecture and engineering. Working with BIM, of course, requires training in BIM software and tools, including Autodesk products like Revit, Navisworks, BIM 360, Formit, and InfraWorks along with Graphisoft Archicad and the Dalux BIM Viewer.

Additionally, working as a BIM Coordinator means being able to communicate and visualize concepts that help get Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers as well as shareholders on the same page. Responsibilities also include solving problems by applying BIM methodologies on construction projects that include making sure that clients remain well-informed on the status of the project throughout for maintaining realistic expectations.

BIM Coordinator Career Path

A BIM Coordinator is a managerial position used in several industries, mainly with construction and manufacturing, that typically requires someone to have from seven to 10 years of training and experience from working on different tasks using BIM technology and methodologies in order to qualify for employment in the profession. BIM Coordinators typically work in construction or manufacturing and often have a bachelor’s degree related to engineering, business, construction management, architecture, computer science, or graphic design for working with BIM software, tools, and procedures for designing and developing products and building structures. Working as a BIM Coordinator usually involves managing 3D modeling and collecting data in collaboration with Engineers and Architects as well as informing clients through a shared database or cloud platform. BIM technology helps with being able to solve potential issues related to a building’s development before construction ever starts such as clash detection for identifying how areas such as ceilings, walls, beams, or plumbing might interfere with each other.

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Working as a Freelance BIM Coordinator

BIM technology has become a vital component in the construction industry with 3D modeling for designing and managing projects. Many companies hire BIM Coordinators for handling tasks related to 3D modeling for not only designing the appearance of a structure but for also determining its structural integrity as well. For smaller companies involved in construction, hiring a freelance BIM Coordinator is a practical decision from a financial standpoint. An organization may decide to bring in a freelance BIM Coordinator on an as needed basis for performing specific tasks involving BIM technology ranging from modeling and data analysis for informing Architects and Engineers on details related to structural design or clash detection. A freelance BIM Coordinator provides organizations with an on-demand resource that may ultimately prove less expensive than hiring someone in-house.

Becoming a BIM Coordinator without a Degree

While a college degree can improve a person’s chances of getting hired as a BIM Coordinator, people can find work without getting a college education with the right experience in construction, 3D modeling, and BIM-related software and tools. Anyone interested in becoming a BIM Coordinator may also want to gain certification in BIM technology for expertise with software and procedures for work related to construction, architecture, and engineering. Knowledge of construction management, information technology, and project management may also contribute to impressing potential employers who own construction companies of a candidate’s qualification for working as a BIM Coordinator without a college degree.

BIM Careers

Building information modeling is an area of digital technology that has become a popular tool within the construction industry. Skills with BIM can enhance career opportunities for people who have the ability to create 3D models to use on construction projects due to the software not only facilitating design modeling but also opening up avenues for collaboration among Architects, Engineers, and Project Managers that includes helping recognize trends or forecasting weather before beginning construction, which is extremely important in the industry. There are several careers related to possessing skills with BIM technology, including becoming a BIM Coordinator along with similar positions.

BIM Coordinator

BIM is a relatively new area of technology used mainly in the construction and manufacturing industries for 3D modeling, data analytics, and structural analysis. BIM Coordinators work on projects with responsibilities for bringing distinct and separate parties together along with developing 3D models and maintaining quality control with architecture, structural design, and MEP engineering for fitting different sections of a project into a coherent and organized unit. According to Glassdoor.com, the average annual income for BIM Coordinators in the United States ranges from $71,000 to $111,000, 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 relate to a project get followed.

BIM Manager

The BIM Manager position is often confused with BIM Coordinator as both involve working with BIM technology as well as coordinating projects related to construction and manufacturing. However, the professions are slightly different. BIM Managers have more generalized responsibilities with an organization's overall operation that still involves working with people, overseeing 3D modeling and the Designers, and communicating on areas related to architecture, engineering, structural design, and plumbing with construction projects. According to Glassdoor.com, the average annual income for a BIM Manager in the United States ranges between $92,000 and $139,000, which varies depending on where someone lives. Responsibilities as a BIM Manager include coordinating with Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers for ensuring that BIM standards related to a project are followed along with preparing construction documents related to BIM modeling.

CAD Designer

A CAD Designer needs to have skills with AutoCAD for creating 2D and 3D modeling designs for working on different types of projects that provide similar functions as BIM. While CAD skills are not the same as BIM, knowledge with CAD can complement skills for working with building information modeling. Becoming a CAD Designers requires technical training and expertise for designing and drafting. People who have skills with AutoCAD can work in industries like manufacturing, engineering, product development, and construction. A CAD Designer can earn from $73,000 to $129,000 a year throughout the country according to Glassdoor.com.

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 conceptual stage of construction projects. According to Glassdoor.com, Architects working around the United States can make from $115,000 and $210,000 a year.

Structural Engineer

Leveraging skills with AutoCAD or BIM software allows Engineers working in construction to create 3D models for analyzing structural designs as well as assessing reliability and compliances, performing data analysis, and accessing predictive modeling. There are several areas of engineering related to working in the construction industry. For example, the average salary for working as a Structural Engineer in the United States ranges between $99,000 and $146,000 a year.

Why Become a BIM Coordinator?

A good reason for becoming a BIM Coordinator is that the career is in high demand due to today’s dependence on digital technology in many industries, including construction, with responsibilities for designing 3D models along with quality assurance. Working as a BIM Coordinator involves collaborating with other professionals such as Architects and Engineers for keeping construction projects on schedule and within budget.

BIM technology and methodologies have become the standard within the construction industry, which has opened up career opportunities for BIM Coordinators with managing 3D modeling with software like Revit, Navisworks, Archicad, and Trimble Connect. BIM Coordinators collaborate with Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers as well as clients with responsibilities for keeping everybody informed on the status and circumstances of a project. This includes resolving clash issues revealed through BIM technology that helps with keeping projects on schedule by avoiding potential obstacles.

Learn the Skills to Become a BIM Coordinator at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers options for learning BIM technology, software, and procedures through VDCI, an authorized Autodesk training center that provides education and certification related to a variety of technologies, including building information modeling. Anyone considering becoming a BIM Coordinator might want to enroll in a certificate program or gain certification in the methodology or similar technologies. VDCI offers options for broader professional training, including the BIM Certificate Program which aims to provide students with all the skills and experience they need to start working on BIM projects in a professional capacity. This course covers over 400 hours of training content, all of which is modeled on real world construction projects. There is also a combined CAD/BIM Certificate Program for students looking for even more professional construction training.

Certificate programs provide hands-on experience with BIM or similar technologies for working with Engineers and Architects as BIM Coordinators. Certification, on the other hand, verifies a person’s expertise with particular skills like programming languages, software, and some types of tools such as BIM. Education providers like VDCI also offer various AutoCAD-related certification programs, including the AutoCAD Certification Program that provides comprehensive training 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 BIM 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 using BIM software. BIM Coordinators can also gain certification for improving career options with expertise in tools like Autodesk Revit for working in 3D modeling with designing and analyzing building structures. This can include taking on the Revit Certification Course for gaining expertise to create and manage architectural models using the Revit software.