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 to coordinate 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 to ensure that construction projects are completed on time and within budget while applying the appropriate standards. BIM Coordinators help transform design concepts into 3D models that can help other people involved in a project understand 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 involving design in the construction industry.
What is a BIM Coordinator?
BIM Coordinators are tasked 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 in a project stays in lockstep with responsibilities for creating, managing, and coordinating 3D modeling from the planning stages through completion.
BIM Coordinators have to make sure that proposed concepts are viable for construction projects by thoroughly analyzing designs to ensure that they are not only aesthetically pleasing but structurally sound and compliant with local codes and zoning regulations through applying BIM processes. BIM Coordinators’ responsibilities include assuring the geometry of a design revealed through 3D modeling for examining shapes, lines, and points within the design to determine structural integrity.
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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 to oversee 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 in construction projects. Skills for working with BIM require experience in design and construction, specifically in 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, Project Managers, and stakeholders on the same page. Responsibilities also include solving problems by applying BIM methodologies to construction projects, which includes making sure that clients remain well-informed on the status of the project throughout the process to maintain realistic expectations.
BIM Coordinator Career Path
A BIM Coordinator is a managerial position used in several industries, mainly in construction and manufacturing, that typically requires someone to have from seven to ten years of training and experience from working on different tasks using BIM technology and methodologies 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 solve potential issues related to a building’s development before construction starts such as clash detection for identifying how areas such as ceilings, walls, beams, or plumbing might interfere with each other.
Working As a Freelance BIM Coordinator
BIM technology has become a vital component in the construction industry through 3D modeling for designing and managing projects. Many companies hire BIM Coordinators to handle tasks related to 3D modeling not only for designing the appearance of a structure but also for determining its structural integrity. 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 to perform specific tasks involving BIM technology, ranging from modeling and data analysis to 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 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 to demonstrate expertise with software and procedures for work related to construction, architecture, and engineering. Knowledge of construction management, information technology, and project management may also help demonstrate a candidate’s qualifications to potential employers in the construction industry 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, which includes helping to 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, developing 3D models, and maintaining quality control in architecture, structural design, and MEP engineering to integrate 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 on location and experience. BIM Coordinators usually work with Engineers, Architects, Project Managers, and General Contractors and are responsible for ensuring that BIM standards related to a project are followed.
BIM Manager
The BIM Manager position is often confused with BIM Coordinators, as both involve working with BIM technology and coordinating projects related to construction and manufacturing. However, the professions are slightly different. BIM Managers have more generalized responsibilities within an organization’s overall operations, which still involve working with people, overseeing 3D modeling and Designers, and communicating in areas related to architecture, engineering, structural design, and plumbing on 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, varying based on location. Responsibilities as a BIM Manager include coordinating with Engineers, Architects, and Project Managers to ensure BIM standards related to a project are followed and preparing construction documents related to BIM modeling.
CAD Designer
A CAD Designer needs to have skills with AutoCAD to create 2D and 3D modeling designs for various types of projects that provide similar functions as BIM. While CAD skills are not the same as BIM, knowledge of CAD can complement skills for working with Building Information Modeling. Becoming a CAD Designer requires technical training and expertise in design 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 between $73,000 and $129,000 a year across 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 in creating construction drawings and blueprints. Working as an Architect requires being able to hand draw and design blueprints during the conceptual stage of construction projects. According to Glassdoor.com, Architects in the United States can make between $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, assessing reliability and compliance, performing data analysis, and conducting predictive modeling. There are several areas of engineering relevant to 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 strong reason to become a BIM Coordinator is the high demand for this career due to today’s dependence on digital technology across many industries, including construction. The role involves designing 3D models and ensuring quality assurance. Working as a BIM Coordinator includes collaborating with professionals such as Architects and Engineers to keep construction projects on schedule and within budget.
BIM technology and methodologies have become industry standards in construction, opening up career opportunities for BIM Coordinators to manage 3D modeling with software like Revit, Navisworks, Archicad, and Trimble Connect. BIM Coordinators collaborate with Engineers, Architects, Project Managers, and clients, and are responsible for keeping everyone informed on the status and progress of a project. This includes resolving clash issues revealed through BIM software, which helps keep 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 may want to enroll in a certificate program or gain certification in this methodology or related technologies. VDCI offers broader professional training, including the BIM Certificate Program, which aims to equip students with all the skills and experience needed to begin working on BIM projects in a professional capacity. This course includes over 400 hours of training content based on real-world construction projects. There is also a combined CAD/BIM Certificate Program for students seeking even more comprehensive construction training.
Certificate programs provide hands-on experience with BIM and related technologies for working with Engineers and Architects as BIM Coordinators. Certification, on the other hand, verifies a person’s expertise in specific skills such as programming languages, software, and tools like BIM. Education providers like VDCI also offer AutoCAD-related certification programs, including the AutoCAD Certification Program, which delivers comprehensive training to prepare candidates for Autodesk certification exams. Training includes learning the fundamentals of technical drawing along with skills for drafting and creating 2D and 3D drawings 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 multiple paths based on a person’s career goals. The Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP), for example, confirms a candidate's skills with AutoCAD, including the ability to solve complex workflow and design problems related to BIM. BIM Coordinators can also earn certifications that improve their career prospects by demonstrating expertise in tools such as Autodesk Revit for 3D modeling and structural design. This includes the Revit Certification Course, which builds skills in creating and managing architectural models using Revit software.