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As was once the case with Computer-Aided Design (CAD) technology, so is now the case with Building Information Modelling (BIM) — a paradigm shift is underway. The AEC industry worldwide is witnessing a markable shift in the way projects are handled and delivered. The hard fact of the matter is that in order to stay relevant to the industry and maintain their value as professionals, architects will have to imperatively adopt BIM and digital workflows.

With digitization sweeping over, there has been an emergence of not only new ways of building but also new ways of thinking, imagining, and conceiving architectural design. As a result, more and more AEC firms are embracing digital practices, with a large majority of them also agreeing that they are nowhere close to exhausting their digital potential. This means that AEC firms worldwide are looking to build a future-forward and techno-efficient workforce that is well equipped to contribute to their digital evolution.

What are architecture firms looking for?

Saniye Oktem, a BIM Coordinator at Turkey’s Prota Group, shared her insights on hiring practices in her team. “We don’t want to spend time teaching software to new recruits. We expect them to be adept at the (digital) tools of the trade. But more than anything, we’re keen on candidates who demonstrate a natural inclination towards BIM culture and nurturing a collaborative environment,” she says. 

Collaboration is intrinsic to BIM, and its importance has been emphasized repeatedly by professionals in the industry. With multiple stakeholders involved in a project — including architectural design teams, contractors, engineers, construction managers, and clients — cloud collaboration via BIM software enables regular data exchanges and efficient use of time and resources. 

Over the last two years, the Pandemic has further bolstered the adoption of cloud collaboration, allowing professionals flexibility as well as encouraging remote-work culture. In addition, cloud collaboration has ensured greater job security for BIM professionals who were able to carry on with their projects as usual without falling prey to a turbulent job market.

Saniye mentors the BIM Professional Course offered by the online learning platform Oneistox and claims that teaching learners how to seamlessly collaborate using digital tools is a major focus for her. This is taken up especially during the course’s live capstone project, where learners are taken through a simulation of a real-world BIM project that follows the RIBA structure. “Software knowledge is, of course, critical to our field. But one needs to understand the software’s logic, real-world application, and implementation,” she notes.

How can architects learn digital skills?

An interesting shift in learning culture has come alongside the advent of the Digital Age. Firms valuing practical experience and technical know-how over theoretical knowledge has led to traditional degrees losing their luster. Several architecture graduates are now opting to acquire industry-relevant skills through quick, upskilling courses rather than going for two-year-long Master's programs that leave them in financial debt without equipping them with any practical experience. This shift is aided by the fact that curriculum development in most higher education institutes has not kept pace with the evolution of digital practices in the real world. 

In the case of BIM, there is also, in general, a dearth of options as far as Masters courses are concerned. Only a handful of institutions across the world offer training in BIM and related digital skills. These are typically found only in developed nations where BIM adoption has been mandated by the government. Moreover, these Masters courses are expensive to attend and therefore inaccessible to most aspirants.

“There is a need for democratization of digital knowledge,” says André Malheiro, a BIM specialist and founder of the Portugal-based architecture firm am-arqstudio. André mentors Oneistox’s BIM Professional Course too and believes that learning digital skills isn’t something that should come as a financial burden on students and should also not require them to leave their countries and move abroad. 

André also remarks that technical skills are what can carry individuals forward in the AEC industry. “BIM-consulting firms are always on the lookout for professionals adept at designing in Revit and Navisworks. And architecture firms that have specialized BIM departments often seek people with end-to-end knowledge of BIM methodologies.” 

In Oneistox's cohorts, learners are able to gain proficiency in BIM tools and processes without having to compromise on their full-time jobs or studies. The 6-month offering lets participants learn at their own pace in a virtual environment and get industry insights from a distinguished panel of BIM experts. This is followed up with career guidance and job placement assistance. With the course being offered at one-tenth the price of typical Masters courses, there’s hardly a more accessible way for architects to join the digital revolution.

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BIM Talks | EP 03 | Why Architects Should Learn BIM – Future Scope, Career, and Benefits of BIM