Is BIM Worth It? Benefits of BIM for Architects and Engineering Consultants in Design

The role of engineering consultants in the design stage of a project is crucial—they bridge the gap between architectural vision and buildable systems. Building Information Modeling (BIM) has become a game-changer for this discipline, offering engineers better tools to validate their designs, coordinate across teams, and reduce rework. If you're an engineering consultancy still using 2D CAD or siloed software, you're missing out on efficiency gains that your competitors may already be capitalizing on.

BIM isn’t just for architects. In fact, structural, civil, MEP, and geotechnical engineers increasingly rely on BIM to deliver accurate and clash-free designs earlier in the project lifecycle.

The Engineering Consultant's Challenge

Before BIM, most design coordination took place through manual markups and email chains. Mechanical engineers would issue their duct layout, only to find it clashing with structural beams. Civil engineers might not be looped in until after the building pad was already designed. This leads to wasted time, expensive redesigns, and frustrated clients.

BIM addresses this with a collaborative environment where all disciplines work from a common data environment (CDE). Everyone sees the same model. Everyone works with the same geometry. And changes made by one party are visible to others in near real-time.

Benefits of BIM for Engineering Consultants

Here’s how BIM gives engineering consultants a real-world edge:

1. Better Design Coordination

By working in a federated model (where each discipline contributes to a shared digital environment), engineers can detect clashes early. Tools like Navisworks ,Solibri, and BIMCollab can highlight spatial conflicts—such as when cable trays overlap with ductwork or when a structural beam obstructs a fire riser.

This proactive clash detection reduces RFIs, improves constructability, and saves money downstream.

2. Smarter, Faster Iterations

Need to adjust a beam size or shift a pump room layout? BIM tools enable parametric modeling—change it once, and the update cascades through related views, schedules, and sheets. That means no more hunting down 15 drawing files just to make one edit.

3. Quantities and Schedules on Demand

Whether you're doing a tender proposal or preparing for value engineering, BIM lets you extract quantities directly from your model. That’s invaluable for engineers working on cost estimates, pipe sizing, and panel schedules. Tools like Revit, Tekla, and Bentley’s OpenBuildings Designer offer integrated quantity takeoff features.

4. Analysis Integration

From structural simulation to thermal analysis, BIM models can be exported to analysis platforms. For example:

• Structural engineers can run load tests in ETABS or STAAD.Pro
• MEP consultants can perform HVAC simulations using IES or CFD plugins
• Civil engineers can simulate drainage and grading with Civil 3D or OpenRoads

This integration means engineers can validate their designs earlier, reducing guesswork and safety factors.

5. ISO 19650 Compliance

Many government and infrastructure projects now require BIM standards like ISO 19650. Engineering consultants who adopt BIM gain an immediate edge in pre-qualification processes, especially for tenders in Singapore, the UK, and other regions with strong digital mandates.

Tools Commonly Used by Engineering Consultants

Depending on your discipline, the choice of BIM authoring software varies:

• Revit – Widely used for MEP and structural modeling
• Tekla Structures – Detailed steel and concrete design, constructability modeling
• Bentley OpenBuildings Designer – Infrastructure and multidisciplinary projects
• Navisworks – Clash detection and coordination
• ProjectWise – Common Data Environment for ISO 19650 workflows

These tools often plug into a wider ecosystem of analysis software, allowing engineers to jump between design and validation seamlessly. A more comprehensive look into the various collaboration, authoring, and analytical software used in digital design workflows can be found in our BIM software guide.

Case Example: BIM for Hospital M&E Design

A mechanical contractor was brought in to design the HVAC systems for a new hospital block. The initial layout was developed in Revit and coordinated against the architect’s model using BIMcollab and Navisworks. By week three, the team had identified six major clashes with structural beams—none of which were caught in the original 2D drawings.

Instead of submitting RFIs during construction, the team resolved all issues during the design phase, saving an estimated $180,000 in rework costs.

This is just one example. BIM allows consultants to deliver value beyond design drawings—it becomes a tool for risk mitigation, stakeholder communication, and lifecycle planning.

Should You Invest in BIM?

Here’s a simple rule: if your projects involve multiple disciplines, high coordination risk, or regulatory submission—BIM pays for itself.

Some firms delay BIM adoption due to perceived high costs or complexity. But the real risk is being left behind. Clients increasingly expect digital capabilities. And competitors already using BIM can respond faster to design changes, produce better visuals for presentations, and meet tighter deadlines without compromising accuracy.

If you're concerned about the upfront investment, we’ve broken down the full range of BIM costs in this guide to BIM implementation costs—including software, training, and long-term support.

Closing Thoughts

Engineering consultants are no longer just drafters of M&E or structural plans. They’re key contributors to an integrated design process. BIM empowers them to deliver more accurate, coordinated, and intelligent designs—while also reducing risk and enhancing project outcomes.

If you’re ready to modernize your design workflows, speak to our BIM team or get an instant quote for your next project. We offer on-demand support across Revit, Tekla, OpenBuildings, and more—so you can focus on engineering, not on catching up.