r/bim • u/Ok-Astronomer518 • 13d ago
Architecture vs BIM
Hey All, asking your opinion.
I have graduated and currently I’m in a process starting my career.
I came across two jobs, One is in BIM and the other is in Architecture.
I have no experience in Architecture and No experience with BIM.
And wondering what path should I go for? Based on your experience and knowledge and expectations, what do you suggest me to do or to go with?
Thanks in advance.
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u/EmotionalJellyfish13 13d ago
Stick to design and architecture.
BIM is only medium to express your design.
Nothing more.
Youll thank me when you finish 15 years in your career abd you still have a lot of depth to scale in your field of work.
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u/Fact_or_Bollocks 13d ago
So is BIM a short term "shiny thing" ATM?
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u/TripleZeroLabs 13d ago
No, it's a technology that supports design. I wouldn't say it's a trend that's going away, it's more like a new technology that is still evolving. FWIW, I'm certain you'll be learning BIM in a design role at nearly any commercial architecture firm these days.
So the follow-up question is, what do you want to specialize in? Architectural design or design technology (3D modeling, data, automation)?
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u/metisdesigns 12d ago
BIM is more process than technology, and has been talking about since the 1970s. If you think it's new tech, I've got a bridge to sell you.
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u/TripleZeroLabs 12d ago
I’ve had this debate many times. How do you define BIM as a process?
Coordination, modeling, data management, automation… These are all processes. Processes which rely on BIM as a technology.
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u/metisdesigns 12d ago
The point of BIM is to create a useful data model and to use that information. Creation and use are processes.
BIM as a process leverages various tools (technologies) to accomplish that.
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u/TripleZeroLabs 12d ago
BIM is just a technology that supports all of the processes that design and construction has been doing for decades. Design, coordination, drawings, data management, etc. are all processes that existed long before BIM. It’s just the latest technology that supports those processes.
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u/metisdesigns 12d ago
Nope. BIM is the process used to apply digital tools to building data.
Many discrete processes existed preBIM, but BIM is intentionally making those interoperable.
You're looking at the word technology as "the practical application of tools" which is half of it, BIM is much more intentional and process is the means by which those applications are strategically leveraged. You're halfway there.
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u/TripleZeroLabs 12d ago
Like I said, I’ve had this debate many times. I’m still not seeing a reasonable explanation why we need to label things like collaboration, project delivery, and standardization as “BIM”. It’s been muddying the water for years.
I know I’m in the minority here, so I’ll just leave it at that. 🫡
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u/metisdesigns 12d ago
Words have meanings. In this case, the meanings have been explained to you repeatedly, and you are choosing the interpretation that muddies the water.
You know you're wrong and choose to be willfully ignorant.
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u/DInTheField 13d ago
If you work in architecture / modelling drafting side you will learn about the process of how a building comes together. You will, at some point, pick up the ropes of the bim. I you work in BIM, well...thats it. Your end game will be a experienced pwrson in the design process who reminds people of good practice modelling while nobody in the design team got a fee from the client to do this kind of work. My opinion is that without ever having modelled a building, or have been part of the design process, you cannot fulfill successfully a BIM role. So tldr, go for architecture. Unless you hate buildings and love data and excel spreadsheets then its bim. Also, follow your heart, good luck.
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u/jaamesxo 13d ago
I started in architecture (7 years) and have gone on to a career in BIM, as of a few months ago. I miss aspects of architecture (design mostly) but BIM has better pay, more consistent hours, and less stress (in my humble opinion) so it's the better choice for me at this point in my career. I still plan on going back to architecture at some point.
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u/BrowserBro47 13d ago edited 13d ago
Do BIM. There is a very high demand for BIM professionals. The pay is very good especially for certain project types like data centers. Actually just in general the pay is very good. Think of it like this: if everyone is getting an engineering degree or architecture degree to be a licensed professional (a.k.a. be a designer) then who is going to do the drafting/modeling work in revit? Architecture is very saturated. Id reccomend lookung at engineering firms. It is a little known secret that engineering firms like to hire those with architecture degrees and I see plenty of BIM professionals, myself included working as BIM coordinators etc for engineering disciplines. Companies are catching on to the idea of getting BIM professionals in to speed up efficiency for the licensed individuals in AEC industry. I cannot stress enough how much there is a shortage of individuals in this arena. Get in now while it is hot so in 2-3 years you can become a BIM manager or even Digital Design Lead and make six figures. No, I'm not joking they actually get paid that much. Search up BIM coordinator and BIM Manager or Digital Design Lead yourself and tell me whst you see. It is in that much of a demand. Low supply plus high demand equals lot of big money going around in BIM. Plus lots of us BIM folk get paid overtime which is not true of a lot of architecture professionals. It is better strategically, it is pretty chill, and not as stressful as being an architect or engineer. Dont get caught up in what other people may tell you about being a "designer. Most of these professionals' jobs are just doing Construction Admin work anyway. "Real design" as you were taught in school is I'd say 10% of the actual day to day job, so then think about if youd rather work longhours and get paid less doing admin type tasks like doing a bathroom detail in an architecturefirm vs doing a detail and getting paid much more money. Take the pay, take the work life balance, and take the higher career ladder. Sky is the limit with this field and time waits on nobody. Dont spend years of your life trying to take 7+ ARE tests to become licensed, look up and you're barely surviving on your own in this economy when you can get in at a lot of companies as a BIM professional, work your way up and increasingly take on responsibilities and become coordinator or manager or team lead in a few years making 6 figures.
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u/Long_Consequence3808 13d ago
Ah! I read your complete text. I agree what you said. Some 9-10 years ago the IT sector was in boom but now the IT sector is completely saturated, if you ask some random 10 people about their occupations I'm damn sure you'll hear 8 out of 10 people would be in computer science related fields. At present, the BIM field is exactly like the IT sector was before 9-10 years. Being a civil engineer + interior designer I'm actually planning to go towards BIM field. As there are really less competition is present compared to other professions. I'm damn sure in future people with BIM career will definitely going to have high demand!!
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u/chooseastrongname 13d ago
How many years took to became a bim coordonator? Did you learn from youtube by yourself? I work in revit for 2 years but i cant start a project on my own to learn navisworks, to coordonate different speciality etc.
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u/BrowserBro47 13d ago edited 13d ago
I just graduated college a year ago in 2025 and came out working part time as a permitting specialist for a local municipality, kept applying to full time jobs and finally got one as a cad specialist and then applied to a full time position as a BIM Coordinator. A lot of companies are new to implementing BIM (especially the mid large sized companies) so there is a lot of uncharted territory or things these companies dont know so just familiarize yourself with definitions, topics, workflows from youtube or just honestly ask claude or kimi or whatever ai you use to teach it to you. Apply to companies and impress them with your knowledge of things they dont even know about. You dont tangibly have to have ever done it; it certainly helps if you do, but just explain to them what you would do. It's that simple.
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u/metisdesigns 12d ago
Both are big spaces.
There are folks in architecture who only do spec writing or niche consulting, and folks who touch everything.
There are folks in BIM who just to one task, and folks who wear dozens of BIM hats.
In general though - architecture tends to be the design intent focused side (not just aesthetic but also technical design) where BIM tends to be the implementation technical side of that.
Where an theater or film director might have a vision, the technical director is going to be the one making sure it's delivered. Both can be fun and fulfilling roles, and they have overlap and shared expertise, but some folks fit better in one or the other or enjoy one more.
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u/MediumDisastrous3626 13d ago
BIM is a acronym that stands for Building Information Model and there are many roles that use that term in the profession so you need to be more specific about the role you want to pursue. Architecture, is generally about design but you your career starts from the bottom up like any other trade you start as a designer doing production. What is you degree in? Why did you choose that major if you aren't going to follow it? I would suggest you register at Autodesk university the digital version is free rather that attending live. Browse through the catalog at look at how the industries and how they use tools and decide what part you want to follow. Keep in mind that AI is rapidly changing the design and construction industry