The Role of BIM in Teaching Structural Design

Teaching structural design in AEC curriculum is generally distinct from teaching other AEC courses. This is due to the fact that the course typically trains students to think in ways that are not common to other disciplines. Structural design requires knowledge of engineering sciences, art, heuristics rules, and visualization of systems that does not exist yet. These characteristics partially delineate structural design education from other courses. Thus, effective way of teaching structural design in AEC curriculums is often a challenge. This paper centers on the experiences gained in introducing Building Information Modeling (BIM) as a framework for teaching structural design. It explores the role of BIM in structural design curriculum and proposes a new framework for teaching structural design. Utilizing BIM as a framework for teaching structures, BIM tools were investigated as the primary teaching apparatus for advancing other types of structural knowledge that aims at engaging student’s creativity and imagination. At the same time, the framework emphasizes structural correctness, conceptual and quantitative engineering sciences of the structural design. The paper discusses the role of BIM in combining various threads of knowledge such as understanding of space and human activities, forms, circulations, engineering sciences, and the construction process to arrive at structural aesthetic and correctness. The proposed BIM framework will allow engineering students to applaud the union of art and scientific laws, encourage collaborative thinking as a central activity and cultivate professional qualities to meet the demands of future cross-disciplines practice requirements.