BIM has been present in China for over a decade, evolving from relative obscurity to widespread adoption—a development closely tied to the rapid advancement of China’s construction industrialization. In recent years, the use of BIM in the design sector has increased steadily. Today, I will discuss The Current Status and Prospects of BIM Design Application Development in China.
1. Development and Challenges of BIM in China
Countries worldwide are focused on the promotion of BIM, each with their own expectations and a desire to learn from others’ experiences. In China, BIM has been incorporated as a key direction in the construction industry’s Twelfth Five-Year Plan. Tsinghua University, in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, has developed standards across four levels: framework, industry, enterprise, and project, to guide BIM promotion.
The Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Construction and Engineering issued the first BIM implementation outline and management standards for government public projects in China, clearly defining BIM’s operational framework in Shenzhen’s public works.
The China BIM Development Alliance brings together researchers, design firms, construction companies, owners, software developers, and others to collaborate on the P-BIM research initiative, aiming to advance BIM technology, standards, and software support across China, and to realize BIM’s full lifecycle application in construction projects.
BIM practice in China began with landmark projects such as the National Sports Center for the 2008 Olympics (Bird’s Nest and Water Cube), the German and Austrian Pavilions at the 2010 World Expo, and continued with large-scale projects like the Shanghai Tower, Hangzhou Olympic Stadium, and Galaxy SOHO. These projects span from initial design to operation and maintenance, primarily involving large sports, cultural, and super high-rise public buildings.
Teams involved in BIM practice often collaborate with overseas firms or consulting companies or complete projects independently. Notable BIM design teams include Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Group, China Academy of Architectural Design and Research, Beijing Institute of Architectural Design and Research, and CCDI.
Despite these advances, challenges remain. The construction industry often operates under tight schedules and low costs, with insufficient standardization across operations. There is limited time and budget to ensure detailed refinement from design through construction to maintenance, leading to low consensus among stakeholders regarding BIM’s value.
Additionally, under the design-bid-build model, the separation between design and construction creates conflicts. Domestic construction companies often lower bids to secure projects and increase profits through change orders caused by design errors during construction. This profit model can conflict with BIM’s collaborative and integrated approach.
2. Current Status of BIM Design Application in Chinese Enterprises
(1) Design and Construction Companies
Compared to construction firms, more design companies have over five years of BIM experience. Among design enterprises, 46% of large firms have used BIM for more than five years, compared to only 14% of smaller ones. In construction companies, 29% of large enterprises have over five years of BIM experience, while just 5% of smaller firms do (China BIM Application Value Research Report, 2015).
(2) Large vs. Small Design Firms
As Chinese design firms expand into international markets, large enterprises are more competitive in BIM application than smaller ones. Internal benefit statistics show that large design companies prioritize high-profile projects and aim to lead the industry by using BIM to shorten approval processes and attract new clients. Smaller companies, on the other hand, focus on leveraging BIM to increase profits and reduce disputes after project completion.
3. Leading Design Institutions in BIM Applications in China
(1) Xidi International Design Consulting Co., Ltd
Since 2003, Xidi International Design Consulting has integrated BIM into its design workflow. With an internal BIM team of over 20 professionals, it provides technical support across its business units, designers, and engineers. Xidi aims to develop this team into a professional BIM service provider for other design institutions. Notable BIM projects include the National Aquatics Center (Water Cube) in 2003-2004, the National Electric Power Pavilion at the 2010 World Expo, Zhonggang International Plaza, and Hangzhou Olympic Sports Center Gymnasium.
(2) China Academy of Architectural Design and Research
The China Academy of Architectural Design (CAG) exemplifies a large state-owned design institution with mature BIM application. It follows a bottom-up BIM adoption model, ensuring every design studio has staff skilled in BIM and that a certain number of projects utilize BIM. A key project demonstrating their BIM expertise is the National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) in 2004.
(3) Beijing Institute of Architectural Design and Research
Key BIM projects at this institute include the Phoenix International Media Center and Z15 China Zun skyscraper.
(4) Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Co., Ltd
A subsidiary of Modern Group, Shanghai Modern Architectural Design Institute houses a Digital Building Integrated Design and Consulting Center (BIM & VDC Center), dedicated to digital design and construction technology research and consulting. Their BIM portfolio includes Shanghai Disneyland Resort and Future Expo Development.
(5) Other Design Firms
According to the China Survey and Design Association’s selections over the years, other firms recognized for strong BIM applications include Tongji University Architectural Design and Research Institute, Shenzhen Architectural Design and Research Institute, Hong Kong Huayi Design Consultant (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., and Fujian Provincial Architectural Design Institute.
In summary, while challenges and a limited number of exemplary enterprises remain in China’s BIM design application landscape, the future looks promising. With strong national and local government support and policies promoting BIM, we believe BIM will play an increasingly vital role in China’s construction industry.
That concludes our overview of The Current Status and Prospects of BIM Design Application Development in China. I hope this article offers valuable insights for everyone interested in BIM’s development in China.
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