Data as of Oct 14, 2026A topic in BIM Design & Collaboration Software.
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
Mentioned in · Jul 6 – Oct 14, 2026
ChatGPT SearchOct 7, 2026
Yes. If your main requirement is true, concurrent BIM collaboration between architects and structural engineers, I’d shortlist these three:
| Software | Real-time collaboration | Architect + structural workflow | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autodesk Revit + Forma Design Collaboration | Excellent | Excellent | Best overall / industry-standard multidisciplinary BIM |
| + BIMcloud SaaS |
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| Excellent |
| Very good |
| Teams wanting a streamlined architectural BIM environment |
| Tekla Structures + Trimble Connect | Excellent | Excellent for structural-heavy projects | Structural engineering, steel, concrete, fabrication |
Revit's Cloud Worksharing allows architects and engineers to co-author cloud-hosted models concurrently. Autodesk specifically describes it as a workflow for architects, engineers, and contractors working together on Revit models.
For your use case, this is particularly strong because the architect and structural engineer can work in the same BIM ecosystem while coordinating architectural and structural elements. The cloud workflow also supports permissions and collaboration between different companies.
Best choice if: you want the most established multidisciplinary BIM workflow and expect to exchange models with many other AEC firms.
Important: concurrent cloud worksharing requires the appropriate Autodesk cloud collaboration subscription; a basic Revit subscription alone isn't enough.
Graphisoft's BIMcloud SaaS provides real-time teamwork, with Graphisoft explicitly positioning it for collaboration between architects, engineers, and designers.
It's especially attractive if your architectural team prefers Archicad but still needs structural/engineering coordination through open BIM/IFC workflows.
Best choice if: architecture is the primary discipline and you want an intuitive BIM authoring environment with strong cloud teamwork.
Tekla is particularly strong on the structural engineering/detailing side. Trimble says Tekla Structures supports teams working on the same model without interference, while Trimble Connect provides cloud-based coordination.
There's also a particularly interesting 2026 feature: Trimble Connect Live Collaboration allows participants in Revit, Tekla Structures, and Trimble Connect to join the same real-time 3D collaboration session.
Best choice if: structural engineering/detailing is a major priority, particularly for steel, concrete, or constructible models.
For an architect + structural engineer working together on building projects, I'd rank them:
1. Revit + Forma Design Collaboration — best all-around multidisciplinary choice
2. Archicad + BIMcloud SaaS — excellent architecture-first alternative
3. Tekla Structures + Trimble Connect — best when structural modeling/detailing is dominant
One important distinction: "real-time collaboration" can mean either simultaneous editing of the same BIM model or simply real-time model review/coordination. Revit Cloud Worksharing and Archicad Teamwork are closer to the former; Trimble Connect's Live Collaboration is primarily shared real-time model viewing/coordination across applications.
If you tell me your team size, budget, and whether the structural engineers use Revit, Tekla, ETABS, or another tool, I can narrow this down to the best 1–2 options and compare pricing, interoperability, clash detection, and simultaneous editing.
When looking for Building Information Modeling (BIM) software that supports real-time collaboration between architects and structural engineers, a few industry-leading platforms stand out depending on whether you want an all-in-one ecosystem or an open-standards approach.
To help narrow down the best fit, tell me:
In modern BIM workflows , true "live, simultaneous collaboration" rarely means architects and structural engineers drawing inside the exact same single file at the exact same second. Doing so across disciplines causes massive data integrity and liability issues.
Instead, the industry standard for live collaboration is Federated/Cloud Worksharing , where both disciplines work in their respective discipline-specific models simultaneously, but changes are synced, viewed, and clash-tested in real-time via a common cloud environment.
The primary BIM platforms supporting multi-user, real-time cross-discipline collaboration include:
Are you looking to set this up for a specific team size , or do you want to compare how these platforms handle clash detection versus file-locking?
ChatGPT SearchOct 14, 2026
The key distinction is whether you want architects and structural engineers to edit the same BIM model simultaneously, or to work in their own discipline-specific models while collaborating live. Those are different capabilities, and several platforms support one or both.
For a multidisciplinary team, the strongest options to investigate are Autodesk Revit with cloud worksharing, Graphisoft Archicad with BIMcloud, and Trimble Connect linking Revit and Tekla Structures.
(Best for integrated teams)
Collaboration: with / Forma Data Management.
Several major BIM platforms facilitate real-time or near-real-time multi-disciplinary collaboration between architects and structural engineers, using either proprietary cloud environments or openBIM standards.
If you'd like to narrow this down, please let me know:
I can help outline the best implementation strategy for your workflow.
ChatGPT SearchOct 14, 2026
Several BIM platforms support real-time collaboration between architects and structural engineers, but the key distinction is whether they let multiple people edit a shared model simultaneously or primarily coordinate, review, and exchange models across disciplines.
For most architecture–structural engineering teams, the strongest options to evaluate are Autodesk Revit with Autodesk's cloud collaboration tools, Graphisoft Archicad with BIMcloud, and Tekla Structures with Trimble Connect. Each supports a different collaboration workflow.
Multiple users can author a shared cloud-hosted Revit model concurrently. Architects and structural engineers can work in the same project, with permissions and model ownership managed through worksharing.
Best when: Both disciplines use Revit and want a common authoring environment.
Limitation: Revit cloud worksharing is not the same as unrestricted simultaneous editing of every element; worksharing controls apply.
Collaboration: Teamwork with a shared BIMcloud project.
Supports concurrent team authoring, element reservation, change tracking, and multidisciplinary coordination. Graphisoft also documents workflows connecting architectural BIM and structural analytical models.
Best when: The architecture team prefers Archicad and needs engineers to coordinate with the architectural model.
Limitation: Structural engineers may still use separate structural analysis or detailing applications rather than directly authoring all structural information in Archicad.
(Best for cross-platform live reviews)
Collaboration: Cloud-based model coordination, with a newer Live Collaboration feature connecting Trimble Connect, Tekla Structures, and Revit.
Participants can share model views, navigate together, and see model modifications during a live session without exchanging exported files. The feature is marked Beta in Trimble Connect and Preview in Tekla Structures in the current documentation.
Best when: Architects use Revit while structural engineers use Tekla, especially for structural steel detailing and coordination.
Limitation: Live shared review is not the same as multiple disciplines editing one shared native model. Each participant edits their own model.
Collaboration: Federated BIM and multidisciplinary design workflows.
Supports architectural and structural design within a connected environment, with collaborative modeling and integration with Bentley's structural engineering and digital-twin tools.
Best when: Your firm wants an integrated architectural and structural workflow, especially for complex buildings and infrastructure-related projects.
| Platform | Simultaneous authoring | Cross-discipline collaboration | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revit + cloud worksharing | Yes, shared Revit model | Strong when both disciplines use Revit | Native model co-authoring |
| Archicad + BIMcloud | Yes, Teamwork model | Supports structural model integration | Native authoring within Archicad |
| Trimble Connect + Revit/Tekla | Live review; separate model editing | Strong across applications | Live shared views, not shared editing |
| Bentley OpenBuildings | Collaborative modeling | Integrated architectural and structural tools | Federated and multidisciplinary workflows |
These capabilities are based on the vendors' documentation; exact functionality depends on the software version, licensing, and configuration.
One important caveat: live collaboration can mean three different things — simultaneous editing of model elements, automatic synchronization of discipline-specific models, or live shared 3D review. Confirm which one a platform provides before choosing it.
One question to narrow this down: Do you need architects and structural engineers to edit the same model simultaneously, or is it sufficient for them to edit separate models that update and coordinate live?
(Best all-round choice)
Best for: Integrated architectural and structural design teams.
Important: Native co-authoring works within Revit cloud models. Other disciplines can review published models, but that does not mean they can directly edit the same Revit model.
Website:
Best for: Architecture-led practices with multidisciplinary engineering partners.
Important: Structural engineers using other authoring software generally collaborate through model exchange and coordination rather than directly editing Archicad's native model.
Website:
Best for: Structural engineers, steel detailing, precast concrete, and constructible structural models.
Important: Live Collaboration is a preview/beta feature, and shared views or model overlays do not automatically permit editing another discipline's native model.
Websites: Tekla Structures ·
Best for: Large multidisciplinary projects, complex facilities, and infrastructure-related building projects.
Important: ProjectWise primarily manages collaboration, information, and design workflows; it is not equivalent to simultaneous native-model editing in every connected application.
Website:
Best for: Cross-platform BIM quality checks and structural–architectural coordination.
Important: Solibri is primarily a model-checking and coordination solution, not a shared native-model authoring platform.
Website:
| Platform | Concurrent native-model editing | Cross-discipline coordination | Strongest use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revit + BIM Collaborate Pro | Yes, for shared Revit cloud models | Strong | Integrated building design |
| Archicad + BIMcloud | Yes, for Archicad Teamwork | Via Open BIM workflows | Architecture-led teams |
| Tekla + Trimble Connect | Yes, within supported Tekla workflows; live cross-app review is separate | Strong | Structural detailing and constructability |
| Bentley + ProjectWise | Depends on connected authoring applications | Strong | Large engineering projects |
| Solibri | No; primarily model checking | Strong | Independent BIM validation |
This comparison distinguishes model authoring from coordination and review, which are often marketed together but serve different purposes.
One important question will narrow the choice considerably: Do you need architects and structural engineers to edit the same model simultaneously, or is real-time viewing, clash detection, and issue coordination between separate models sufficient? The first requirement substantially narrows the platform choices.
