Wuhan Ligong Daxue Xuebao (Jiaotong Kexue Yu Gongcheng Ban)/Journal of Wuhan University of Technology (Transportation Science and Engineering)

A persistent challenge in architectural practice is the disconnect between the creative freedom of conceptual design and the technical rigors of project execution. This study proposes and validates a methodological framework for integrating Building Information Modeling (BIM) strategies into the early stages of the architectural design process to bridge this gap. The framework's effectiveness is measured by quantifying the improvement in the final design product generated within a controlled studio environment. The methodology, which combines conceptual massing (in Autodesk FormIt) with real-time performance analysis and automated documentation (in Autodesk Revit), was tested using a pre-test/post-test design with novice designers. Design outputs were evaluated using a standardized rubric, and the results were analyzed using the Wilcoxon Signed-Rank Test. The findings demonstrate that the proposed BIM-driven workflow leads to a statistically significant improvement in the quality of the architectural product across all measured categories, including conceptual clarity, form, and sustainability. This research validates a practical methodology for leveraging BIM as a tool for design enhancement, independent of user expertise, and offers a replicable process for improving the quality of architectural design products.