Professionals navigating continuous movements: interpreting architects’ agency and legitimization of BIM and reuse roles

While technological advancements in BIM and material reuse have been widely studied, less attention has been given to the behavioral and cultural shifts necessary for their successful implementation. Architectural professionals are expected to acquire new skills and redefine their roles to align with these trends. Yet, little is known about how architects perceive and navigate these institutional changes. Using a multi-levelled institutional lens, the research presented in this paper addresses this gap by exploring how architects perceive and navigate their institutional context, including the movements (digitalization and sustainabilization), and legitimize their purposive actions in adapting their professional roles toward BIM and reuse. Through reflections from 15 architects (with seven narratives in particular focus), the study unpacks perceptions of legitimacy and how these influence professional behavior and decision-making. An intertextual narrative analysis reveals how the motivation to adopt BIM and reuse is closely linked to maintaining the stability of the professional institution. The findings show how changes related to BIM and reuse may conflict with professionals’ values and self-perceptions, affecting the potential for expected advancements in digitalization and sustainability. This study enhances the understanding of micro-level processes driving institutional change in the construction industry by uncovering underlying motives and intentions behind architects’ actions.