Speckle Next-Gen Tekla Connector: Upgrade Your Structural Workflows

From Structural Engineer to Software Developer

As a structural engineer turned AEC software developer, I’ve spent countless hours cleaning data, coordinating models, and exchanging information across different platforms.

That’s exactly why we built Speckle’s Next-Gen Connector for Tekla Structures — to solve the day-to-day challenges structural engineers face.

Tekla Structures: What It Is and How Much It Costs

Let’s start with the basics: Tekla Structures is a specialized structural detailing tool used by engineers and detailers alike. It supports everything from complex steel connections to intricate concrete reinforcement, allowing the creation of highly detailed 3D models with rich material data, reinforcement details, and connection specifications. In short — it handles a lot of data.

But what about the cost? A Tekla license starts at around £5,000 per seat per year. While it’s worth the investment, scaling Tekla across a team for coordination can get expensive fast.

This is where Speckle comes in — it’s free and open-source. You can easily share your Tekla models with stakeholders who don’t have a Tekla license.

The Structural Engineer’s Struggle: Coordination & Data Chaos

Like many engineers, I constantly struggled with coordination and version control.

If you’ve ever received emails like “Is this the latest version?” or “Can you send the updated model?”, you know the frustration. With Speckle’s Tekla connector, models are versioned automatically and can be shared via a simple web link. No more digging through email threads or shared drives.

Cross-discipline collaboration is often a nightmare. Imagine this: The architect updates the grid in Revit. You need to reflect that in Tekla. Normally, this means waiting for an IFC export, importing it, checking what changed, and manually updating your model.

With Speckle’s Next-Gen Tekla connector, you can stream changes directly from Revit to Tekla in real-time. You immediately see architectural changes in your Tekla environment, enabling faster, smarter decisions.

Key Features of the Next-Gen Tekla Connector

🔹 New Intuitive Interface

The redesigned interface is consistent with other Speckle connectors and the web app, so navigation is familiar and efficient — no need to relearn a new system.

🔹 Faster Results

The new connector only processes changes when you republish, making it much faster than before — perfect for large structural models. This means quicker syncs and less waiting.

Real-World Workflows with Speckle

Let’s talk about a real use case: tracking steel quantities and connection types.

Manually extracting data from Tekla, compiling spreadsheets, and reporting weekly is tedious. Here's how Speckle can transform that:

• ✅ Connect your Tekla model to Speckle — updates sync automatically.
• ✅ Extract just the data you need — weights, connection types, assembly marks, etc.
• ✅ Visualize it live in Power BI — get dashboards showing steel tonnage by phase, connection distribution, cost impacts, and procurement forecasts.

This isn't just about saving time — it's about making informed decisions based on real-time, reliable data. Free your team from manual reporting so they can focus on what they do best: engineering.

Where the Connector Stands Today — and What’s Next

Right now, the Speckle Tekla connector works at the data extraction level. You can pull geometry, properties, quantities, and metadata — incredibly useful for reporting and automation.

But: You can’t yet push changes back into Tekla or collaborate in real-time. We’re working on it — based on your feedback, we’re prioritizing richer data extraction and receiving models into Tekla from Speckle.

Get Started Today

It’s easy to get going: 👉 Download the connector here: https://releases.speckle.systems/v3 👉 Install it alongside your current Tekla setup. 👉 Start by sharing a simple model.

Remember, this is just the beginning. We’d love to hear your use cases, your challenges, and the problems you need solved.

The connector is currently in beta — yes, there will be bugs, but we’re committed to fixing them quickly and building a tool that makes your engineering life easier.