A method and system provides the ability to connect steel elements. A design intent model is acquired and consists of a building information model of a skeleton of a building without connections between steel elements that have geometric characteristics. A structural analysis of the structure of the model is performed and generates output consisting of member end forces at intersections of the steel elements. Via a user interface, rules are defined, that associate a potential connection with a structural steel profile. Via a user interface, a script is defined, that dictate where connections should be placed by: identifying second geometric characteristics of the potential connection, identifying forces for steel elements to be connected, comparing the design intent model, the structural analysis output and the rules to the structural steel profile, and autonomously generating and placing, based on the comparison, connections on the BIM model at applicable intersections.