Uptake of Building Information Modelling (BIM) for complex refurbishment projects is foreseen as an essential resolution which will possibly increase the BIM adoption rate and eventually play a major role in transforming the construction industry. This anticipation is primarily based on the success of BIM with regards to complex construction operations, management, performance and productivity improvement. Various architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) key players have promoted the adoption of BIM and highlighted its significance in enhancing project delivery. Despite the envisaged benefits and feasibility of BIM adoption for complex refurbishment projects, many small and medium enterprises (SME) are still reluctant towards BIM. Though the incorporation of BIM in the New Zealand context is also similarly expected to move the construction industry forward, little has been reported in the literature to address the impact of refurbishment project attributes towards BIM adoption. A case study of tertiary education multipurpose facility project is adopted. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with informed project stakeholders and BIM experts outside the project based in New Zealand with the aim to identify refurbishment projects attribute and how it contributes to BIM adoption barriers for refurbishment project stakeholders in the construction industry in New Zealand. The benefit of this study is that it leverages the traditional refurbishment practice towards being BIM capable, and thus enable BIM uptake for refurbishment project stakeholders at the pre-maturity stage in New Zealand tertiary institutions.