
Bluebeam Revu
Bluebeam Revu is designed to streamline existing workflows and improve collaboration among project team members in real-time with customizable markup tools. This solution allows users to transform scanned images into easily searc...Read more
BrickControl is a web software in the cloud that helps you manage your construction projects in a very powerful and simple way. BrickControl allows you to create estimates with the necessary structure (levels, tasks and resource...Read more
Envisioneer by Cadsoft is a 3D building information modelling platform that assists users in designing, developing and constructing residential projects. The product is offered in four tiers based on the types of professionals and...Read more
Focused on the needs of mid-sized A/E firms, Clearview InFocus is an affordable, complete project management, billing and accounting solution. With Clearview InFocus, all necessary features a centralized into a single system....Read more
Newforma Project Center is an on-premise construction project management solution suitable for a number of industries including design and build firms, custom and production home builders, government, commercial plumbing and more....Read more
Built for ARCHITECTS and ENGINEERS that design and draw BLUEPRINTS. BaseBuilders.com is developed specifically for architecture and engineering firms by a veteran of the industry. It handles everything from time tracking to invoi...Read more
Program Leader is a hybrid project management solution that caters to small businesses across various industry verticals and helps project teams to collaborate, plan projects and manage tasks. offering a wide suite of tools. The s...Read more
Vectorworks is a versatile, on-premise application that provides extensive 2D drafting, 3D modeling, BIM and rendering capabilities for your architectural and landscape design needs. Vectorworks is equipped with designer-focused t...Read more
ElectroPlan is an on-premise software package for planning, estimating and documenting commercial and domestic electrical installations. It is suitable for individual users and small to midsize businesses. Floor plans can be ...Read more
Tekla Structures (formerly Tekla BIMsight) is a Windows-based construction collaboration solution. It enables users to combine 3D models, add projects and allows project participants to identify or resolve conflicts in the design ...Read more
BQE Core makes it easier and more profitable to run your business. It organizes information, automates repetitive tasks and allows your firm to spend more time providing service to your clients instead of managing internal process...Read more
Projectworks is a cloud-based business management software designed to help enterprises manage the entire project lifecycle from initiation to planning, execution and monitoring of performance. HR managers can track employees and ...Read more
In construction firms, architects and engineers design complex architectural elements. They also control the design process from start to finish and maintain all related documents. For these professionals, using hand-made drawings or manual methods can be time-consuming as well as complicated to manage in terms of design revisions, stakeholder collaboration, and document control.
Architecture software allows architects and engineering teams to create, edit, and replicate the design of architectural elements digitally. It offers features such as 3D modeling and animation to help visualize the final structure of a building construction and check if the patterns are feasible in the real world. It also lets them collaborate online to discuss and implement design changes using a virtual 3D model.
Many architecture software options are available on the market, but one size doesn’t fit all. To help you choose the right software, we’ve created a buyers guide that has all the information you need to select an architecture tool that fits your needs.
Here’s what we'll cover:
Architecture software is design software used by architects, engineers, builders, and contractors, among others, to design and visualize building structures. It runs on a computer-aided design (CAD) program that lets users create high-quality designs, maintain design records, and check interferences between one or more design aspects.
Besides basic design features, the software also offers team management, workflow management, and presentation tools to help track project time, collaborate on tasks, and predict and plan labor and material requirements. It has a variety of applications, including 2D drafting, 3D modeling, animation, interior design, and image editing.
3D modeling in AutoCAD architecture software (Source)
Software features vary by product or vendor, but most architecture tools have the following overlapping features:
Project management | Manage the complete project workflow, from planning, scheduling, and coordinating resources to estimating the cost and time required to execute each project phase. |
2D drawing | Draft, design, edit, and annotate on 2D drawings of floor plans, building layouts, elevations, and more. |
Drafting | Create diagrams or graphical representations of construction structures for technical, architectural, and engineering purposes. These diagrams include the dimensions of the different parts of buildings, materials to be used, elevations, and other specifications. |
3D modeling | Build 3D models of structures to get the actual view of a finished project. Check errors that may occur in the design process, give virtual tours to clients, and so on. |
Building information modeling (BIM) | Analyze every step in the building process, such as safety assessment and resource management. Centralize all information about planning, designing, operations, and maintenance. |
Contact management | Collect and store information about leads and customers, including their contact details, interaction history, and contract documents, in a centralized platform. |
Document management | Create, store, track, and manage all project-related files and documents in a centralized database that can be accessed only by authorized stakeholders. |
Presentation tools | Create immersive presentations with the help of text, images, videos, and animations to communicate your design ideas to clients. These tools help explain or discuss any modifications or special requirements that the clients may have. |
Bill of materials | Create a list of all the materials required to complete a project. A BOM includes raw materials, subassemblies, intermediate assemblies, components, and subcomponents. It helps define the labor and tools required for the construction process. |
Contract management | Manage the creation, negotiation, renewal, and data analysis of legal contracts. Contracts include the project overview, deliverables and timelines, scope of revisions, payment terms, and other specifications discussed with clients. |
Quotes/proposals | Automate the process of creating quotes and proposals for requests of service by clients. A quote includes information such as pricing, terms of service, and all other proposal details offered to clients. |
Architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry | Use BIM and CAD workflows to cater to clients from the architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Automate design and construction workflows across the project lifecycle. |
Before purchasing software, you should understand which buyer segment you belong to. The majority of architectural design software buyers belong to one of the following categories:
Implementing an architectural software platform has various benefits, including:
Here are a few considerations to keep in mind when selecting an architecture design software tool:
Here are some architecture software market trends that you should be aware of:
Note: The application selected in this article is an example to show a feature in context and is not intended as an endorsement or a recommendation. It has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable at the time of publication.