As a medium-sized firm (<100 ppl) doing mostly international work in corporate interiors, retail, hospitality, F&B, would Vectorworks be a suitable 3D/BIM software to transition to?
We currently use AutoCAD LT + SketchUp + EnScape + 3DMax. Sketchup is our primary design tool through SD stage. AutoCAD is the necessary evil for documentation, consultant-coordination, etc. We even looked at using SU Layout to produce CD sets, but it seemed too cumbersome.
We do a lot of non-standard details, and our CD sets are around 125-175 sheets, although this could be streamlined. Our corporate interiors projects tend to be around 8,000 sqm (80,000 sf).
We are in a region where most interior designers do not already have Revit experience, and VW has a much lower cost per license. My own BIM experience is mainly with Revit (and ArchiCAD back in early 2000s), so I'm curious how VW compares for other medium-sized firms.
Sergey Voevodin
Mar 4, 22 11:22 am
ArchiCAD has grown since the 2000s. This is handy in conjunction with SketchUp and Lumion. Vectorworks i don't know.
54angles
Mar 4, 22 12:36 pm
Archicad and Vectorworks are by the same umbrella corporation. No direct experience in Vectorworks but should be similar, at least closer than compared to Revit.
From my experiences, ArchiCad can replace Sketchup and AutoCAD without issue. Also eliminates InDesign for those random small layout tasks. The internal renderer is shifting to GPU-based Redshift which is better than the current Cinema4D. Also option for Twinmotion or Enscape as add-ons.
It uses a layers system so it's not too different in 2D work to AutoCAD. Masses like Rhino/SU but with BIM capabilities so you can place a door and that'll be a real door in a real wall. You can likely replace 3D Max without a problem.
Consider what works best with your outside consultants. If it's mostly DWGs, any BIM option is capable. If they're all on VM or Revit or something, see about making those handoffs more seamless by sticking with the most common paltform.
tektonic7
Mar 4, 22 9:34 pm
Thank you. This is helpful feedback. The last point is exactly why I'm hesitating. Consultants tend to use Revit and there is a chance that some clients will begin to require BIM clash detection. I'm not clear yet on how well VW plays with that workflow (Navisworks, BIM360, etc).
Otherwise, VW seems like a promising tool for the general needs of a commercial Interior Architecture firm, similar to ArchiCAD but less expensive.
Any Vectorworks Users,
As a medium-sized firm (<100 ppl) doing mostly international work in corporate interiors, retail, hospitality, F&B, would Vectorworks be a suitable 3D/BIM software to transition to?
We currently use AutoCAD LT + SketchUp + EnScape + 3DMax. Sketchup is our primary design tool through SD stage. AutoCAD is the necessary evil for documentation, consultant-coordination, etc. We even looked at using SU Layout to produce CD sets, but it seemed too cumbersome.
We do a lot of non-standard details, and our CD sets are around 125-175 sheets, although this could be streamlined. Our corporate interiors projects tend to be around 8,000 sqm (80,000 sf).
We are in a region where most interior designers do not already have Revit experience, and VW has a much lower cost per license. My own BIM experience is mainly with Revit (and ArchiCAD back in early 2000s), so I'm curious how VW compares for other medium-sized firms.
ArchiCAD has grown since the 2000s. This is handy in conjunction with SketchUp and Lumion. Vectorworks i don't know.
Archicad and Vectorworks are by the same umbrella corporation. No direct experience in Vectorworks but should be similar, at least closer than compared to Revit.
From my experiences, ArchiCad can replace Sketchup and AutoCAD without issue. Also eliminates InDesign for those random small layout tasks. The internal renderer is shifting to GPU-based Redshift which is better than the current Cinema4D. Also option for Twinmotion or Enscape as add-ons.
It uses a layers system so it's not too different in 2D work to AutoCAD. Masses like Rhino/SU but with BIM capabilities so you can place a door and that'll be a real door in a real wall. You can likely replace 3D Max without a problem.
Consider what works best with your outside consultants. If it's mostly DWGs, any BIM option is capable. If they're all on VM or Revit or something, see about making those handoffs more seamless by sticking with the most common paltform.
Thank you. This is helpful feedback. The last point is exactly why I'm hesitating. Consultants tend to use Revit and there is a chance that some clients will begin to require BIM clash detection. I'm not clear yet on how well VW plays with that workflow (Navisworks, BIM360, etc).
Otherwise, VW seems like a promising tool for the general needs of a commercial Interior Architecture firm, similar to ArchiCAD but less expensive.
https://www.vectorworks.net/en