SIMPLIFY YOUR PROCESS 

Unlike other software, Vectorworks has the flexibility to support your entire project from beginning to end, or anywhere in the process — from conceptual design, to fully coordinated BIM models, to construction documents. It’s the versatile solution you need to pull everything together and increase your efficiency.

BIM software isn’t exactly known for promoting creative expression. But Vectorworks is different. We allow you to freely sketch, model, and document your design ideas with precision drafting capabilities and the most flexible 3D modeling engine available, powered by SIEMENS Parasolid. So you’re not limited by presets and strict parameters — you have the flexibility you need to design anything you can imagine.

MAXIMIZE THE I IN BIM

Getting the most out of the “I” in Building Information Modeling is essential for optimizing your designs. Vectorworks makes it easy to quantify and analyze information as early as the schematic design phase so you can make smart decisions. Run “what if” scenarios and automate schedules, calculate costs, analyze energy efficiency to maximize each design element.

WORK WITH ANYONE 

Vectorworks allows you to easily collaborate and share files with colleagues, consultants, and clients. We offer the most default import/export capabilities available, as well as support for openBIM and IFC, and direct links with Revit®, SketchUp®, Rhino®, Photoshop®, and Cinema4D.

WIN MORE WORK 

With an extensive suite of drawing, illustration, and rendering tools, Vectorworks allows you to produce remarkable line drawings and stunning 3D presentations so you’ll impress even the toughest of clients. You can even create an immersive presentation experience with cutting-edge technology like virtual and augmented reality and rendered panoramas.
 

YOU’RE IN GOOD COMPANY. 

Discover how respected firms, design innovators, and award-winning architects around the world use Vectorworks.
 

SMART OPTIONS DISPLAY

Stay in the modeling space with tools right at the tip of your mouse. There’s no need to constantly move your mouse between your drawing area and the tool palettes. And the Smart Options Display is customizable to easily access your most-used tool sets, last-used tools, tool modes, and standard views with fewer mouse clicks, letting you focus on your design.

QUICK SEARCH

The versatility of Vectorworks comes from a dynamic set of tools and menus to get design done. In version 2021, we’ve made sure that these robust options are easily accessible without slowing down the design process while also freeing up space on your monitor. Quick Search delivers on that. Quickly find and activate any tool or menu command by typing what you need, and Vectorworks will make suggestions based on your search and most common tools.
 

VECTORWORKS GRAPHICS MODULE CACHE

We’ve enhanced the experience for users of multi-core processor machines by optimizing the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM). The new preference to save VGM cache means up to 5 times faster file loading. You’ll also see improved transition time when changing 3D views and layer visibilities and no delays when navigating in 3D with the Flyover tool or when changing views.

SMART MARKERS

We’ve given a boost to drawing markers in Vectorworks 2021, creating a documentation workflow that is sure to exceed your expectations. Section markers, interior elevation markers, reference markers, detail callouts, and drawing labels are now consolidated into tools that are completely customizable. Create your own drawing marker from scratch and define unique graphics. You can also backreference a drawing label to the marker itself. And when you publish your drawing sets as PDFs, the markers will auto-create hyperlinks, streamlining navigation through multi-page production plans and construction documentation.

MATERIALS

Say hello to a monumental addition to information modeling in Vectorworks — a resource called Materials. With Materials you can define the graphical attributes and data of building materials all in one location, including the 2D and 3D representation in plan and section views. Materials can also define construction properties, product data, and physical characteristics, providing a single source for structural, energy, and classification information. Materials can also be applied to complex, multi-component objects such as walls or floor systems, as well as to 3D-modeled objects. Like all BIM elements in Vectorworks, when a change is made to a material, any object to which the material is applied will be updated, letting you accurately report materials for your architecture and landscape architecture projects.

GRADE OBJECT IMPROVEMENTS

Grade objects have been an immense help to site designers who rely on slope-oriented or point-to-point grading. In version 2021, we’ve improved site modeling to better support your iterative design process by networking grade objects and automating changes made to networks. Changes made in one part of a network will be reflected in the rest of the grade. Or changes can be made to the network itself, giving you greater control in change management.

STRUCTURAL GRIDS

The new Grid Line tool lets you create a structural grid that is customizable and streamlines the drawing creation process by letting you draw your grid in plan and having it and any future changes automatically appear in all views — no need to draw in multiple drawing views! You can create different configurations of grids for every unique condition and building orientation. Better yet, this feature is IFC compatible, making collaboration just as efficient. With change management and automated drawing coordination in mind, you’ll breeze through the drawing process.

EXCEL IMPORT/EXPORT

Vectorworks 2021 fully supports Microsoft Excel file formats so you’re able to directly transfer data and formatting between Excel and Vectorworks worksheets. Export Vectorworks worksheets to Excel to share information with your collaborators. Import Excel spreadsheets to Vectorworks to continue working with the same data. This new support makes it simple for you to work with and format common spreadsheets such as schedules, survey data, object lists, and more.

For The Student Or Instructor Who Needs It All

Whether your specialty is architecture, landscape, or entertainment design, Vectorworks Designer software gives you the freedom to create without having to use additional applications. The program provides a competitive edge by offering a large set of design tools in a single, intuitive interface. Draft, model, and present with Vectorworks Designer—the ultimate solution for the professional who needs it all.

Vectorworks Architect

With Vectorworks Architect, you'll enjoy the robust capabilities of BIM, great documentation, and intelligent tools while maintaining your creative freedom to design in 2D or 3D.
 

Vectorworks Landmark

Vectorworks Landmark offers landscape-specific tools and superior 2D and 3D design capabilities to help you create a better built environment.
 

Vectorworks Spotlight

Whether you design lighting, scenery, sets, events, theatrical productions, or exhibits, Vectorworks Spotlight will help make your next production memorable.
 

Vectorworks Fundamentals

With superior 2D and 3D capabilities, Vectorworks Fundamentals is an intuitive, easy-to-use modeling and documentation platform to produce complex drawings.
 

Renderworks®

With the power of the CINEMA 4D render engine, Renderworks provides a vast array of high-quality presentation techniques.
 

General Requirements

Macintosh

Windows

Operating Systems

macOS 10.15 (Catalina)

macOS 10.14 (Mojave)

macOS 10.13 (High Sierra)

macOS 10.12 (Sierra)

 Windows 10 (64-bit)

 Minimum Hardware Profile

 Entry-level Profile

 For small projects, simple models/drawings with a low level of detail, simple renderings (such as, small residential projects, small theaters, small landscaping design)

 Processor

Intel Core i5 or AMD Ryzen 5, or better

 RAM

8GB or more

 Graphics Card

 OpenGL 2.1 compatible graphics card with 2GB of VRAM or more

 Some integrated graphics cards such as Intel Iris graphics are acceptable for simple models/drawings, but a dedicated graphics card is preferable.

Vision requires a dedicated OpenGL 4.1 compatible graphics card with 2GB of VRAM or more, preferably released in the past three years (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 series, AMD Radeon RX 500 series).

 Using multiple view panes with different visibilities in all panes requires a graphics card with at least 2GB of VRAM.

 Display Resolution:

 1440 x 900 or higher

 Hard Disk:

10GB free disk space is required for the installation. 30GB or more is required for a full installation with all libraries.

Case sensitive file system volumes are not supported.

 Recommended Hardware Profiles

 High-end Profile

For large projects, complex and very detailed models/drawings, complex renderings (such as large BIM projects, large entertainment venues, commercial sites, GIS, high end landscaping design, photorealistic rendering)

 Processor

3.0+ GHz Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 with eight cores, or better

 RAM

 32GB or more

 Graphics Card

A dedicated OpenGL 2.1 compatible graphics card with 8GB of VRAM or more

Vision requires a dedicated OpenGL 4.1 compatible graphics card with 8GB of VRAM or more, preferably released in the past three years (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 TI series, AMD Radeon RX 5000 series).

 Display Resolution:

 1920 x 1080 or higher

 Hard Disk:

 10GB free disk space is required for the installation. 30GB or more is required for a full installation with all libraries. Installing Vectorworks on flash storage (SSD) is recommended.

Case sensitive file system volumes are not supported.

 Mid-level Profile

For medium-size projects, complex models/drawings with medium level of details (such as small commercial projects, mid-size entertainment venues, residential site modeling)

 Processor

2.0+ GHz Intel Core i7 or AMD Ryzen 7 with six cores, or better

 RAM

 16GB or more

 Graphics Card

A dedicated OpenGL 2.1 compatible graphics card with 3GB of VRAM or more

Vision requires a dedicated OpenGL 4.1 compatible graphics card with 4GB or VRAM or more, preferably released in the past three years (e.g. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 series, AMD Radeon RX Vega series).

Using multiple view panes with different visibilities in all panes requires a graphics card with at least 3GB of VRAM, with 4GB or more recommended for large files.

 Display Resolution:

 1920 x 1080 or higher

 Hard Disk:

 10GB free disk space is required for the installation. 30GB or more is required for a full installation with all libraries.

 Installing Vectorworks on flash storage (SSD) is recommended.

 Network Requirements for Project Sharing

 Project sharing requires high-speed network connections. As the network bandwidth increases, so does project sharing performance. Slower network speeds can still provide a satisfactory user experience if you minimize operations that transfer large amounts of data over the network (such as committing changes to the project file or refreshing a local working file).

 LAN Sharing

A Fast Ethernet (100Mbit/s) network connection with minimum 50Mbit/s on upload.

Recommended: A Gigabit Ethernet (1Gbit/s) network connection is required for large projects.

 Cloud Sharing

Project sharing using cloud-based storage requires a high-speed internet connection (50Mbit/s or above).

 Hard Drive

 Storing large project files on flash storage (SSD) is recommended.