Product Reviews

Vectorworks 2017

Architosh

“The new Slab Drainage tool is a power-user feature that will reportedly please many. It makes easy work of modeling drainage on flat roofs. The new irrigation tools in Landmark are also deeply impressive, and a feature actually implemented at the design level by a user. Also, it is now possible to import native Cinema 4D textures directly into Vectorworks, widening up the material possibilities for rendering.”

“…for those users who are questing for VR, collaboration features (such as file sharing), advanced rendering, and more ‘big or little BIM’ features, Vectorworks 2017 offers a boatload of new capabilities and improvements.”

“…the new web view and VR features keep Vectorworks on the leading edge of BIM tools in regards to virtual reality...”

Published: December 2016

Architizer

“We have been using Vectorworks effectively for a long time,” said Joseph Marshall, AIA, architect and BIM coordinator at Flansburgh Architects, “one of the things we’ve always loved is its ability as an all-in-one design tool. It’s kind of the Swiss Army knife of design and architectural software.”

Published: November 2016

GB&D Magazine

“Irrigation tools are among Vectorworks’ many new features that help to streamline the planning process, including calculating physical features and resource availability.”

“[W]ith the Hydrozone tool and automated water budget worksheets, Vectorworks does it all for you…. the entire process can be accomplished in minutes.”

Published: November 2016

ARCHITECT magazine

“All in all, Vectorworks 2017 provides a solid tool set that can handle the demands of contemporary architectural practice. With its innovative new features and much welcomed improvements, as well as the company’s emphasis on listening to its clients and users, the software provides a lot of value for almost half the price of competing packages by Autodesk or Bentley Systems.”

Published: November 2016

Lighting & Sound International Magazine

“People often don’t understand the 3D capability of Vectorworks – they draw in 2D without realizing that they are also drawing in 3D already.”

Published: November 2016

Architosh

“…in version 2017 they have introduced new ways of seeing BIM data graphically. The results are often heuristic, allowing architects to discover or gain insights about their building designs as well as graphically clarifying concepts.”

“Yet, perhaps the most powerful new BIM tool is the new Slab Drainage tool, which dramatically automates the complex process of setting proper drainage slopes for flat roof.”

Published: October 2016

Land8

“A strength of Vectorworks’ modeling interface is that there are frequently multiple ways to create objects based on a user’s natural workflow.”

“With Vectorworks 2017, the company is showcasing its commitment to upgrading the landscape aspect of its BIM functionality.”

“Vectorworks delivers on its promise to provide landscape architects with relevant BIM tools. Due to the company’s value of constant improvement, I have confidence that the tools it provides for landscape architects will only advance in the years to come.”

Published: October 2016

CAD User

“Two things in particular stand out for me in the new release, namely the new Resource Manager, and the ability to export models to the web to be used in Virtual Reality scenarios - the first because of its boost to performance, and the second because VR is fast becoming the way users want to visualize digital models.”

“The most important enhancement to Vectorworks 2017 is undoubtedly the new Resource Manager. It replaces the old Resource Browser with a completely new palette that allows Vectorworks users to quickly find and manage resources both locally and within online libraries - a huge productivity boost.”

“The search function in the Resource Manager is particularly advanced - allowing users to search every type of file, online or local, with exact or category searches, for terms within a file, and so on…”

Published: September 2016

Total Landscape Care

“‘Irrigation tools in Vectorworks 2017 offer the easiest, fastest, most accurate system I have worked with, giving us a massive competitive advantage in the market,’ said Bryan Goff, a beta-tester of Vectorworks 2017 and director of design and sciences at Grey Leaf Design.”

Published: September 2016

KLAD

“Vectorworks is THE preeminent design software package for the entertainment industries.”

Published: September 2016

Builder and Developer Magazine

“We used Vectorworks Architect software and its integrated Energos feature as a key energy analysis tool. It offers real-time, quantitative feedback on the design’s energy efficiency as our model evolves in the form of a color-coded gradient, from most energy efficient (green) to least (red). With every change to the model, we knew whether or not that shift in orientation or additional shading improved the project’s energy performance.” -François Lévy, AIA

“…the building envelope calculations in Energos were useful because we could rapidly investigate and evaluate alternative design solutions. By modeling some cost-effective, insulated sheathing, the Energos rating improved for both overall insulation and thermal bridging, which will save Hope House money down the line.” -François Lévy, AIA

Vectorworks 2016

Church Production

“One of the first major additions to Vectorworks is point cloud support. A point cloud is generated when a user laser scans a room. From this point cloud data, the user can generate an accurate 3D model of his or her room.”

“Another major upgrade to 2016 is the addition of the Marionette scripting tool. Marionette allows users to visually chain together pre-built blocks of code to quickly build dynamic objects.”

“In Spotlight, there are several new and improved tools, as well, the most notable being the Hoist tool. With the Hoist tool you can place chain motors in your drawings and keep track of things like hoist type, function, trim height, point load, and its use.”

“The video tools in Vectorworks are excellent. You can easily add a projection screen, LED wall, or LCD display to your drawings. The projector tool [associated with the Blended Screen tool] can even help a user pick their lensing for the distances and size they are projecting and help determine placement of projectors for edge blending.”

Published: July 2016

AECCafé

“Additionally, the Vectorworks Nomad app allows designers to make design decisions away from their desktops, by viewing, marking up and sharing Vectorworks 3D and PDF files with colleagues – all from an iOS or Android mobile phone or tablet.”

“It’s invaluable to be able to quickly share information through a cloud-based repository. This further encourages more frequent exchanges of information among the stakeholders, a collaboration, which adds more depth and value to the data … Ultimately, this aids project coordination, model coordination and project management to the benefit of more efficient design, construction and operation.”

“This new [Project Sharing] feature in Vectorworks software has saved them [King + King Architects] time on project setup and documentation processes, as well as provided employees who work remotely with the ability to remain tightly integrated and work collaboratively.”

Published: March 2016

Landscape Architecture Magazine

“Vectorworks, a design software company owned by Nemetschek Group, is one of the few players in the BIM market to make a substantial move toward a landscape approach, with a software package called Landmark.”

Published: February 2016

Constructing Computing

“Vectorworks 2016 was used throughout the presentation and proved very useful, as it provides site-modelling capabilities in a linked module.”

“Clicking on each polygon provided full details, including whether it was a natural feature or a man-made building. Creating reports from such data is easy.”

Published: January 2016

Church Production magazine

"In Vectorworks 2016 there have been many additions aimed at making a designer’s workflow easier and faster."

"In addition to using the 3D model for design purposes, it could also be used with ESP Vision, a lighting visualizer program from Vectorworks that allows for lighting preprogramming without actually having the lighting rig hanging. This could be very useful for programming and testing out ideas for Christmas, Easter, or the next sermon series."

"Historically the improvements to the Vectorworks software has always moved the program forward allowing designers to create more intricate and accurate designs, communicate those designs better, and do it faster and easier. It looks as though Vectorworks 2016 is no exception and will be adding a compliment of new tools and features that will push the future of design forward."

Published: December 2015

Architosh

"The big news about Vectorworks 2016 is that it is arguably the biggest update to the Vectorworks product line in its history."

Published: November 2015

Architosh

"2016 could be the best year yet for Vectorworks Architect."

"Vectorworks 2016, in all of its industry variations, which include its non-industry Vectorworks Fundamentals 2016 version, is a well-rounded program and always has been. It has always been one of the easiest to learn. It is flexible and useful for many things, even using one of the industry versions as they subsume the Fundamentals toolset."

"The biggest feature change this year that will be the most powerful reason to upgrade for just about all but the smallest and one-man offices is the new Project Sharing."

"There is one that brings a smile to my face. They call it 'Marionette, the first industry, cross-platform, Python®-based scripting tool.'"

"To summarize it all, Vectorworks Architect 2016 adds two entire new powerful tool areas: energy analysis with its new Energos feature set, plus the new Marionette feature set for visual scripting for algorithmic mathematical-oriented advanced geometry modeling—a first as a true Mac and Windows based solution."

Published: November 2015

Architizer

"Its Architect 2016 boasts simultaneous project sharing to enable architects and interior designers to streamline their workflows. But more important — for designing sustainable structures — is the software’s Energos module, which uses Passivhaus calculation methods to estimate energy efficiency right inside your Vectorworks Architect file as the design evolves."

Published: November 2015

ARCHITECT Magazine

"As coding becomes more an integral part of design, as evidenced by the popularity of the Grasshopper plug-in for Rhino, Bentley Systems’ Generative Components, and Autodesk Dynamo, Vectorworks is introducing a built-in scripting tool of its own. Marionette uses a Python-based programming environment that lets designers automate everything from culling BIM data to generating parametric shapes that satisfy specified criteria, such as constructability."

Published: September 2015

ARCHITECT Magazine

"New software and software plugins, such as Sefaira and Vabi, as well as the Energos tool in Vectorworks allow you, the architect, to estimate building performance and check design assumptions early in the design phase."

Published: September 2015

AECCafe

"Vectorworks Architect does not limit you to a certain workflow. You can easily work in 2D using your existing CAD standards, design in 3D with free-form surface and solids modeling tools, or merge 2D and 3D in Vectorworks hybrid design. And, with support for IFCs, your BIM projects can be easily moved downstream to others involved in the building process."

Published: September 2015

AECBytes

"On the plus side, Vectorworks has powerful modeling and visualization capabilities, and it puts design unabashedly at the forefront, with its Parasolid modeling engine, CINEMA 4D rendering engine, and the new Marionette and subdivision modeling features, which allow sophisticated forms to be modeled and rendered to a high degree of photorealism."

Published: September 2015

AEC Magazine

[Vectorworks] “is making a lot of noise about Vectorworks 2016, due for release this Autumn, already previewing four new technologies that are likely to be included in its next generation CAD/BIM tool."

"Energos is the only BIM authoring tool that uses the highly respected Passivhaus calculation method to create building energy use analysis results."

Published: August 2015

AECCafe

"This easy to use simple offering was made to make entry for customers into the mobile app simple, and to garner initial feedback in order to hone the mobile app. In the past year Nomad on iOS has been quickly evolving based on this customer feedback."

"Vectorworks Cloud Services saves time by freeing up desktop computing power."

Published: July 2015

Architosh

"I had a chance to sit down with [Vectorworks, Inc.’s CEO Dr. Biplab Sarkar] … to discuss several of the key technologies... Chief among these, was the new Grasshopper-like rival technology called Marionette, which will make Vectorworks 2016 the first true, visual 3D programming environment for both Mac and Windows, beating out planned efforts by Auto-Des-Sys with formZ, Autodesk with Dynamo, and even the gold-standard in this space, McNeel’s Grasshopper with Rhino."

Published: July 2015

The SPAR Point Group

"Being able to visualize point cloud data provides a real way for designers to model efficiently and affordably with more accuracy than ever before, making modeling, and referencing data easier. … Vectorworks 2016 is due out this September, and it will be their first version of software to support point cloud data."

Published: July 2015

AECBytes

[Marionette] "seems similar to Bentley’s GenerativeComponents and the more recent Dynamo from Autodesk, but it seems a lot slicker and easier to use—and right within the BIM environment of Vectorworks."

"From what I saw, Marionette seems fascinating, and I would have to rate it as the 'coolest' feature I saw at this year’s AIA."

Published: May 2015

Construction Computing

"Visual Scripting… extends the boundaries of an architect's creativity."

"Users can work on lowering the carbon footprints of buildings with Energos, which uses Passivhaus calculations and methods to provide a building's energy performance figures."

Published: May 2015

Architosh

Dr. Biplab Sarkar, CTO of Vectorworks … “kicked off the third major keynote at the Vectorworks Design Summit users conference in downtown Philadelphia. This is the first time in the company’s history that users could gain a peek at the future of the next major version of the popular, cross-platform CAD/BIM software."

"What is significant is that Vectorworks 2016… will introduce the software market’s first true, cross-platform visual-scripting modeling environment. And an advanced modeling environment at that."

"Vectorworks 2016 will feature the ability to bring in point-cloud data and generate an interactive view and environment with this point–cloud data. This part was actually visually stunning, in almost a sci-fi kind of way."

Published: April 2015

gb&d

“Our whole office uses Vectorworks Landmark design software, and I can’t imagine trying to do those calculation-oriented tasks without it.”

Published: November/December 2015

Vectorworks 2015

Architosh

Architosh honored Vectorworks Designer 2015 and Vectorworks Nomad 3.0 in its fourth annual "BEST of SHOW" awards during the AIA Convention 2015. Vectorworks Designer 2015 software “packs a big punch in the area of visualization and rendering options. And Vectorworks 2015 gave an official ‘thumbs up’ for 4K displays, something its peers have not yet done.”

Vectorworks Nomad 3.0 “gained a lot more power when the Vectorworks Graphics Module (VGM) technology was ported to the iOS environment, powering its new game-like 3D navigation with excellent rendering capacity. This added much to an already solid cloud-driven solution that allows for dissemination of information, mark-up and round-tripping information back to the CAD/BIM environment.”

Published: May 2015

Architosh

Vectorworks Designer 2015 software “packs a big punch in the area of visualization and rendering options. And Vectorworks 2015 gave an official ‘thumbs up’ for 4K displays, something its peers have not yet done.”

Published: May 2015

KLAD

KLAD, a set and lighting design firm, published a review of Vectorworks 2015. Here's an excerpt: "Vectorworks is now a 64-bit application, the increase in speed, especially rendering speed is amazing and worthy of the price of admission alone!"

Published: January 2015

Blue Planet News

"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."

Published: October 2014

Architosh

"In fact, what looks truly compelling in this release from the perspective of architecture is the VGM related technology that is generating a whole host of new visualization techniques. Architects are going to really enjoy two things in particular: one is the ability to turn off colors in OpenGL render mode while being able to turn on (or off) shadows and texture effects to enhance a presentation render. In Custom Renderworks mode (which uses the integrated CINEMA 4D rendering engine) you can remove color while retaining bump maps, transparency and reflectivity qualities in the rendered output. Likewise you can add more visual options with the expanded Draw Edges options (this is under the OpenGL mode). All of these options are going to really open up 3D visualization options for Vectorworks 2015 users."

Published: October 2014

Architosh

"And in other major nod to this program’s continuing ambitions to climb up the architectural BIM authoring tool ranks, Vectorworks Architect 2015 changes the way building 'stories' are handled entirely."

"Since around version 2009 the product engineering has greatly improved—partly because of the strategic direction the company has taken by first adopting the CAD industry’s leading Parasolid modeling kernel. Now the company stands at version 2015, capping off a half decade-long trail of software evolution that has laid the foundation for dramatic new features which this version has begun to unveil."

Published: October 2014

GraphicSpeak

"Though not a household word, Vectorworks is a major player in AEC CAD, especially because it has a strong Mac base and also because it is heavily favored in Japan. It’s working the same territory as AutoCAD, but not content to stop there, the company is becoming a major BIM competitor, taking on Autodesk’s Revit."

Published: September 2014

AECbytes

"I was especially impressed by the improvements to the Wall tool in Vectorworks Architect 2015, which now allows rectangular walls to be created quickly with two clicks, automatically takes care of overlapping walls and wall joins, allows wall segments to be easily removed, and allows wall segments to be closed to enclose a space by simply pressing the “K” key. It makes for one of the smoothest and fastest wall creation processes I have seen in any BIM application."

Published: September 2014

AEC Magazine

"From a quick glance it’s clear to see that the company has done a lot of under the hood work, as well as delivering considerable advances in it’s product depth."

"Vectorworks has made the move to full 64bit to handle bigger datasets and get speed improvements where possible."

Published: September 2014

ARCHITECT Magazine

"Vectorworks 2015 has more than 100 new enhancements and features from the 2014 version. Now with 64-bit capabilities at its core, the platform has greater capacity to handle the increasing amount of detail and data we expect from a BIM tool."

"Overall, with these updates and others, the Vectorworks 2015 suite should give designers a more efficient and fun experience."

Published: September 2014

Vectorworks 2014

Webnash Design-Build

Michael Erkkinen, an architect at Webnash Design-Build, has published a review of Vectorworks 2014. Here's an excerpt: "[Vectorworks 2014] has met my expectations of taking a product that is already the most useful tool in my arsenal and improving upon it in obvious and subtle ways. The tech support is first rate and I've never waited more than 30 seconds for assistance when calling, never been put on hold."

Published: March 2014

CAD digest

Bill Debevc spends a weekend with Vectorworks 2014. "I began this little adventure thinking that Vectorworks was just for architecture. Instead, I found that Vectorworks is as comfortable in creating a complete building as it is modeling a remote control for the TV. Bottom line is if you are a Mac user and need a BIM solution, you should invest a weekend to learn what Vectorworks offers. You may just love it enough to adopt it as the building information modeling software for your company. "

Published: December 2013

Helm & Melacini Architects blog

Architect John Helm, of Helm & Melacini Architects, provides his assessment of Vectorworks 2014. Here’s an excerpt: "All in all it’s quite a nice group of improvements. For anyone working in 3D and BIM the new open GL engine alone is probably worth the upgrade. Is VW the CAD program for you? That depends. It is probably the most CAD for the money on the market today. "

Published: November 2013

Vectorworks 2013

Landscape Architect & Specifier News

Ashley Calabria, Associate Professor, University of Georgia College of Environment and Design, provides her assessment of the 2013 version of Vectorworks Landmark software. Here's an excerpt: "My recommendation to anyone considering a change in software, versus an upgrade, is to take a serious look at Vectorworks as a complete computer graphics package. Its developer, Nemetschek Vectorworks, is customer support-friendly, offers a free trial version and provides numerous educational webinars and guides."

Published: August 2013

Architosh

Architosh, "the leading Internet magazine dedicated to Mac CAD and 3D professionals and students worldwide," reviewed Vectorworks Architect 2013 software. Here's an excerpt: "Every year I personally look forward to reviewing Vectorworks and this year was no different. It is an enjoyable tool to review because the company (Nemetschek Vectorworks) does an excellent job of making learning their tool simple and accessible. Arguably what makes this program particularly strong goes beyond just its well regarded ease-of-use and flexibility, but also its wide range of dedicated fields. It is truly a designer's program and can be used for the design of just about anything from buildings, landscapes, furniture, products, stage sets, theater lighting and much more."

Published: March 2013

Helm & Melacini Architects blog

Architect John Helm, of Helm & Melacini Architects, provides his assessment of Vectorworks 2013. Here’s an excerpt: "VW continues to be what it has always been, a versatile program that can be the one program a designer needs. It is probably the most flexible CAD program available.Some who prefer a completely dedicated program might consider that a handicap; and for those who work in a very limited range of design options it might be true.But for others who are into creative design and want a program that does it all it may just be the best one available. It can be used to create everything a project needs from site plans with contour maps, pad elevations and 3D site models, to Sketchup like preliminary designs to complete construction documents and it even works well for paste up sheets of photos and scanned documents.A landscape architect can do everything including plant lists and a stage set designer can produce his entire production with it including the lighting design."

Published: December 2012

Vectorworks 2012

Webnash Design-Build

Michael Erkkinen of Webnash Design-Build published a review of Vectorworks 2012 on his blog. Here’s an excerpt: "Some of what I've noticed in particular working better: 1- tools such as 3d reshape and 2d reshape turn into one tool for simplicity, 2- working planes are much smarter and more intuitive, basically adjusting themselves, 3- push/pull tool is now effortless, 4- dimensions show up in 3D where I want them, 5- heliodon tool makes locating sunlight and shadows easier, 6- stories and stairs make much more sense now and link up with each other, 7- windows and stairs are much more controlable and customizable, 8- artisitic renderworks has more and nicer styles."

Published: April 2012

Landscape Architecture Magazine

Landscape Architecture Magazine featured an article by James L. Sipes, ASLA, offering his assessment of Vectorworks Landmark software as a design solution for landscape architects. Here's an excerpt: "Vectorworks Landmark is the only major stand-alone program designed specifically for landscape architects...The people who created this software clearly understand the sort of work we landscape architects do and the tools we need to do it."

Published: February 2012

Lighting & Sound International

Lighting & Sound International published a review of Vectorworks Spotlight 2012 in its December issue. Here’s an excerpt: "...the improvements in version 2012 are mostly aimed at helping to increase productivity and speed of the design process. And increased productivity is the stock-in-trade of the live event production professional. The faster you can turn out good designs and documentation, the faster you can get on with the programming and the more time you can spend on being creative."

Published: December 2011

Architosh

John Helm's review of Vectorworks Architect 2012 was published on Architosh. Here's an excerpt from his conclusion: "I guess I could go on about features, but that would take a small book; hopefully this gives you a taste and inspires you to read more on the Vectorworks 2012 website. But I have to also conclude by saying that Vectorworks has really become a fantastic design tool that gets better and better. It is–as I have written in previous reviews–a one stop shop…that architects and designers can use to design just about anything. It remains intuitive and easy to learn. For architects and other designers it is the tool that lets them focus their attention on "design" while at the same time not forcing them to turn the CAD work over to CAD operators."

Published: December 2011

Helm & Melacini Architects blog

John Helm, architect with Helm & Melacini Architects (www.hm-architects.com), reviews Vectorworks 2012 software. Here's an excerpt: "The IFC export import option is what will make [BIM] work. And Vectorworks is pushing ahead of many others in this area. The real power of this comes when even a small firm can tie together all the various parts of a building project into are true building information model. Often the whole modeling concept is one which the client is not all that excited to pay extra for, but as the process becomes easier it will become just part of the work not really requiring a lot of extra input or time spent."

Published: November 2011

Vectorworks 2011

Landscape Architect & Specifier News

A review of Vectorworks Landmark 2011 was recently featured in Landscape Architect & Specifier News. The article can be found on the LandscapeOnline.com website and was written by Madis Pihlak, an associate professor of landscape architecture at Pennsylvania State University. Here is his conclusion: "Vectorworks Landmark 2011 is an improved version of an already multi-featured CAD software program. The price performance value and specialized landscape architecture capabilities make the program a worthwhile competitor to any other professional CAD program."

Published: July 2011

Lighting & Sound America

Lighting & Sound America published a review of Vectorworks Spotlight 2011 in its March 2011 issue. Here’s the conclusion from writer Patrick Immel: “The slogan for Nemetschek Vectorworks’ Vectorworks Spotlight is ‘Flexible. Versatile. Intuitive. Smart.’ I tend to agree. This is a full-featured solution that pushes the boundaries of what we perceive a CAD program to be. This in turn allows us as designers and technicians to push the boundaries of our work.”

Published: April 2011

AECbytes

"After a relatively late start, Vectorworks Architect has made great strides in incorporating BIM capabilities in the last few years. Its 2011 release, in particular, included a host of enhancements for BIM, such as improved tools for creating spaces, doors, windows, stairs, and roofs, a new slab tool, new 3D wall components, a dedicated tool for creating wall end caps, ODBC connectivity, and streamlined IFC export and import. Its new CINEMA 4D rendering engine can produce stunning photorealistic renderings and animations, and it comes with a full gamut of 2D drafting, dimensioning, and annotation tools for creating construction documents from the model. Especially noteworthy are its advanced 3D tools which allow complex organic forms to be modeled and assigned with building element attributes, which is something that the other, more popular, BIM applications are not so good at."

Published: April 2011

Webnash Design-Build

Michael Erkkinen of Webnash Design-Build published a review of Vectorworks Architect 2011 on his website. Here's an excerpt: "Of the various upgrades over the years, 2011 is a huge one for me. There seem to be fewer changes than previous years, but every one is huge! The new push/pull tool has made sketchup completely irrelevant, and the enhanced 3D environment completely changed my working process into something more intuitive."

Published: February 2011

Architosh

Anthony Frausto-Robledo (with input from architect John Helm) has published his review of Vectorworks Architect 2011 on Architosh. Here is his concluding paragraph: "This program continues to grow and improve at a rapid rate. We are stunned by the amount of improvement in the past three releases. Vectorworks 2011 is now a very good direct-modeling (explicit modeling) tool for architecture or other disciplines…at the schematic concept level. This will put pressure on dedicated modelers that are often used in conceptual level design stages. For architects this program continues to be a remarkably flexible and well-rounded tool suitable for BIM and non-BIM workflows."

Published: January 2011

CAD User

"Rendering in Vectorworks 2011 just got heaps better with the integration of the latest version of Cinema 4D. This uses an upgraded render engine, camera views in camera ports, and improved texture mapping. Cinema 4D is a 64bit rendering engine, with a hefty increase in speed and quality. It now comes with simpler, more intuitive controls and render speeds up to 5 times faster than Vectorworks 2010's indirect lighting, and allows users to handle direct texture editing in the viewport."

Published: December 2010

Helm & Melacini Architects blog

John Helm, architect with Helm & Melacini Architects (www.hm-architects.com), reviews Vectorworks 2011. Here's an excerpt: "Do I think this is the must have upgrade? Yes, I think it is because it really is a leap forward and an improvement in these areas: · 3D rendering and presentations using the CINEMA4D rendering engine · Improvements in BIM that make it even more a real BIM program · Integration of 2D and 3D · A big list of 2D design and drafting improvements and time savers"

Published: December 2010

Stage Directions

David K.H. Elliott, a lighting designer and educator, wrote a review of Vectorworks Spotlight 2011 for Stage Directions magazine. Here's an excerpt: "Vectorworks 2011 is a major release with powerful new features and lots of handy new and refined tools. It's an upgrade worth having."

Published: November 2010

Lucas Krech Renderworks 2011 Review – October 2010

Lighting designer Lucas Krech published a review of Renderworks 2011 on his blog, Light Cue 23. Here's an excerpt: "I have seen the new Cinema 4D rendering engine for Vectorworks mentioned in reviews as not much more than a bullet point. Yet the new rendering engine is leaps and bounds beyond what was previously called Renderworks that it is almost like a whole new piece of software and certainly deserving of an independent review."

Published: October 2010

Vectorworks 2010

Lighting & Sound America

A review of Vectorworks Spotlight 2010 was published in Lighting & Sound America magazine's July issue. Written by Patrick Immel, assistant professor of theatre, lighting and scenic design at Northwest Missouri State University, the review lists the top 10 features of the software, and ends with this conclusion: "Nemetschek NA's Vectorworks Spotlight is a 'soup-to-nuts' CAD solution that will allow you to conceive, design and present your work at the highest levels. I highly recommend giving it a try!"

Published: July 2010

John Black

John Black, principal of Verdance Fine Garden Design, reviewed Vectorworks Landmark 2010 on his blog. This is the first installment of a multi-part review. Here's an excerpt: "One of my favorite new features is the 'Select Similar tool, which allows me to select objects of like size, shape, color, line weight, opacity…any combination of 27 different criteria in all. This is a massive time-saver when I want to, say, delete all the boulders in a design, or increase the line weights of all my trees, or make all the guidelines on one particular design layer visible."

Published: July 2010

Lucas Krech Vectorworks 2010 Product Review Part 2 – April 2010

Lighting designer Lucas Krech published Part 2 of his review of Vectorworks Spotlight 2010 on his blog. In this review, he focuses on 3D drafting and basic rendering as he completes an exercise from the manual. Here's an excerpt: "The manual is written clearly. Thus it should be no problem for a novice, or someone upgrading from a much older version like I was, to dive right into the program and begin to do some fun and interesting work."

Published: April 2010

Techie Talk

One of the best new features in Vectorworks 2010 is the improved 3D environment, a new Unified View allows you to select and modify objects in 3D on any layer, it also has some excellent 3D snapping. This is probably the area of Vectorworks that impresses the most, being able to switch to a 3D view and continue to work on the drawing is fantastic. You'll need a powerful computer to do this in anything other than wire-frame, but if you do the benefits are immense.

Published: April 2010

Landezine

Landezine, an online magazine written and published by Zaš Brezar of Slovenia, featured a review of Vectorworks 2010 Landmark on February 27: "Vectorworks Landmark is definitely 'The' software for Landscape Architects – it will be what you want it to be, at any stage of the project."

Published: February 2010

Lucas Krech

New York-based lighting designer Lucas Krech published a review of Vectorworks 2010 on his blog. Here's an excerpt: "As a drafting program to make a lightplot Vectorworks has maintained its edge as the industry standard setting the bar for what Computer Aided Design can do for the lighting and design community. I hope you'll join me in future posts as I continue to explore this fantastic piece of software."

Published: February 2010

MacCompanion Magazine

Robert L Pritchett at MacCompanion Magazine reviewed Vectorworks 2010 and wrote "… the latest release is even more easier to use than the previous version. Now THAT is change I can believe in! We've given Vectorworks another solid 5 rating and Nemetschek deserves it."

Published: February 2010

CAD User AEC Magazine

CAD User editor David Chadwick reviewed Vectorworks 2010 in the November/December 2009 issue of CAD User AEC Magazine. Here's an excerpt from the review: "So hats off then to the companies providing the wherewithal to make the change to 3D, and in particular to Nemetschek's Vectorworks, which has made "Making Change Easy" the theme for the release of Vectorworks 2010."

Published: February 2010

Novedge:

Choosing a CAD Program "My first thought on writing a review of an update to an existing CAD program is that the readers of the review won't just be those already dedicated to the program and wanting to know if the upgrade is worth the expense and time to learn new features, but they might also be those looking to change programs or even those architects and others just starting out in their use of CAD."

Published: December 2009

BD Online:

"Vectorworks 2010 feels like a significant upgrade on its predecessor in many areas. Now that the Parasolid 3D modelling core, introduced in version 2009, has been fully integrated, Vectorworks 2010 offers an extremely flexible and easy-to-use 2D environment, combined with a true 3D BIM solution. Initially, it does not look too different, with the 2010 interface appearing almost identical to the previous version apart from a few new tools and modes."

Published: December 2009

Webnash:

"I recently received my copy of Vectorworks Designer 2010. It contains Vectorworks: Fundamentals, Architect, Renderworks, Landmark, Spotlight, and Machine Design. I've been using this software since it was MiniCAD, sometime around 1997 or so. Before VW, I used AutoCAD, Sketchup, and Chief Architect. In general I've found VW to be the most practical, full-featured, and easy to use design software available. The price is also the most competitive in its class."

Published: October 2009

Vectorworks 2009

Architosh:

"The most significant change for Vectorworks 2009 is a new 3-D modeling engine from Siemens PLM. Suffice to say that this industrial strength modeler significantly boosts the power and performance of Vectorworks 2009. Nemetschek has stated that the new engine operates roughly four to five times faster than the previous version for most 3-D operations and up to twelve times faster for Boolean operations."

Published: September 2009

Live Design:

"There are heaps of CAD packages out there that do amazing things, but I've not yet had such a streamlined experience as I've had with Vectorworks. It offers layers upon layers of different ways to do things, which stimulates inventiveness and enhances design. It makes it fun to design."

Published: May 2009

Macworld:

Vectorworks has evolved over the years from a lean and mean drafting application with a quick learning curve and inexpensive price to a very powerful high-end CAD application with more features to compete with the top CAD programs on any platform.

Published: May 2009

Lighting&Sound America:

With Nemetschek NA's latest release of Vectorworks Spotlight version 2009, users are offered a program that is powerful, flexible, and intuitive. Powerful enough to be able to present my designs in 2-D and 3-D. Flexible enough to let me work my way and intuitive enough to help me make decisions so I can concentrate on my designs.

Published: May 2009

Live Design:

Vectorworks 2009, Nemetschek's most recent upgrade of its design, visualization, and rendering program might look a lot like last year's version, but under the hood are some substantial upgrades as well as helpful additions and bug fixes. While many of those additions work in all the Vectorworks' products, tools have been added to Spotlight that will significantly impact the lighting design process.

Published: March 2009

LANDSCAPE PAYSAGES:

The Vectorworks Landmark package is designed for landscape architects. The main intent of Landmark is to have one vehicle that can carry a project through its entire lifespan, from concept to design to presentation to construction drawings.

Published: March 2009

Architosh:

As for the product today, Vectorworks Architect 2009 is easily the most robust version ever shipped. The improvements to the walls, new methods of placing openings in them, and substantial new improvements to file import/export and latest AutoCAD 2009 file support make this a worthwhile update.

Published: February 2009

MacCompanion:

"Are you kidding me? If you are in the AEC industry, run, don't walk to get this version of Vectorworks. It puts the competition to shame!"

Published: December 2008

BD Online:

"By incorporating Parasolid, the best 3D modelling technology available, Vectorworks 2009 is racing ahead of the pack."

Published: October 2008

Ed's Independent Voice:

"Although I am known as a proponent (and a user) of Autodesk's Revit software, I am always open to other solutions. From what I observed, Vectorworks Architect 2009 seems to stand up well in relation to Revit (which I think is the industry standard in this genre of the AEC market)."

Published: October 2008

PLSN – Projection, Lights, and Staging News:

"I'm coming at this as an AutoCAD user and a new user of Vectorworks, but I was able to get up the learning curve fairly quickly. I'm by no means a power user, but I like what I've seen in the new Vectorworks 2009. It is very powerful, it has a lot of features to help streamline your workflow, and it is capable of producing some fabulous documentation."

Published: October 2008