Vectorworks Architect 2021

Engineered to meet the specific needs of smart-sized companies, Vectorworks Architect 2021 has everything you need to streamline the design and production process. From project setup to programming, schematic design development and construction documents - Vectorworks Architect 2021 lets you work faster and smarter with fewer errors. That's why top architects around the world rely on Vectorworks Architect 2021 to create and present their designs. At a fraction of the cost of other CAD programs, Vectorworks Architect 2021 can take your designs to places you never thought they could go.

Vectorworks is advancing the use of emerging technologies (AR/VR, Point Cloud, Photogrammetry, Cloud Services) and making them accessible to everyone. You won’t merely keep up with the latest technologies, you’ll stay one step ahead.

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.

Why Upgrade to Vectorworks 2021?

• 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, 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 - The experience for users of multi-core processor machines was enhanced 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 - 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, site modeling was improved 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.
• Lighting Device Object - It’s become increasingly complex — yet imperative — to deliver high-quality lighting designs in a condensed project timeline. With 2021, the Lighting Device object was reengineered to improve its overall performance and stability. The new focusing system makes setting up lights for visualization more intuitive. Additional enhancements to multi-circuit devices make reporting, circuit management, and communication with consoles efficient and reliable — all to give entertainment design pros high-value efficiency in completing projects.
• 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.
• Cable Tools - Vectorworks Spotlight 2021 provides a sneak peek into the new Cable Tools. This Preview Feature and re-engineered Cable tools will present an alternative workflow that will give you more flexibility to work in both 2D and 3D and take advantage of the most current Vectorworks functionality. These objects are compatible with Braceworks so that cable impacts on a system can be calculated seamlessly and without current workarounds. This Preview Feature will give you the opportunity to provide suggestions on the Vectorworks Community Board for improvements on a redesigned system for cabling.
• Landscape Area Improvements - The Landscape Area enhancements extend the virtual replication of softscapes and planted landforms as no other landscape or BIM software can. Landscape areas can now be defined with components and our new Materials resource. These landscape areas can also be saved as a style and can be used to simplify the management of objects when changes occur, making features like green roofs, planted mounds, and rain gardens easier to design and more accurate to report.
• 3D Modeling Enhancements - The updates to Vectorworks’ 3D modeling can’t be beat. Improvements to the Push/Pull tool now support additional drawing tools like the Line tool, which creates a streamlined method to split the face of a solid and manipulate the geometry. Other modeling enhancements include simplification of editing solids created with fillet, chamfer, shell solid, and more. Rather than navigating through layers of history, you can simply highlight a face or edge for direct editing and speed through your 3D modeling process.
• Project Sharing Server - Vectorworks’ versatile multi-user environment, Project Sharing, can now be accessed through a unique Project Sharing server. Easy to install and use, the Project Sharing server will help support a greater array of server configurations, creating an uninterrupted collaborative environment.
• Railings and Fences - With improvements to the Railing/Fence tool in Vectorworks 2021, the design and layout of these 3D objects are both powerful and flexible. 3D modification points on the railing or fence have been added, so you can move different parts of the object directly in the model. With a click of the mouse, the new Connect mode automatically joins single railings and fences, simplifying how you work on joining sloped portions with horizontal sections of other railings and fences, ultimately improving project details.
• ConnectCAD Device Placement - Signal flow diagrams can be complex and require multiple devices in a connected system. In ConnectCAD 2021, the Device tool provides you with a new Linear Array mode, letting you quickly lay out multiple numbered devices in just a few clicks.
• Detachable Tab Palettes - We’ve added improved usability to the Object Information, Navigation (Design Series only), and Visualization Palettes to handle your increasingly complex model and documentation work. You now have the ability to detach the tabs from palettes and either dock them or let them float. Move them to a second monitor to have a clear field for modeling while still keeping them readily accessible.
• Audio Tool Improvements - The Speaker and Speaker Array tools now work with Vectorworks Symbols, giving you access to a wide range of content and the ability to create a more realistic looking model. For convenience, the active speaker configuration can be selected from the tool mode bar, making quick work of your audio layouts and easier management of your symbol library.
• ConnectCAD Workflow Improvements - Manually searching through a series of PDFs to locate the “other end” of arrow circuits can be time consuming and frustrating. Thanks to smart linking in version 2021, ConnectCAD now has hyperlinked arrow connections that allow for fast navigation between views of schematic layouts both in Vectorworks and in published PDFs you share. Plus, the ConnectCAD device builder window has been simplified, helping you to create, search for, locate, and use the device types you need for your schematic diagrams.
• Duplicate Array and Move by Points - The Duplicate Array tool has been enhanced to work in a 3D view, making it easier to use. The modes available with the Move by Points tool have also been updated to allow a live preview of your operation when using the tool. This enhancement stays true to Vectorworks’ direct modeling environment, giving you real-time feedback as you design.

What is Vectorworks Service Select?

Vectorworks Service Select is a maintenance agreement that provides customers with several added benefits, including immediate upgrade of new product releases, the best pricing, priority technical support, VIP access to downloads, and an always-growing library of on-demand learning tutorials. You’ll also have the premier level of storage with Vectorworks Cloud Services at 20 GB (over the standard 2 GB).

Why should I invest?

Vectorworks Service Select is the best way to get the most out of your Vectorworks software with the lowest available price.

Vectorworks Cloud Services

Vectorworks Service Select subscribers get exclusive cloud benefits like expanded, 20 GB storage, automatically-generated drawing sheet PDFs, and useful file histories that make it even easier to design anytime, anywhere. 

Support & Maintenance

Vectorworks Architect 2021 includes 12 months FREE technical support directly from Vectorworks. Vectorworks Technical Support is available to all registered users by fax, by e-mail and by phone from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm EST.

 

Download

Vectorworks Product Software Download

Download your full installation of Vectorworks Trials and Updates.

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Vectorworks Free Viewer Download

The Vectorworks Viewer is a FREE value-added benefit to Vectorworks users. The Viewer enables those who do not own the program to look at and print projects created in Vectorworks. And, it allows on-line collaboration between designers and clients during the creative process.

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Compare

Compare Vectorworks Versions

Which version of Vectorworks is right for you?

Main Features	Fundamentals	Architect	Spotlight	Landmark	Designer
2D & 3D	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔
Architectural Design		✔			✔
Lighting Design			✔		✔
Landscape Design				✔	✔
Advanced Rendering	✔	✔	✔	✔	✔

HW Specs

Recommended System Specification

Manufacturer's system requirements are generally the bare minimum that you need to run the software and insufficient for effective and productive operation of the product. 

Our suggested "real world" mid-range desktop system key specifications to properly run Vectorworks are as follows:

• CPU: Intel Core i5
• Memory: 16GB
• Graphics Card: NVIDIA QUADRO P620
• Hard Drive: 500GB NVMe
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro

Novedge, in partnership with High Speed Computing, can also provide the perfect hardware for your design needs, pre-installed with your software, at a very competitive price. Contact us to discuss custom-configured workstations and laptops.

Suggested Workstation

Silver 3D Workstation CPU: Intel Core i7 Memory: 16GB Hard Drive: 500GB NVMe Graphics Card: NVIDIA QUADRO P1000

 

 

Webinars

Latest Vectorworks Novedge Webinars

Novedge Webinar #316: Productivity Techniques in Vectorworks 2019 

Novedge Webinar #300: Best bits for Vectorworks 2019 by Jonathan Pickup