Vectorworks Architect— Building Information Modeling and IFC
Published June 2003
Vectorworks Architect provides Building Information Modeling (BIM) capabilities that offer a true increase in productivity. With BIM, your 2D drawings, 3D drawings, and project data are linked into a simple, yet flexible design environment. Changes made in one view are updated in all others.
Unlike other BIM programs, 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.
Vectorworks & BIM
Listen to a narrative of a presentation by Robert Anderson, vice president of integrated products, about how Vectorworks Architect fits in to our view of BIM. (Please note this is a 74 MB QuickTime movie file; Windows Internet Explorer users should right-click on the link and select "Save Target As..." and save the file to your local disk).
BIM White Papers, Case Studies, and Articles
Vectorworks: A BIM Application Tuned for Architectural Design, by Robert Anderson, vice president of integrated products.
BIM Case Study: watch a video presentation by Vectorworks user Francois Levy about how he integrates Vectorworks into his BIM and Sustainable design workflow. (Please note this presentation is approximately 40 minutes in length.)
Download Sample BIM File
This sample file illustrates a “best practice” method of setting up a Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflow using Vectorworks Architect. It is the first in a series of files we hope to release over the coming months. This project is an example of a moderate-sized, single file, single user organization. In the future, we will offer samples that explore multiple file, collaborative organizations of larger projects.
This design is based on a real-world project from one of our users, Steven DuPont, AIA, an architect in Washington D.C. The project is a renovation/reuse of an existing building in a historically sensitive neighborhood in Alexandria, VA. Some additional design elements were incorporated to help show a variety of features and tools included in Vectorworks Architect.
While not exhaustively comprehensive, the construction drawing set, contains enough examples of drawings – demolition and floor plans, an enlarged plan, exterior elevations, building sections, wall sections, interior elevations, integrated schedules and rendered perspectives of various types – to give users clues to the uses of many objects and tools in Vectorworks Architect.
To navigate the setup of the file, turn Stack Layers ON and use the Saved Views. To navigate the construction drawing set, first invoke the Saved View “14-Drawing Set-Cover Sheet”, then select each Sheet Layer, either through the Navigation palette or the Layer pull-down menu.
We encourage you to explore the file, deconstruct it, and share your thoughts and questions.
Download the BIM sample file (44 MB)
Vectorworks & the GSA (General Services Administration)
As an integral part of of Vectorworks Architect & Designer support for IFC, Nemetschek North America has been working to meet the United States General Services Administration requirements for Spatial Program Validation through a GSA-compatible implementation of the Space object. Users will be able to fulfill the requirements of submitting a spatial program BIM to GSA prior to a final concept presentation. Along with the information in the Vectorworks User's Guides, best practices for implementation of Vectorworks to create a GSA-compatible BIM can be found in the GSA BIM Series 02-Spatial Program Validation Appendices.
Read the GSA BIM Guide Series and Appendices
Download the Nemetschek IFC Viewer
The Nemetschek IFC Viewer enables project members to verify and coordinate planning data in a simple manner. The advantage to users is that no special software is required, as the viewer runs as a stand-alone solution. The recently-released public beta of the Vectorworks IFC v.2x3 plug-in allows Vectorworks users to create files that can be opened in the IFC Viewer. Note- the Nemetschek IFC Viewer is available for the Windows platform only.
IFC White Papers and Articles
Engineering News Record, Apostles of Open Data Share Vision of Frictionless Future
Engineering News Record, Software Breakthroughs Will Lead To Building Smarter
International Code Council's (ICC) Interoperability Project