Now, NVIDIA has entered the same race—the race to deliver the world’s fastest and most capable processor for the personal computer. But unlike Intel and AMD, NVIDIA’s new RTX Spark Superchip runs the ARM instruction set, not the Intel-X86 instruction set, and thus joins Apple and Qualcomm (not to mention MediaTek) in the ARM architecture’s pursuit of taking over the PC landscape.

Death to Intel X86?

So, does this news mean doom for Intel X86? We have certainly discussed this possibility in great detail before in our critically received feature (see Architosh, “End of an Era: How Silicon Will Decide BIM’s Future,” 24 December 2025), first published for our Xpresso-4X newsletter readers. And we originally discussed ARM’s threat to Intel X86 in our even larger, critically received feature (see, Architosh, “Chip Technology, Geopolitics, and the CAD Industry,” 21 Jan 2022).

Key Takeaways

• NVIDIA’s RTX Spark Superchip is based on the ARM architecture and is similar to Apple’s and Qualcomm’s ARM SoCs in that it merges a CPU, GPU, and dedicated AI processing centers all on the same chip with a “unified memory” architecture that is incredibly fast.
• The RTX Spark has no benchmarks at this announcement, but company executives told Forbes editors that it will have all-day battery life and be performance competitive with anything else in the PC market.
• RTX Spark-based computers could massively disrupt sales of Intel and AMD X86-based computers, tilting the entire X86 Windows software ecosystem towards ARM. Leading PC makers will ship RTX Spark-based systems in the fall in premium laptop configurations and run Microsoft’s Prism X86 software emulator as well as support the growing ecosystem of native Windows on ARM software titles. 

But before we discuss why Intel X86 may be in real trouble now, let’s dig into the announcement and chip details further.

Jenson Huang, in his talk at Computex, Taipei, today, essentially says:

Huang goes on to say that with each generation of the new RTX Spark Superchip, there will be a new model for the laptop, the desktop, and the workstation computer. He further says in his talk that he is incredibly thrilled that 100 percent of the world’s PC market has joined Nvidia to reinvent the PC. Of course, Jensen Huang isn’t really capturing 100 percent of the PC industry to come on board and join them in reinventing the PC. Critically, Intel and AMD are not on board because the NVIDIA RTX Spark Superchip is the most existential threat to their PC chip business that they have likely ever faced.

NVIDIA and Microsoft reinvent the Windows PC for the Age of Personal AI. Introducing the NVIDIA RTX Spark Superchip for Windows ARM computers.

Historically, Nvidia relied on Intel and AMD to provide the X86 central processing units (CPUs) that acted as the brains, along with Nvidia graphics cards (GPUs), which ran graphics and specialized parallel processing tasks. Now RTX Spark represents a paradigm shift that targets the core profit engines of the legacy X86 giants through several critical competitive advantages.

RTX Spark Advantages

Namely, these advantages stem from the fact that NVIDIA is breaking the X86 Duopoly in high-end devices in the PC market. The RTX Spark Superchip running Microsoft’s Windows for ARM shatters this exclusivity. Now consumers will face a choice between RTX Spark-based systems from top-tier computer makers, including Dell, Lenovo, HP, Asus, and MSI, and X86-based systems running Intel and AMD processors. Which will they choose and why?

Computer buyers will want to choose NVIDIA’s RTX Spark-based systems for one very important advantage. The Spark Superchip is built from the ground up for what Huang calls the Native AI Agent Revolution. In other words, the leading AI chip company is going to bring its AI chip prowess to your everyday computing.

Let’s look at the NVIDIA Spark Superchip in detail. So what does it consist of?

• CPU Architecture — ARM (NVIDIA and MediaTek co-developed the design)
• CPU Core Count — 20-core (10 Cortex-X925 + 10 Cortex-A725)
• GPU Architecture — NVIDIA Blackwell (up to 6,144 CUDA cores)
• Memory System — Up to 128 GB of LPDDR5X Unified Memory
• Processor Node — TSMC-3 nanometer

The RTX Spark Superchip will fuse two chiplets: a GPU based on NVIDIA’s Blackwell architecture and a 20-core NVIDIA Grace (ARM-based) CPU. Unified memory is what the Spark Superchip has in common with ARM chips from Apple and Qualcomm, but to stand apart from them, the RTX Spark chip supports up to 128 GB of unified memory in configurations that are engineered for heavy desktop-class AI and graphics workloads rather than mobile-first efficiency. Unlike Apple and Qualcomm, the NVIDIA RTX Spark superchip includes NVIDIA’s NVLink memory bandwidth technology, yielding up to 600 GB/s. And the chip also features Blackwell CUDA cores, something that Qualcomm and Apple are locked out of, as this technology is proprietary.

MORE: ARES 2027 Deep Dive: AI, Automation and BIM-to-DWG Workflows

Even if Intel and AMD launched their own unified memory, ARM-based processors to compete with the RTX Spark, they would have to strike a licensing deal to obtain the Blackwell GPU with CUDA cores. CUDA is, indeed, NVIDIA’s strongest leverage in computing in the age of AI.

Architosh will share more on RTX Spark as we learn more details, but in our section below, we explore the industry impact of this new chip announcement. For further details, read here.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

Early feedback from the computer industry over the NVIDIA RTX Spark Superchip is a mix of massive excitement over the hardware’s capabilities, mixed with a healthy dose of debate over its impact on the Windows X86 software ecosystem. It would be premature to rush to the conclusion that AMD and Intel cannot compete with NVIDIA in the PC market for central processing units. Much depends on the true performance advantages NVIDIA’s RTX Spark can deliver in general and AI computing. However, in general, the very fact that the Spark is out now and is ARM-based sends another powerful signal to the market that the ARM architecture is rising while the Intel X86 architecture is in decline. This begs the question about software ecosystem disruption.

How will Windows software be developed in the future? If software on Windows moves to an ARM-priority-based market, this will actually aid Apple as well, since their hardware is also ARM-based, and emulating Windows on ARM today on MacOS systems is very prevalent and performative. 

Furthermore, with NVIDIA focusing on getting Windows gaming developers and graphics app developers moved over to native ARM development for these new RTX Spark-based computers, this also shifts the tools behind the software development in a direction that will likely aid Apple as well. It will be easier for a developer to develop for ARM on both Windows and Mac since they share the same chip architecture and presumably an increasing set of ARM development tools. The question then becomes, how does the CAD industry react to all of this? What will Autodesk and SolidWorks do in response to a possible future where the world’s fastest Windows PCs are running NVIDIA RTX Spark Superchips? 

The post NVIDIA unveils RTX Spark—ARM-based Superchip for Windows PCs appeared first on Architosh.

Veras is Chaos’s popular AI-powered visualization tool and has been a hit within the larger Archviz professional community, competing against a sea change of new AI visualization platforms. This largely has to do with the integration of AI into the professional Chaos visualization tools that AEC visualization professionals already know and love.

Veras Integration

For years, Chaos’s library of visualization tools has been used from the earliest stages of design through final deliverables, and as the company’s software ecosystem grew, it became increasingly logical to tightly integrate Versa across it.

Key Takeaways

• Chaos is now issuing a single installer for all products, simplifying deployment and installation of Chaos ecosystem products, including Veras. With this comes a more unified licensing toolset.
• There are broad new updates for Enscape, V-Ray, and Corona beyond the Veras integration
• Veras is now deeply integrated across the product range listed above. 

“Our customers have spoken. Tool-hopping and disconnected workflows are burdens to anyone tasked with complex projects,” said Petr Mitev, Vice President of Product Development at Chaos. “Today, our ecosystem begins feeling a whole lot smoother, letting users tap a shared infrastructure, cross-product features, and the most purpose-built AI in the industry. This will speed up any workflow, without sacrificing quality or control.”

Veras is now fully integrated into all Enscape, V-Ray, and Corona renderer solutions.

Veras is highly important to the Chaos ecosystem of visualization tools because with it, designers, architects, and archviz pros can quickly turn hand sketches, 2D images, and 3D models into presentation-ready images and animations far faster than workflows that are missing the AI (artificial intelligence) technologies embedded in Veras.

Whether professionals are working in 3D modelers like SketchUp, Rhino, or 3ds Max, or working in BIM tools like Archicad, Revit, or Vectorworks, they can explore early design ideas, moods, and visualization styles easily when working in Chaos’s rendering tools.

Hybrid Licensing System

Chaos is also introducing a new hybrid-licensing system that adapts to the actual way users want to work. This license works on a new credit system that provides access to cloud rendering and AI services, and users can scale up or down the credits depending on what they actually need.

New ability for light to override materials, rendering example.

“Having AI capabilities integrated directly into our tools has made a big difference to our workflow,” said David Law, BIM Manager for Bellway Homes. “Going from Revit into Enscape with a click, and then into Veras with another click, is far more efficient than opening separate software and moving files around. Any design changes we make are instantly reflected, which keeps the whole process moving smoothly.”

Enscape Updates

As part of this launch, Chaos is also announcing fresh updates for several products, including Enscape. The new features include:

• vEnvision Live Link — Moving scenes from Enscape to Enscape Envision is now a one-click affair, helping users jump into advanced animations without a complex export-import process.
• 2500+ New Chaos Cosmos Assets — Chaos’ massive 3D asset library gains new real-time optimized people, vegetation, accessories and branded assets, making it easier to add AEC-ready entourage to a scene. In addition, a new AI-driven search tool will help users find their “perfect” Cosmos assets in seconds using natural language (also in V-Ray and Corona).
• Chaos Cloud Video Collaboration — New access to remote video collaboration tools connects the design, presentation and feedback process into a visually robust loop.

V-Ray and Corona Updates

• 1000+ New Chaos Cosmos Assets — New archviz-ready assets are available to visualization teams, including new high-quality accessories and furniture.
• Vantage in the Viewport — Chaos real-time rendering engine Vantage is now accessible within the V-Ray viewport, enabling rapid scene exploration and smoother design reviews, even while working with massive, fully ray traced scenes.

Corona-Only Updates

Today, also marks the launch of Corona 15, which will see Chaos’ push-button simple renderer continuing to evolve beyond visualization, as it brings AI ideation, photoreal rendering, and cinematic animation into one intuitive environment.

• Enhanced Material Detail — The new Glints layer simulates the sparkle of small, angled surfaces, making it essential for replicating metallic flakes in car paint, sand and snow.
• Improved Gaussian Splats Blending — Gaussian Splats now accurately bounce Global Illumination light onto 3D models, allowing captured environments to blend naturally into the scene.
• Faster Animation Parsing — Users can now reduce animation render times in 3ds Max, using a smarter rendering workflow that no longer reprocesses the entire scene for every frame.
• 3D Streaming — Anyone can now walk through their vision in real time. Users simply share a 3D streaming link and stakeholders can instantly explore the visualization interactively, at their own pace, on any device.

For more ecosystem updates, product tips and user stories, check out Chaos’ blog and social channels.

Pricing and Availability

All updates are available now. For full pricing information, please visit the Chaos pricing page.

The post Enscape, V-Ray, and Corona Get Veras AI Integration appeared first on Architosh.

Bluebeam Max

First shown at Bluebeam Unbound 2025 in Washington, DC, last fall, Bluebeam Max ushers in powerful new AI-powered workflows, including deep Revu and Anthropic Claude integration, automatic stitching, magic markups, and intelligent overlay and review technologies.

Key Takeaways

• Bluebeam Max has a tight integration with Claude from Anthropic via MCP (model context protocol), thus giving Bluebeam Revu users a natural language path to prompt Revu into automating numerous regular and repeating Bluebeam Revu workflows.
• Smart Overlay and Smart Review are new AI-powered features that quickly enable teams to identify design changes and discrepancies across entire drawing sets and disciplines, as well as provide clear, actionable insights. 

Max brings smart automation so that Bluebeam Revu customers can accelerate their workflows by automating away tedious and time-consuming tasks.

This image shows Bluebeam Max with Revu and Claude integration. Click the image to read the AI prompt workflow and the output that can be generated.

Usman Shuja, CEO of Bluebeam, stated:

Bluebeam Max delivers these specific functionalities that are either entirely new or substantially automated from regular Bluebeam Revu prior, including:

• Revu + Anthropic Claude via MCP — enabling natural language prompts to automate repetitive tasks and transform markup data into actionable insights.
• Stitching — automatically combines multiple drawing sheets into a single, navigable, to-scale view for large and linear infrastructure projects.
• Magic Markups — to automate repetitive markup and reduce manual clicks, making takeoffs faster and more accurate.
• Smart Overlay — allowing teams to quickly identify design changes and discrepancies across entire drawing sets and disciplines.
• Smart Review — provides clear, actionable insights into design discrepancies, scope gaps, and missing information to catch issues early and prevent costly setbacks.
• Connected Studio Sessions with Revit, linking Bluebeam markups directly to the correct location in Revit drawing and model views to collaborate effectively across PDF and BIM.

The results from over 2,000 beta program users reported that productivity gains from Bluebeam Max were substantial, calling it a “game-changer” for design and planning workflows.

Client Success Stories

Martin-Harris Construction 

Martin-Harris was a Max beta tester firm. They benefited from Bluebeam Max with multiple Revu workflows, including utilizing Max’s Smart Overlay and Smart Review features to compare revisions for pricing and impact analysis during both design and construction.

The Bluebeam Max supports a deeper integration between Bluebeam Revu and Autodesk Revit.

“Bluebeam is already the backbone of how we review and collaborate on projects, but Bluebeam Max takes that to another level,” said James Miranda, Director of Preconstruction at Martin-Harris Construction.  “Features like Smart Overlay help us instantly see what’s changed and where to focus, which is critical when you’re managing complex projects at scale. As the full AI capabilities continue to evolve, this has the potential to significantly reduce manual effort and free up our teams to focus on higher-value coordination and decision-making.”

KPFF Consulting Engineers – Los Angeles Office

KPFF also found notable gains with Bluebeam Max, where its LA-based civil and structural engineers benefit from Bluebeam Revu in their day-to-day work.

“Even small improvements can have a big impact on our workflows,” said Dillon Wilke, Associate and Bluebeam Max early adopter at KPFF LA Civil Office. “Features like offset are reducing the need to go back into CAD for certain tasks, especially when working with parallel utilities or curved geometry. What used to take multiple manual steps can now be done much more efficiently in one place.”

Bluebeam Max is available now, and readers interested in learning more can do so by following this link and reading more in our analysis and commentary section below.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

Last year, Bluebeam announced it was acquiring AEC AI startup Firmus-AI. That technology included the foundations for Smart Compare and Smart Review, based on Firmus-AI’s. Bluebeam already innovated the industry’s first “compare” features, but Firmus-AI took it to another level, and now that technology is inside Bluebeam Max. 

Firmus-AI’s solutions were cloud applications, and we can see that the newly integrated AI-powered capabilities in Smart Compare and Smart Review are also cloud-based. Notice the browser window. But notice the dashboard summary.

The Smart Review AI technology is equally impactful, if not more so. AEC design professionals struggle to maintain consistency and catch conflicts and omissions in their drawings due to the sheer volume and time pressures to get projects out the door. Now Bluebeam Max has the tools to help solve that glaring issue in the AEC. This AI technology can read AEC industry drawings and identify scope gaps, contradictions, errors, and omissions. Running Smart Review and Smart Compare can help architects and engineers increase accuracy and consistency in their documentation before it heads out to the construction site, helping prevent construction issues and embarrassing conflicts that cost owners money and increase liability for design and engineering professionals. 

Another impact-building new feature is the stronger tie-in to Revit so that comment markups link back into the right locations in Revit, where architects, engineers, and designers live to take action on these issues. 

And last but not least, the Anthropic Claude integration enables Revu users to leverage AI to compare two documents (document 1 and document 2) and highlight the differences in the Bluebeam issues markup list. A perfect example would be different versions of a section in the building code. See how the building code or any kind of document has changed. 

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Sketch-to-BIM

This integration comes with Vectorworks 2026 Update 5 and connects iPad sketching directly to Vectorworks.

Key Takeaways

• New Export to Morpholio Trace command — sends selected, scale-accurate sheets or viewports from Vectorworks via the cloud to a dedicated Vectorworks folder in Trace on their iPad.
• New Import from Morpholio Trace command — brings sketches from Trace back into Vectorworks files as images or vector-based linework, streamlining tracing to CAD/BIM workflows.

Architects today still begin design processes with hand sketching, and many use tablet-based software products like Morpholio Trace. The Apple Design Award-winning iPad app has been labeled “dream software for architects,” and combines the power of Apple Pencil technology with the incredible processing power of the Apple iPad.

Vectorworks 2026 now has full integration with the Apple award-winning app Morpholio Trace, now part of Vectorworks, Inc.

From initial concepts and design details to construction administration stage markups, Morpholio Trace delivers intelligent workflows for architects using the power of immediate hand to sketch workflows.

MORE: Vectorworks acquires popular Morpholio—Leading Mobile Design App

The new Trace integration with Vectorworks reflects a market-proven fact that drawing, tracing, and sketching remain central to how designers think, explore, and communicate ideas. Through the connection with Vectorworks on desktop, designers can move between various workflow scenarios and personas, from the immediacy of hand sketching to the intelligence of their BIM and CAD models.

“With this integration, we’re bringing the power of sketching and the precision of BIM closer together than ever before,” said Vectorworks Product Planner Iskra Nikolova. “Drawings and sketches now move seamlessly in both directions through Vectorworks Cloud Services. Designers can start in Vectorworks and then sketch in Trace, or begin in Trace and bring those ideas back into Vectorworks, enabling a fluid, flexible creative process without extra steps or friction. The release of this integration in Vectorworks 2026 Update 5 marks another milestone in our commitment to connected, mobile-friendly workflows that honor the craft of design.”

Getting Features

This new integration comes with Vectorworks 2026 Update 5, available now. This update is now accessible for all currently released English-language versions of Vectorworks 2026 through subscription and Vectorworks Service Select customers. Vectorworks users can install by selecting “Check for Updates from the Vectorworks menu (Mac) or Help menu (Windows).

To explore the new Morpholio Trace integration and all the latest features, start a free 7-day trial of Vectorworks Design Suite and download Morpholio Trace for iPad and iPhone in the Apple App Store.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

Morpholio Trace works with more applications than just Vectorworks, as it can ingest 3D models created in various applications, from BIM to professional 3D modelers. Usually, you export your model out to a (.USDZ) or (.OBJ) file format to bring into Trace. Of course, the Vectorworks integration is even smoother than this, and it’s automated in the cloud. 

Beyond Morpholio Trace, Morpholio Journal is another sister app for simply having a digital sketchbook. It features amazing pens and brushes, and you can also write in it. Then there is BoardPro, a mood board application. ELLE Décore magazine called it “addictive” and awarded it “Best Apps” for interior design, home decor, and interior architecture. This particular app is interesting because Vectorworks, as a company, has toyed with the idea of an industry vertical version of Vectorworks for interior professionals. Currently, interior professionals buy Vectorworks Architect or Vectorworks Design Suite to use as their CAD-BIM environment, but we could see an evolution in which both Vectorworks and this suite of apps (especially BoardPro) develop into a consolidated solution or package called Vectorworks Interiors. 

The advantage Vectorworks has created through its industry vertical solutions is the delivery of a tailor-made solution for a particular type of AEC/O professional. Architosh has written about this in the past in some detail: the one-size-fits-all approach will eventually lose out to highly focused, more pointed, and specialized solutions. We don’t know for certain if that is where the company will go next, but the acquisition of Morpholio Trace offers interesting suggestions. 

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Importantly, Newforma announced a simplified, modular user-based software licensing model, which will help firms better align purchases with role-specific needs.

Newforma and AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) was front and center at Newforma World 2026, the company’s annual user conference. So was updating and modernizing the company’s product offerings.

Newforma announces its broad strategic visions for the AEC/O global industry.

Key new announcements include:

• Newforma Vojo — the company’s new AI assistant, built on an agent-driven framework that lets users search project information, analyze content, and complete tasks more efficiently. Initial capabilities include natural-language search across project data, AI-driven analysis of BIM models and documents, and AI-assisted submittal review workflows.
• Hybrid Modernization — continued investment in hybrid modernization with Newforma Project Center, a reflection of its strategic vision, helping with a seamless transition to the cloud, cloud-connected environments, and more.
• Newforma FedRAMP Moderate — new initiative to address ongoing work toward advanced compliance requirements.

At Newforma World 2026, the message was about flexibility towards the cloud, combining Newforma’s AI-driven automation and support of open integrations, and reinforced a “cloud-first, not cloud-forced” approach that supports customers wherever they are in their modernization journey.

Customers choose when and how they modernize. We decided not to be cloud-only, and it’s by design,” said Carl Veillette, Chief Product Officer at Newforma. “Everything we build must either lower risk, save time, or unlock scale.”

MORE: Newforma accelerates AI innovation and AWS expansion

The AI agent Vojo is embedding intelligence directly into project workflows, such as Smart Email Filing, an AI-powered capability that automatically associates emails with projects and recommends filing locations for RFIs, submittals, and action items, which aids firms in maintaining a more defensible project record.

These capabilities are supported by the company’s collaboration with Amazon Web Services (AWS), providing secure and scalable infrastructure for advanced AI innovation.

“AI is only as powerful as the data it’s built on,” said Ben Schreiner, Head of AI and Modern Data Strategy Business Development at Amazon Web Services. “Newforma’s approach combines secure, scalable AWS infrastructure with an agent-driven AI framework to help AECO teams surface insights, reduce manual effort, and make more confident decisions, and we’re thrilled to be partnering with Newforma.”

To learn more about Newforma’s latest announcements, go here.

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Benefits for AEC/O Clients

For firms in architecture, engineering, construction, and operations (AEC/O), Graitec’s new status provides tangible advantages, including deep expertise and technical product know-how. Additionally:

• • Expert Guidance: Access to one of the industry’s most highly trained Bluebeam teams 
  • Operational Efficiency: Proven onboarding frameworks for faster implementation and tailored workflow optimization 
  • Strategic Support: Priority support and strategic consulting to maximize ROI on software investments 
  • Future-Proofing: Early visibility into product innovation roadmaps and upcoming updates 

As a Sapphire-level partner, Graitec staff receive advanced training, next-level support, and early access to the latest software advances by the California-based software company. All of this ensures that AEC/O clients of Graitec’s receive top-level services on all their Bluebeam software deployment needs.

Graitec’s team received the award for Bluebeam Sapphire Partnership.

“Being named a Bluebeam Sapphire Partner is a tremendous achievement for our organization,” said Scott McMaster, Chief Revenue Officer of Graitec Group. “It reflects the strength of our strategic partnership with Bluebeam, investments we are making in our go-to-market teams, including the expanded expertise brought through Microsol Resources joining the Graitec Group. This recognition reinforces our commitment to delivering exceptional service, deep technical knowledge, and measurable value to our clients across North America.”

“We are proud to recognize Graitec as a Bluebeam Sapphire Partner,” said Curt Bramel, VP of Global Channel Sales of Bluebeam. “Their team consistently demonstrates a high level of expertise and a strong commitment to customer success. As the industry continues to evolve, partners like Graitec play a critical role in helping firms leverage Bluebeam to improve collaboration, productivity, and project outcomes.”

To learn more about Graitec, visit them online here.

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Claude Meets SketchUp

A new SketchUp Connector brings in the power of an MCP (model context protocol) service that allows Claude to interact directly with SketchUp (.SKP) files.

Key Takeaways

• SketchUp users can utilize Claude AI to generate 3D models from prompts, including both text prompts and pictures.
• SketchUp users will need a Claude AI account to utilize the new SketchUp Connector for Claude.

The connectivity benefits users by enhancing their ability to create 3D models, regardless of their SketchUp 3D modeling skill level.

What Can You Model

Users can create new geometry by simply describing their design goals, such as building massing models, landscapes, or furniture.

SketchUp Connector for Claude AI powers AI-generated 3D modeling in Trimble SketchUp.

They can provide plain-language inputs, reference images, sketches, photos, floor plans, and dimensions that they upload to give Claude the necessary context to understand the design modeling objective. Claude then builds the geometry in a cloud SketchUp session, iteratively verifying the dimensions.

Chris Cronin, vice president and general manager of architecture and design solutions at Trimble, says:

“Natural language prompts and the power of AI make it easy for anyone to get started and excel,” adds Cronin, “including inexperienced and non-traditional 3D design users, bringing us closer to our ‘3D for everyone’ goal.”

This new specialized Claude integration with SketchUp is consistent with Trimble’s overall initiatives to democratize advanced technologies and make them available to a wider range of users.

More Claude Advantages

SketchUp Claude Connector also tracks version history within a single chat, allowing users to quickly navigate, troubleshoot, and refine their models. If the design is not quite correct, the user can describe what is wrong, and Claude will make adjustments based on what is specified as wrong.

MORE: Trimble set to acquire AI-powered Document Crunch

When a model is complete, the Connector creates a 2D preview thumbnail and provides a direct download link to the (.SKP) file. Once downloaded, the user can then manually edit the model.

And one more final note. Users can train Claude on core skills and unique workflows to complete competitive tasks.

Availability

Users can get started today by enabling Trimble SketchUp in Claude’s MCP directory connector settings. Accessing the connector does require a Claude account and a Trimble ID for authentication. Users receive a free SketchUp entitlement that allows them to save up to 30 SketchUp models; after that, a paid entitlement is required. Resulting files can be opened in SketchUp for Web, Desktop, iPad, or iPhone.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

As some additional directions. When you log into your Claude account, go to Customize, click on Connect your Apps, and then you will have a list of all of Anthropic’s partners. Search for Trimble. Hit the plus icon to connect Claude with SketchUp. 

View of Claude’s main sign-in page. You need an Anthropic Claude account in order to link SketchUp to Claude for AI-powered modeling.

In watching some users explore this technology, the results are varied but also quite solid. Reference images only type Claude-generations may be off quite a bit, while others are strangely very good. Perhaps most positive is that a combination of detailed reference images (those including dimensions), combined with detailed prompts with dimensions, can yield substantially good results. We are talking about whole combinations of rooms, like a bedroom suite. Another positive side is that Anthropic‘s Claude appears to be quite fast. Trimble doesn’t really note that in their announcement, but user tests are showing good speed for results. You still have to download the file, but that doesn’t take a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, especially if Claude saves you 30 minutes of modeling. 

The post SketchUp Adds Anthropic’s Claude—AI-powered 3D modeling appeared first on Architosh.

C4D on iPad

Naturally built for the iPad’s touch user interface, Cinema 4D for iPad delivers core 3D modeling and design capabilities in a streamlined, mobile-first interface.

Key Takeaways

• Cinema 4D for iPad will enable creatives to take their 3D and animation skills on the go, whenever inspiration strikes
• Cinema 4D for iPad is designed to complement the desktop versions and will be a mobile, touch-centric version with its own capabilities and functions
• Cinema 4D for iPad is due in late 2026

Moreover, the iPad version of Cinema 4D is meant to complement the classic desktop version of Cinema 4D, so artists can explore ideas on the go, when traveling, or whenever they have a creative moment, and bring that work back into the desktop version.

Maxon is slated to release Cinema 4D for iPad, a touch-optimized version of the award-winning 3D content creation software.

Now the iPad version of Cinema 4D will be tailored for mobile workflows and will not be a carbon copy of the desktop versions of the application. It will also support cross-platform workflows, dovetailing with both Mac and Windows versions of Cinema 4D.

Additionally, Cinema 4D for iPad will support Redshift rendering capabilities, and Sculpts from ZBrush for iPad will also open directly on Cinema 4D for iPad.

Availability

Maxon has only said the release and availability are late 2026. Readers interested can join the official beta program here.

The post Cinema 4D Comes to iPad appeared first on Architosh.

New this year is support for Windows 11 and macOS 26 Tahoe.

The same platform consistency extends to ARES Touch on Apple iOS and Google Android, and, of course, ARES Kudo runs in a modern web browser regardless of operating system. This “One CAD” experience means users can deploy ARES at work on a Windows workstation and continue to work on the go with a M5-based MacBook Pro. It also means schools can run ARES Kudo beautifully on Chromebooks in Chrome, just as effectively as in another modern browser on Windows.

Key Takeaways in this Feature 

• The ARES 2027 CAD ecosystem is the ultimate competitor to Autodesk AutoCAD; ARES products map directly to AutoCAD’s desktop, web, and mobile lineup. 
• ARES 2027 CAD ecosystem distinguishes itself for its AI generative capabilities: AI-assisted block creation, voice input AI features, and A3’s new strengths in “editing” and creating CAD entities, and more.
• ARES uniquely features both BIM-to-DWG automation capabilities, plus extensive cloud-based drawing automation that now works directly from its desktop solutions.
• ARES can now streamline BIM-to-DWG workflows with discipline (A+S+MEP) management control, reflecting how real BIM projects get coordinated, plus full support for Autodesk Forma Data Management (CDE) integration.

These are the big takeaways, but we dive deep into many of these aspects in our Product In-Depth below, plus be sure to read our Closing Remarks and references to other key articles. 

Part One — The AI Pivot

This year, Graebert has pivoted even harder toward AI technologies, though the company has already been at the forefront of AI within the broader CAD market. Architosh has written extensively about ARES in the past, including its A3 AI agent in ARES Kudo. (see: Architosh, “ARES Kudo adds BIM Drawings Automation and AI—Challenges AutoCAD,” 5 May 2027)

Graebert’s aggressive push into AI is not surprising given the rapidly rising importance of artificial intelligence in everyone’s lives. But it is especially critical for Graebert, given competition from its primary rival, Autodesk AutoCAD. For the Berlin-based “middle power” in the CAD world, competing with an industry “super-power” like Autodesk is no easy feat. ARES has managed this by being early, innovative, and aggressive.

The 2027 versions of ARES continue this AI push with new generative AI capabilities and a more even deployment of its AI and automation features across its desktop and web-based platforms. In this article, we explore those advances in detail.

Compatibility Focus

While several major native DWG CAD competitors operate in the broader CAD market, Berlin-based Graebert remains the most direct and interesting “dueling opponent” with Autodesk AutoCAD. This is not to say other competitors lack unique strengths—they do—but Graebert has challenged US-based Autodesk head-on rather than leaning primarily on industry-vertical differentiation. The result has been striking, with AutoCAD displaced inside major companies in Japan and South Korea. (see, Architosh: “ARES and AutoCAD — Locked in Global Duel for DWG Supremancy,” 23 April 2025).

Competing head-on means ARES Commander competes with desktop AutoCAD, ARES Kudo competes with AutoCAD Web, and ARES Touch competes with AutoCAD Mobile.

Both Autodesk and other DWG CAD platforms have introduced AI capabilities that overlap with ARES’s A3 AI-agent features in some areas and diverge in others. This product’s in-depth article, however, focuses on Graebert’s AI features and largely avoids direct comparisons with competitors’ AI capabilities.

Readers curious about Graebert’s AI and automation advancements in the ARES Trinity of CAD solutions should sign up for the company’s June event (see: Graebert neXt event, 3 June 2026 – highly recommended to register here!)

Part Two — AI Highlights

Meet A3—ARES’ AI Assistant

Graebert’s AI agent, called A3, is partially built on OpenAI’s technology—the same technology behind ChatGPT. It was first introduced in March 2024 as part of the desktop solution, while Architosh later covered its arrival in Kudo. (see: Architosh, “ARES Kudo adds BIM Drawings Automation and AI — Challenges AutoCAD,” 30 Mar 2025).

210 – A3 is a marvelous assistant and teacher and will guide the user’s queries about learning or how-to-do commands in ARES products with all possible answers, giving the users an education in both command-line and menu and toolbar-driven workflows. (click on image to expand large, typical all images)

As we noted a year ago, A3 has a commanding knowledge of how ARES products work and can provide step-by-step instructions. When multiple methods are available, A3 provides the steps for each approach. Because I learned this year that OpenAI’s technology powers A3, I asked it how to perform tasks as if I were a CAD user from another platform learning ARES for the first time. (IMAGES 210-211)

211 – Menu highlighting, when paired with A3’s CAD assistance, greatly helps the ARES user (new or veteran) execute commands they may be unfamiliar with.

Unlike Gemini, ChatGPT, or other general AI tools on the Internet, A3 is built directly into ARES. Its instructions are paired with user-interface highlighting, showing users where to find specific menus and tool buttons. This works multiple levels deep: A3 highlights a button, then, after you click it, highlights the next-level button, and so on.

As someone who has used several CAD/BIM/3D tools in professional practice and reviewed dozens more, I can honestly say that moving in and out of different CAD solutions over long periods naturally leads to forgetting how things work. This year, while using A3 to test features, it dawned on me how powerful an AI assistant like A3 can be at minimizing the switching costs of moving from one platform to another.

When starting a new conversation with A3, the assistant provides sample query suggestions, such as “What is a markup?” or “Show me where the hatch feature is.” A regenerate button produces three new suggestions each time. But here is a thought I had: “Why not make these suggestions part of a structured learning path for ARES—especially one aimed at users coming from specific tools such as AutoCAD, Solid Edge, Vectorworks, or BricsCAD?”

MORE: Graebert neXt 2027 Event Page

Given A3’s ability to connect answers to UI highlighting, this seems like a strong future opportunity as AI technology continues to evolve, with training that can provide more structured in-situ guidance and learning lessons.

A3 can also help customize the ARES user interface, answer general concept questions—such as “What is a custom block?”—perform unit conversions, function as a calculator, and respond to industry-specific prompts. For example, it can suggest layer names for an architectural drawing. (IMAGE 214)

214 – Industry knowledge is also a domain specialty of A3 in ARES Commander 2027 and ARES Kudo Professional. I was able to ask A3 to create layers in a blank file and make them conform to an industry standard. A3 prompted me back, asking for clarification on several good points, and with final answers, proceeded to create all the layers I needed in my drawing file. (see IMAGE 215 for results)

After generating an industry-standard layer list for an architectural drawing without interiors, structural, or MEP requirements, the obvious question becomes: wouldn’t it be useful if A3 could actually create all those layers?

In ARES 2027, it can. With one command next to A3, and after about 25 seconds, all my layers were created. (IMAGE 215) Because A3 can create layers from within the context of a chat session, users may naturally wonder whether it can create almost anything in the drawing or inside the ARES user interface.

215 – A3’s ability to create layers was one of the more practical and impressive AI features tested.

The short answer is no. A3 can create entities in a drawing and create items such as layers, but it cannot do everything yet. For example, it cannot change the background color to white or black directly from chat. Instead, it shows you the steps to make user interface changes.

A3 remains particularly strong at locating UI features. This is why I made a point of using A3 more deliberately this year when testing new features in ARES 2027 products. I have to say, A3 seems super solid in helping with the guidance aspects of learning ARES.

New Multi-Task Prompting

New this year in ARES Kudo is A3’s ability to perform “Editing” commands, including the creation of drawing entities. These features were already present in Commander last year and include commands such as selecting all polylines, arcs, or circles in a drawing. Users can also ask A3 to select all lines with a specific lineweight.

A3’s multi-task prompting enables selection and modification in a single prompt. For example, A3 can select all lines with a specific lineweight and change their color to blue. It can select all blocks on a named layer and rotate them by 30 degrees, provided the layer is cited precisely.

In one test file, I asked A3 to select all entities on layer 0—a common cleanup and block-control task—and it performed the task efficiently. (IMAGE 220)

220 – A3 Can select entities on a specific layer, for example, I asked to find any entities on layer 0, and it did that perfectly.

In another test, also executed in ARES Kudo Professional 2027, I asked A3 to select all entities on layer C-MUEBLES and change their line color to yellow. It completed the operation in a single prompt. (see images 221–222, and click on all images to make them large).

221 – Select entities and change their line color, part 1.

222 – Select entities and change their line color, part 2.

Although Graebert does not heavily emphasize this point, A3 can also create elements—not simply select them and perform actions such as changing lineweight. To begin a first line, A3 needs a coordinate point for the start point. In my first test, I supplied both start and end coordinate points for the first two lines and also instructed A3 to assign a specific lineweight and place them on a specific layer. A3 handled this without issue.

In another test, I again provided a coordinate start point for the first line. From there, I could command A3 to create new lines from the start, end, or midpoint of existing lines. It even handled a prompt like this:

“Draw a new line from the midpoint of the second line you created right on the x axis another 15 feet, then up on the y axis to a distance set parallel to the first line. Then draw a new line from the end of that line back to the endpoint of the first line you drew [sic] for me.”

A3 achieved the goal impressively. Notice a few things. First, my prompt contained a grammatical error in the last sentence, but A3 understood the intent. Second, I used natural language expressions such as “draw up,” “a distance set parallel to the first line,” and “the end of that line.” A3 accomplished all of this, including registering distances based on vertex points described in natural language.  (IMAGE 227)

227 – A3 can also create CAD entities. It can draw for you. This kind of capability is very early for AI and CAD, but it strongly suggests a more captivating future of commanding your CAD program to assist in drawing production.

Truthfully, asking A3 to draw these lines is not faster than drawing them manually. But the point of the test was to see how well A3 could interpret plain-language drawing directives. One can imagine using AI itself to create vastly more complex prompts, pasting them into A3, and seeing what happens.

For one final test, I wrote the following prompt in another app and pasted it into A3:

“Begin a line at 5,5,0 and draw that line 20 feet right on the x axis. Next draw a second line down on the y axis 20 feet. Then a third line left on the x axis 15 feet, then a fourth line up on the y axis 6 feet, then from the end of that line draw a line to the start point of the first line. Next draw a line from the midpoint of the first line down on the y axis 10 feet, then begin a new line from that line endpoint to the midpoint of the second line.”

The result was fast. It took exactly 16 seconds to execute the prompt just described and draw the objects, followed by about 2–3 seconds for A3 to describe what it had created inside the A3 palette. (IMAGES 227-228)

I then used A3 to change line colors by referring to the lines in the order they were created, using terms such as “first” and “last.” (IMAGE 228)

228 – A continuation of a more elaborate prompt for A3, described above, with A3 fully understanding terms like “first” and “last” in reference to already AI-produced lines.

While my examples—even the most advanced one—may seem primitive, they represent a shift from manual geometry creation to high-level orchestration: from explicit manual creation, to deterministic tools that follow drawing instructions, to declarative tools where users describe what they want.

New: Voice Interaction in Kudo

In considering the broader implications of deterministic and declarative AI tools in CAD and BIM, voice input could have a meaningful impact on speed. Typing takes time. Speech is often faster.

New in ARES Kudo Professional is the ability to talk to A3 using your voice.

230 – ARES Kudo’s A3 supports voice input. But you must first give it permission.

231 – A view of the voice input in A3’s palette.

Inside Kudo’s A3 palette, users click the microphone button at the bottom. Kudo then asks for microphone permission. (IMAGE 230) Users can speak to A3, which listens and converts speech into written prompts. The user then clicks the arrow button to execute the prompt.

I asked A3 to select all entities on layer 0, then asked it to change that selection’s line color to yellow. (IMAGE 231)

New: Command Recommender in Commander

Another new AI feature is Real-Time Command Recommendation. In the lower-right corner of the ARES interface, the Command Recommender palette lists six commands most likely to be used next. This AI-powered widget is based on Graebert’s own AI engine, using smart algorithms that analyze user interactions and command history in real time.

240 – The AI Commander Recommender is in the lower right of this image. This feature is handy, and we understand it will continue to advance. It is based on Graebert’s own AI technology.

In one 2D workflow, I created a series of lines forming a closed, complex triangular shape. The Command Recommender suggested likely next commands such as Delete, Move, Pan, Hatch, and Rotate. I selected Rotate and performed the command, after which the recommendation list changed. Some commands, like Pan, appear to remain in the palette continuously, but overall, this new feature seems quite useful.

New: AI Text Tools

New this year in ARES Kudo Professional, and previously available in Commander, Kudo’s MText editor now includes AI-driven tools for translation, writing refinement, spell checking, and summarization.

Users can access these AI abilities with Note and SimpleNote entities. This differs from using A3 to translate text, though A3 is also fully capable of doing so.

New: AI-Assisted Block Generation

One of the more intriguing AI uses in ARES this year is AI-assisted block generation. This rapidly evolving feature is part of A3’s cloud-based technology. Because it runs in the cloud, Graebert can deploy the same AI capability to both the desktop-based Commander solution and the browser-based Kudo solution. (IMAGE 250)

250 – AI-assisted block generation is “generative AI” inside ARES. This technology is highly useful for certain kinds of things you must draw.

The AI responds to “prompt descriptions” of the desired block and generates three versions. These initial results are non-vector graphics. The user selects the preferred option, saves it as a block, names it, and the AI translates it into a vector CAD object. (see IMAGES 251 – 252)

251 – Asking A3 inside the Trinity Block library to generate a Land Rover in top and side view.

252 – The finished product, the new AI-generated block of a Land Rover.

AI-assisted block generation appears best suited for complex elements such as furniture, site objects, trees, or cars in architectural drawings—items that can be time-consuming to create manually. Importantly, the process in ARES 2027 is generative and appears to create geometry in a “unit-less” environment. When the block is placed into the drawing, users can scale it before final placement, in addition to the normal block-insertion options.

Looking across the AI features in the ARES 2027 ecosystem, Graebert has further differentiated itself from DWG CAD rivals by positioning ARES as an AI-generative CAD leader, while A3 remains strong as an AI-driven assistant. These are two distinct sides of AI in CAD, and both benefit the user.

Part Three — BIM, Automation, and Cloud Processing

Online Drawings Automation — Now in Commander

While AI assistance helps users learn and get more out of CAD software, and generative AI helps users create content faster, Drawings Automation represents another major facet of Graebert’s competitive differentiation from Autodesk.

This year, the online automation features shown in ARES Kudo last year have come to ARES Commander. While the specific functions—such as DWG Drawing Compare—can be performed manually, online automation offers several key benefits:

• Server-based processing — saving the local computer from being tied up during the process, so users can continue working.
• Batch processing — enabling many files to be processed at once, with email notification when complete.
• Scheduling — allowing single or multiple tasks to run at specific dates and times, such as after work hours.
• Recurring jobs — enabling repeated processes, such as converting a DWG file to PDF every night and saving it to a chosen cloud storage provider.

Drawing automation processes include:

• DWG Drawing Compare
• DWG Data Extraction
• DWG Export to DWF, DWFX, JPG, PNG, SLD, SVG, or TIF
• Convert DWG to PDF
• Convert PDF to DWG
• Convert DWG to DGN — MicroStation format
• Convert DGN to DWG
• Print Sheet Sets (.DST) to PDF — (A new automation this year!)

To access Drawings Automation, users go to File > Online Automation. The automation dialog opens, where users select the desired process. (see list above and IMAGE 260)

260 – The Menus method to activate drawings automations in ARES Commander 2027. You can also activate from the Cloud palette, which is also where you can implement the BIM-to-DWG automation process.

The first automation I tested was DWG to DGN, configured as a recurring scheduled conversion. I then performed an immediate DWG-to-PDF conversion. The automation job status appears on the right, while an Open in Browser button opens the automation jobs in the ARES Kudo cloud system. (see IMAGES 261-262)

261 – Inside the drawings automation settings window. This is where you select your particular setup for your automation process.

We covered this window in detail last year as part of our ARES Kudo focus. (see, Architosh: “ARES Kudo adds BIM Drawings Automation and AI — Challenges AutoCAD,” 30 Mar 2025) Drawings Automation Jobs are listed with their template, job ID, status, creation time, and actions column. The status column provides a color-coded indicator, while recurring jobs are marked in orange in the template column. (see IMAGE 262)

262 – Automations in progress with status indicators and more. This window’s functionality largely remains the same this year.

Users can also initiate drawing automation from the Cloud Storage palette. Right-clicking a selected file opens a drop-down menu with the same output options for Drawings Automation, including BIM-to-DWG automations.

Finally, ARES automations can notify users when a process is complete. In the images above, note the checkbox for email notification. This is what the resulting email looks like in your inbox. (IMAGE 263)

263 – Email notification that your drawings automation process is complete.

One final note: a new automation job type this year is Print Sheet Set (.DST) to PDF.

Advanced BIM-To-DWG: Multi-Discipline Support

One of Graebert’s unique features in ARES Commander has been its ability to ingest BIM files—Revit and IFC—and automatically create DWG drawings for documentation. For example, an MEP engineer working in 2D CAD with ARES Commander may receive a Revit model from an architect. The engineer can use ARES Commander to automatically create floor plans, exterior elevations, and sections, then develop MEP construction plans from those DWG files.

In previous versions, each new BIM file received from a project stakeholder or collaborator produced separate plans, generating redundancy. Now, ARES Commander manages linked BIM models from different disciplines as part of an integrated project. Users can also configure drawing generation to include only selected disciplines, such as Architectural + Structural or Architectural + MEP.

This better reflects real-world BIM coordination workflows based on federated model coordination. And a few final points. ARES 2027 this year supports Revit formats from 2011 through 2026. And it also works with IFC files. (see also Forma Integration section below).

Smart Linking

Also new in 2027 is Smart Linking technology, which optimizes path management for external references, or XREFs. ARES now alerts users when critical location changes affect referenced drawings. This provides a more proactive way to manage broken links before they impact workflows. Few things are as frustrating as broken references right when a drawing must be printed.

Part Four — Collaboration and Performance

ARES has strong collaboration features thanks to its Trinity concept, which enables cloud-connected workflows linking desktop, web, and mobile for better teamwork. Teammates can be on site using ARES Touch, adding input to files that colleagues can immediately address back in the office.

Across devices and operating systems, ARES offers multi-user collaboration with solid session handling, version control, password-protected and date-limited file sharing, plus commenting and markup features that include voice notes, stamps, and photos from mobile devices. You can read more here. (see, Architosh: “ARES Trinity — A Review of the Industry Leading DWG CAD Software,” 2 Mar 2023)

Autodesk Forma Integration

This year, the ARES 2027 ecosystem adds integration with Autodesk Forma Data Management, formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud. Like other cloud systems, Autodesk’s CDE—common data environment—can now store ARES DWG files. Users connect to Autodesk Forma from the Cloud Storage palette in Commander or through the ARES Kudo web interface.

300 – Autodesk Forma integration.

Importantly, the Drawings Automation tools discussed earlier also work with files stored on Autodesk Forma Data Management. This includes automation of DWG drawings from Revit models in ARES BIM-to-DWG workflows. It also includes ARES’ BIM-to-DWG automation features. Revit files stored in Forma Data Management (FDM) can be linked to the BIM-to-DWG automation in ARES. When BIMRELOAD automates ARES, it produces new DWG files from the BIM model, and it can do this each time the BIM model is updated or whenever the automation is desired.

ARES Kudo Professional 2027 also supports connectivity to Autodesk Forma directly in the browser, including the free version, which supports viewing and commenting on files stored in Forma.

Drawing Insights in Kudo

Introduced this year, Drawing Insights helps users understand which collaborators have worked on files. Users can see who accessed, renamed, or shared a file. (IMAGE 310)

310 – Drawings Insights is a new feature this year in ARES Kudo Professional.

When a file is modified, Drawing Insights notes who modified it and the specific day and time.

Speed Gains

This year, Graebert says ARES Commander 2027 is dramatically faster than last year’s version. COPY operations are up to 50 percent faster, and version 2027 opens files up to 20 percent faster. The most noticeable gains, however, may come from 9–25 percent faster navigation.

For readers’ edification, in the CAD/BIM industry, the thresholds for perceived performance roughly break down as follows:

• Less than 10 percent — users may feel “placebo” speed gains; improvements are largely imperceptible.
• 15 percent — users notice gains in heavy commands, complex REGEN operations, or 3DORBIT workflows, but overall productivity rhythm remains similar.
• 20 percent — the “aha moment” or industry benchmark, where responsiveness becomes clearly noticeable.
• 50 percent or higher — transformative, often comparable to replacing a three-year-old workstation in the 1990s and 2000s.

This means ARES Commander 2027 delivers performance improvements at or above the “aha moment” level, especially on large and very large files. The larger the work, the more users will feel the gains. Zooming and panning are up to 20 percent faster on large drawings.

Commander 2027 also introduces extended multi-threading for SAVE, AutoSave, and CLOSE operations. These commands now run in the background instead of blocking the user interface.

AI and Admin Controls

A final note concerns collaboration within teams and organizations. Graebert has introduced a centralized administration layer for all AI features, addressing the primary concerns of enterprise CAD environments: security, privacy, and cost.

Area Note

AREANOTE was first released in ARES Commander 2027 SP0, was previously available in ARES Touch, and is now available in ARES Kudo.

The tool gives users a simple way to calculate areas quickly and represent them with color and variable transparency. Area regions can also be named, and their calculated area displayed, with user control over variables such as font size, color, and transparency.

500 – AREANOTE is a new command for ARES Kudo Professional that allows the user to quickly calculate areas and represent them in color regions.

The image above shows the new feature in ARES Kudo Professional 2027, but the tool works the same way across ARES products.

Competing with LT — Support for Print Styles in ARES Kudo

We have written in the past that Graebert views ARES Kudo not as a competitor to AutoCAD Web, but as a full-blooded competitor to AutoCAD LT. Why? Two reasons. First, Kudo is far more feature-rich than AutoCAD Web. Second, Kudo is so feature-complete that, despite running in the browser, it essentially matches AutoCAD LT’s capabilities.

When these two products compete, ARES Kudo scores points by being cloud-hosted and offering cloud-specific features. AutoCAD LT scores points by handling much larger files faster, since it is not browser-based. But Kudo previously had one workflow disadvantage: no support for print styles. In ARES Kudo Professional, print styles are now supported.

ARES Kudo users can now take advantage of the new Print Dialog box, including print style support. With print styles, users can maintain one set of line colors for optimal screen contrast and another set for PDF-based printing.

Because AutoCAD LT supports equivalent plot style systems—CTB and STB—this was previously one disadvantage for ARES Kudo when competing for LT users. ARES Kudo Professional now supports both color-dependent CTB and named STB plot styles. It can create these styles anew and also ingest existing (.CTB) and (.STB) files from AutoCAD, helping ensure printed PDFs look as intended from the original AutoCAD setup.

ARES Kudo Professional lets users create, edit, and manage print styles—just like LT—not merely apply them, as in AutoCAD Web.

Finally, ARES Commander can now export drawings in STEP format, not just import STEP. This round-trip capability strengthens workflows involving SOLIDWORKS, Inventor, PTC Onshape, and other MCAD systems.

Closing Remarks

ARES 2027 shows Graebert continuing to sharpen its “Trinity” strategy around a unified CAD experience across desktop, web, and mobile. The practical value of this approach is not merely platform breadth, but workflow continuity: users can move between Commander, Kudo, and Touch with a consistent DWG-centric experience. That remains one of ARES’s strongest differentiators, especially for organizations that need flexibility across Windows, macOS, Linux, browsers, tablets, and mobile devices.

The larger story in this release, however, is AI. A3 is no longer just a help assistant that explains commands or points users toward interface elements. In ARES 2027, it increasingly becomes an active participant in the CAD workflow—selecting entities, modifying geometry, creating layers, responding to multi-step prompts, and even supporting voice-driven interaction in Kudo. AI-assisted block generation pushes this further by moving Graebert into generative CAD territory, where natural-language prompts can produce reusable vector-based drawing content.

ARES 2027 also strengthens Graebert’s competitive position through automation and BIM-to-DWG workflows. Bringing online Drawings Automation into Commander gives desktop users access to server-based batch processing, scheduling, recurring jobs, format conversion, and sheet-set PDF output without tying up local machines. Meanwhile, advanced BIM-to-DWG improvements—especially multi-discipline support and Smart Linking—make ARES more relevant to real-world federated BIM coordination workflows where not every participant works natively inside a BIM authoring tool.

Taken together, ARES 2027 is not a single-feature release but a strategic one. It advances AI, cloud automation, BIM interoperability, collaboration, performance, and Kudo’s ability to compete more directly with AutoCAD LT. Graebert remains a smaller player than Autodesk, but ARES 2027 demonstrates how a focused competitor can move quickly, differentiate boldly, and continue expanding what native DWG CAD can become in an AI-accelerated, cloud-connected era.

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DACH Region

The news reflects the company’s interest in establishing a stronger European hub that builds on ComputerWorks’ market expertise, technical support structure, and sales channel developed over decades of service to German-speaking architects and designers. The acquisition is expected to be completed by 4 May 2026.

As part of the deal, ComputerWorks in Germany will be renamed Vectorworks Germany GmbH. ComputerWorks AG will spin off its CAD division to establish Vectorworks Switzerland AG, while the remaining business will continue as ComputerWorks AG.

Vectorworks has new corporate offices in Germany and Switzerland, acquiring its DACH region distributor, ComputerWorks AG’s CAD division. 

“For many years, ComputerWorks has represented Vectorworks to thousands of designers and planners in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland,” said Vectorworks CEO Jason Pletcher. “By bringing ComputerWorks into the Vectorworks family, we are not only expanding our presence in these specific countries, but also combining the strength of a global product organization with the expertise of trusted local professionals. This will enable us to help our customers move faster, collaborate more effectively, and deliver superior designs.”

German Language Market Needs

ComputerWorks AG has long localized Vectorworks products for the German language markets, tailoring the product line and offering complementary solutions to meet regional needs for the architecture, interiors, landscape, and entertainment industries.

“Designers in the DACH region face complex projects, demanding clients, and evolving regulations. They need partners who understand both the local context and global tools,” said Alexander Meier, CEO of Vectorworks Germany. “Becoming part of Vectorworks enables our team to bring our deep understanding of customer needs across all disciplines directly to the people building the software. Together, we can shape features, content, and services that reflect how our customers work today and where they want to go tomorrow.”

“With more than 30 years of development experience, we know that true innovation begins with a deep understanding of local needs and workflows,” said Andreas Hängärtner, CEO of Vectorworks Switzerland. “When that local insight is amplified through international collaboration and presented on a global stage, it creates new opportunities for our users to design with greater confidence and impact.”

German and Swiss Offices

The Vectorworks Germany office is located in Lörrach, Germany, and the Vectorworks Switzerland office is located in Basel, Switzerland. Vectorworks’s parent company, the Nemetschek Group, is headquartered in Munich, Germany, in the Nemetschek Haus, a large office complex that also houses several of its key brands, including Allplan and Bluebeam’s European offices.

Global Presence

Vectorwork, Inc., is an award-winning design and BIM software provider serving the entire AEC industry and the related entertainment design industry in 85 countries around the world. It is headquartered in Maryland, United States, with key offices in Newbury, England; Sydney, Australia; Vancouver, Canada; and Japan.

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However, new research from Bluebeam recently reveals encouraging signs of recovery momentum.

Recovery Efforts

Bluebeam, a leading developer of solutions and services for AEC professionals worldwide, reports that more than three-quarters of respondents (76%) have begun rebuilding, while a third say they remain dissatisfied with the pace of progress. This sentiment reflects not just new construction, but also the necessary new permitting initiatives put in place. Here are some details:

Hurdles For Homeowners:

• Nearly one-third (29%) remain uncertain whether their home can be fully rebuilt, underscoring the complexity of current requirements.
• Costs and financing challenges (43%), insurance issues (34%), and labor shortages (29%) are the most frequently cited obstacles.

Positive Momentum:

The reports show that delays in permitting persist as a significant frustration and point of uncertainty for homeowners navigating the rebuilding process:

• 27% of impacted residents cite permitting timelines as a key barrier to rebuild efforts.

• 88% of those homeowners who have applied for a permit in the wake of the wildfires have experienced delays.

• Only 4% of those surveyed said they were able to obtain a permit in under a month, and only 25% within two months, with most approval timelines far exceeding 30- to 60-day targets.

Despite this mix of signals, new initiatives pave hopeful paths forward.

Standard Plan Pilot Program

Based on the research, two-thirds (66%) of impacted homeowners are rather positive about the city of LA’s Standard Plan Pilot Program, which aids owners by offering a library of pre-approved, code-compliant home designs.

The use of standardized plans simplifies processes in meeting new requirements. One example is Bluebeam partner The Foothill Catalog Foundation (TFCF), a non-profit formed in response to the wildfires. TFCF offers pre-approved home designs in compliance with new permitting programs, helping residents rebuild more quickly. The organization has preapproved over 40 new unique designs to date, designs that help preserve the community identity as well.

Resilience for the Future

California ranks first in the nation for the number of homes at risk of extreme wildfire exposure (1.2 million), and homeowners are prioritizing long-term safety and resilience as they rebuild. Based on Bluebeam’s research:

• 83% of impacted residents plan to incorporate wildfire-resistant materials or design features into rebuild plans. Many are considering upgrades such as fire-resistant roofing, ember-resistant vents, defensible space planning, and use of non-combustible materials.

• 65% say they feel more confident in their preparedness for future wildfires because of these upgrades.

“With our global headquarters in Pasadena, the recovery from the 2025 wildfires is deeply personal to our team,” said Don Jacobs, Chief Innovation Officer at Bluebeam and local Los Angeles resident. “As homeowners rebuild, we’re seeing a meaningful shift toward resilient design that prioritizes long-term safety and durability. This research also highlights the opportunity to simplify and connect the systems behind rebuilding – particularly permitting – to remove delays and uncertainty. By streamlining permitting pathways, embracing resilient design, and fostering collaboration across all parties involved in the rebuild effort, we can help families return home faster and build communities that are stronger, safer, and better prepared for future wildfires.”

About the Survey

The survey was conducted in February and March 2026 with more than 500 Los Angeles County homeowners whose homes were damaged by the 2025 wildfires. The report provides insights into rebuilding progress, key challenges faced, and plans for future preparedness.

To learn more about the state of rebuilding efforts, visit: https://blog.bluebeam.com/from-cleanup-to-rebuild-project-mindset-wildfire-recovery/.

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MEP Designer

MEP Designer is Graphisoft’s BIM solution for engineers responsible for designing and documenting MEP systems in buildings. The solution is built on the Archicad BIM core engine, the industry-leading platform for architects, delivering complex collaborative BIM workflows between engineers and architects.

Graphisoft MEP Designer is a BIM design and documentation solution for MEP engineers in the AEC industry. It is built on the same Archicad core BIM engine and thus features some of the same visualization capabilities as Archicad, as well as being fully native for both macOS and Windows.

Available as a subscription-based product, MEP Designer is easy to learn and use, featuring an intuitive user interface and smart modeling tools that automate and simplify the MEP design process. Engineers and architects can obtain the software through MEP Designer Studio or Archicad Collaborate subscription plans. A flexible and adaptive solution, MEP engineers will discover how easy it is to develop MEP BIM models for their projects.

Márton Kiss, Chief Product Officer at Graphisoft, stated:

Key capabilities of the software include:

• Detailed documentation generated automatically — from floor plans and sections to schedules and parts lists — customizable and ready for submission.
• Built-in visualization tools and parametric libraries.
• Smooth communications and model consistency — on-site or remotely.
• Accurate planning and efficient coordination — CALHYDRA now connects to MEP Designer via a dedicated interface, enabling direct transfer of water and HVAC systems for hydraulic calculations; results are updated in the model for a seamless BIM-based workflow.

MEP Designer is currently available in select Asian and European markets on both Windows and macOS. It is the first native macOS BIM authoring and design tool for MEP engineers. For more information, visit graphisoft.com/mep-designer.

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

Graphisoft appears to be rolling out MEP Designer first in markets where it already has established bases of users in the engineering disciplines, as well as where engineering-focused sister subsidiaries of the Nemetschek Group consistently work with architects on the Archicad platform. These are likely Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Scandinavia, and perhaps Hungary. An exact list may be available only through Graphisoft sales channels. These European markets, plus select Asian markets, are the first targets for the rollouts. Graphisoft also owns DDScad, a MEP specialist software popular in Europe. The MEP Designer strategy seems to be tied to migrating DDScad users to MEP Designer adoption. 

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This year, Nirva Fereshetian (CIO of CBT Architects) and Niknaz Aftahi, CEO of aec+tech, will be hosting a similar event at the beautiful Carrier Johnson + Culture office in downtown San Diego during the AIA National Conference on Architecture & Design, the United States’ premier annual conference and exhibition for the architectural industry.

‘archi+tech’ Social Night

The evening event is a mixture of a social get-together with short presentations by technology providers and leaders in the global AEC industry. But largely, it’s a social event where attendees can have real conversations with members of the digital tech community in attendance.

A kind of class picture from last year’s first-ever ‘archi+tech’ Social Night at AIA National in Boston 2025. The event had sponsors from numerous AEC digital technology providers, including the industry’s largest companies.

Carrier Johnson + Culture is a larger architecture and planning firm in San Diego (with offices in Los Angeles and Seattle) with an award-winning portfolio spanning project types. They have graciously offered to host the event in their San Diego office.

Event Details

‘archi+tech’ Social Night will take place at 5:30 pm, Friday, 12 June 2026 (register here), during the week of the AIA Conference in San Diego. This year, the event is focusing on “innovation” and bringing together people who are actually shaping how technology is used in the architecture and AEC industry.

Nirva and Niknaz are curating a group of around 100 to 120 people at the intersection of design and technology, including:

• Architects and firm leaders
• CIOs, CTOs, and innovation directors
• BIM and design technology leaders
• AEC technology founders, investors, and accelerator teams

What is special about this event is the intimacy of the room and the opportunity to showcase the host firm’s location as a bit of an exhibition of their technological prowess. Last year, CBT Architects displayed a stunning set of digital solutions, specialty technology spaces, model shops, and interactive technology tools to give attendees a sense of what practice is like at a tech-forward large firm.

Registration

If you are attending AIA San Diego in early June and would like to attend this event, please register here: https://luma.com/dfmu0kut

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Steel Genie is New

Already a global leader in structural steel detailing and fabrication software and part of the Nemetschek Group, the launch of Steel Genie by ALLPLAN marks an AI-first for the German company in the critical area of construction estimating.

Key Takeaways

• The new product is called Steel Genie by ALLPLAN and automatically analyzes steel structural drawings using AI technology to power estimating workflows
• AI technology understands steel structural members and generates quantities and estimating-level 3D models in minutes.
• Steel Genie integrates into the ALLPLAN ecosystem of products, linking estimators’ workflows with steel detailing and fabricators

ALLPLAN Steel Genie utilizes AI technologies to automatically analyze structural drawing sets, detect key structural members, and generate quantities and estimate-level 3D models in minutes.

MORE: ALLPLAN 2026 — New ALLPLAN Model Viewer, AI, IFC4 and More…

Critically, the software addresses the pitfalls in today’s AEC market where manual counting and manual measurements are done by cost estimators using traditional methods, be they manual via printed documents or utilizing PDF drawings with some level of quantification automation. These new AI-powered automated methods are faster, thereby enabling the cost estimator to focus time on higher-value workflows.

Steel Genie by ALLPLAN is a new AI-powered estimating software that reads structural drawings to generate intelligent cost estimates.

Sunil Pandita, CEO of ALLPLAN and Chief Division Officer Planning & Design at the Nemetschek Group, tells Architosh:

Steel Genie employs artificial intelligence to analyze structural drawings and identify key design parameters. These factors encompass dimensions, length, weight, moment connections, camber, and shear studs. It subsequently identifies structural elements such as beams, columns, joists, and braces to automatically create material quantities and models that are ready for estimating.

ALLPLAN Steel Genie also boasts its own connection engine based on the AISC Design Guide and can export its estimate data to downstream workflows and fabrication teams. It also integrates fully into the broader ALLPLAN ecosystem, enabling estimating professionals to collaborate more effectively with detailing professionals.

Early customer feedback highlights the impact of the new technology.

“Steel Genie is an industry-changing tool for structural steel takeoff,” said Steven Tillery, Vice President of Preconstruction & Business Development at Steel Service. “Even during testing, we’ve seen how it can dramatically accelerate estimating.”

Availability

Steel Genie by ALLPLAN is now available to steel fabricators, estimators, and detailing teams seeking to automate steel takeoffs, improve estimating efficiency, and gain a head start on downstream detailing workflows.

You can sign up for a demo here.

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AI and Risk

Document Crunch’s tools use artificial intelligence to address critical pain points that impact a general contractor’s profitability.

Key Takeaways

• AI tech in Document Crunch identifies risks in contracts, specifications, RFIs, and other types of construction industry documents so that teams can address issues and prevent misalignment between stakeholders and partners early, before problems arise.
• CrunchAI is the company’s purpose-built AI engine for the AEC/O industry that general AI tools like OpenAI ChatGPT and Google Gemini can’t match.

These pain points include risk provisions, payment disputes, specification non-compliance, and notification failures. Adding Document Crunch to Trimble’s construction industry solutions bolsters the company’s ability to continue to serve high-value business problems within the industries it serves, such as infrastructure and building construction.

CrunchAI is a construction-industry-focused, purpose-built AI engine driving Document Crunch and delivers capabilities that general AI tools can’t match.

“Success in construction relies on the ability of every stakeholder to understand and mitigate risk in real-time,” said Mark Schwartz, senior vice president of AECO software at Trimble. “Document Crunch will provide a ‘contractual rule set’ to serve as the intelligent DNA for the entire Trimble Construction One (TC1) suite, automatically pushing critical obligations, compliance requirements, and payment terms into Trimble’s robust project delivery ecosystem.”

The Details

Document Crunch’s base of users, deployed across over 10,000 projects, is largely general contractors and subcontractors. The company reports there is also a growing base of designers, owners, insurance carriers, and others with an active interest in reducing risk in construction.

MORE: AIA Announces Strategic Sponsorship with Trimble

The acquisition will bring industry leadership and a seasoned AI engineering team directly into Trimble to drive immediate ROI for customers by:

• Preventing Costly Errors: Catching invoice payment term mismatches as well as broader contract, compliance, and scope risks before they escalate into disputes.
• Reducing Administrative Burden: Streamlining the review and generation of critical documentation, such as risk reviews, project playbooks, and delay notifications.
• Infusing Intelligence: Providing a contractual rule set that can push obligations and compliance requirements directly into project management and ERP workflows.

“The construction industry is at a tipping point for AI adoption, and our focus on risk reduction and automated compliance has positioned us to lead this next phase for the industry,” said Josh Levy, co-founder and CEO of Document Crunch. “We’re excited to build upon the strategic foundation of Trimble to help customers unlock new dimensions of value from data that resides across the construction lifecycle. Joining Trimble allows us to scale our vision and evolve to a core component of a widely comprehensive construction platform.”

Trimble AEC Segment

Document Crunch will be reported as part of Trimble’s AEC/O segment, which includes major AEC industry brands like SketchUp, Tekla, and Trimble ProjectSight. In fact, the software is already a Trimble Marketplace partner and integrates with ProjectSight today. The acquisition is expected to close in Q2, 2026.

To learn more about Document Crunch, go here.

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V-Ray 7 Update 3

“By bringing real-time ray tracing directly into the V-Ray viewport, artists can iterate faster while maintaining the quality that V-Ray is known for, all within a single, unified workflow,” said Vlado Koylazov, Head of Innovation at Chaos.

Key Takeways

• Final-frame-quality real-time rendering is now possible in V-Ray Viewport for those with a Vantage account
• V-Ray 7 update 3 is now out for Rhino and SketchUp, with 3ds Max coming soon
• AI Mood Match technology brings the atmosphere from a reference photo into your render

Real-time ray tracing technology in Chaos Vantage transforms how archviz teams work because it is able to handle complex lighting, large scenes, and large-scale geometry without slowdown. Now, V-Ray 7 users with a Vantage license can tap the power of real-time rendering without leaving the V-Ray workflow.

Parallax Interiors is the software that uses interior shaders from Cosmos. The effect holds from any camera angle and can be varied across a facade to avoid repetition, bringing convincing life to every window, especially during night scenes.

While real-time final-quality ray tracing rendering is a powerful update, Update 3 has eleven other great new features we discuss below, including impactful new AI capabilities.

New Features

There are multiple new features beyond the new capability to tap into Chaos Vantage technology directly in V-Ray 7. These include a new Gaussian splats relighting, Quick Caustics, Chaos Cloud Reviews, new Cosmos Sets, and New Assets.

AI Mood Match technology will be a hit with users who can use a reference photo and have AI match the lighting and atmospheric mood of the image and implement that in the rendered scene.

Moreover, there are multiple new AI tools that bring the power of AI deeper into the production process. An important one is the new AI Mood Match feature. Now, a user can use a reference photo to automatically align a scene’s lighting with the image’s look and atmosphere, reducing manual setup and achieving desired outcomes faster. Other AI features include the ability to AI-generate materials at 4K resolution for eye-popping renders.

Other features include in summary:

• Parallax Interiors — Architects can now add realistic interior depth and lighting to exterior renders without modeling or heavy geometry. Using parallax interior shaders from Cosmos, the effect holds from any camera angle and can be varied across a façade to avoid repetition, bringing convincing life to every window, especially in night scenes.
• Node Material Editor (V-Ray for SketchUp and Rhino) — Users can now build and adjust V-Ray materials visually using a node-based editor, making it easier to understand material logic and create complex shaders with greater control. The node editing workflow offers a more intuitive and visual alternative to traditional material creation and editing. The tool is now available as a preview, with more possibilities to come in future releases.
• AI Enhancer: Large Surfaces Coverage — Architects can add more realistic details to large surfaces, such as floors, walls, asphalt, and terrain, adding natural variation at the correct scale without manual re-texturing.
• AI Enhancer: Improved Accuracy and Single Object Creative Enhancement — Users can achieve more precise results across the board, with new support for applying creative enhancement to individual objects.
• Video Collaboration — Chaos Cloud becomes a professional-grade video review platform for animations and render sequences, with precise commenting tied to timestamps, ranges, and visual annotations.
• Cosmos Sets and New Assets — Cosmos sets provide a fast and simplified way to populate scenes with grouped assets that naturally work together. This update adds 700+ new Cosmos assets, including 400 high-poly Globe Plant models and new branded models.

To learn more and explore what’s new, visit the V-Ray Collection page on chaos.com. Or watch the video below:

Pricing and Availability

Launching first on V-Ray for SketchUp and Rhino, real-time rendering in the V-Ray viewport is available to users with an active Chaos Vantage or V-Ray Collection license. AI Mood Match and real-time rendering in the V-Ray viewport are expected to be introduced to V-Ray for 3ds Max.

The post Real-time rendering comes to V-Ray viewport in V-Ray 7 appeared first on Architosh.

Infrastructure Focus

Founded in 1986, HCSS is a leading provider of software for the infrastructure and heavy civil sectors of the North American construction market. The company supports more than 4,000 construction companies with a total employee headcount of 550 professionals.

Key Takaways

• HCSS acquisition strengthens the Nemetschek Group’s position in valuable North American infrastructure construction market and aligns well with other Build & Construct segment brands plus Allplan
• HCSS generates well over USD 200 million in revenue, marking a new substantial revenue generator for the Group
• Thoma Bravo partnership means Nemetschek SE shares exchange hands but helps Group maintain a flexible balance sheet and sharp posture for future M&A deals

As part of the terms of the agreement, HCSS will become part of the Nemetschek Group’s Build & Construct segment, aligning with industry-leading brands like Bluebeam and GoCanvas, two brands with very strong North American market share. Nemetschek states that the Build & Construct segment and HCSS have comparable and unique growth and profitability profiles. In 2025, HCSS generated plus or minus USD 215 million in revenue, an ARR growth of ± 21%, and an EBITDA margin of ± 40%.

The Nemetschek Group is set to acquire US-based Heavy Construction Systems Specialists, LLC (“HCSS”). The Texas-headquartered company is a major software provider for infrastructure and heavy-civil construction companies.

These financials are not just strong but align with the Group’s Build & Construct segment’s historical performance. More critically, the Group says that HCSS enables the Group to expand into the heavy civil construction sectors where structural growth drivers include aging assets, large-scale government investments (eg, Biden era Infrastructure Bill), ongoing energy transition in the age of AI and datacenter expansion, as well as continued urbanization. This will strengthen Nemetschek’s position in the total market opportunity estimated at USD 12 billion by 2028.

Thoma Bravo Partnership

In an effort to preserve the Nemetschek Group’s balance sheet flexibility, the transaction is tailored such that Thoma Bravo will receive shares in the Nemetschek Group’s Build & Construct segment.

Nemetschek SE will hold approximately 72% of the shares in the Build & Construct segment, and Thoma Bravo will hold approximately 28% as a minority shareholder. As part of the terms, the Group will refinance all existing HCSS financial debt and liabilities, resulting in an impact of approximately EUR 450 million on the Nemetschek Group net debt position.

While this arrangement sounds as if the Build & Construct segment could be spun out of the Group, Nemetschek SE says that the Build & Construct segment will continue to function as an integral part of the Group.

Maintaining balance sheet flexibility enables the Group to support future growth ambitions through targeted M&A. The transaction has no impact on the shareholder structure of Nemetschek SE.

Yves Padrines, CEO of the Nemetschek Group stated:

“This acquisition significantly expands our size and our total market opportunity, deepens our footprint in North America, and perfectly complements our existing portfolio of leading solutions in the Build & Construct segment”, continues Padrines. “It will give us an even greater ability to innovate and expand our reach using our strong AI innovation abilities. We welcome Thoma Bravo as a partner and minority shareholder in the Build & Construct segment. We look forward to working with them and the HCSS team to unlock new growth opportunities in our Build & Construct segment and deliver even greater value to our customers and shareholders.” 

“The Nemetschek Group has built one of the world’s most incredible customer- and product-centric company cultures,” said A.J. Rohde, a Senior Partner at Thoma Bravo. “The opportunity to merge HCSS with Nemetschek’s leading Build & Construct segment is a truly defining moment and we look forward to supporting the growth of the combined business. We have barely scratched the surface on the scale and speed of innovation that we can provide to customers of both companies, and we will work tirelessly together to fulfill the potential that the market deserves.”

“HCSS is a perfect fit for our Build & Construct segment,” said Usman Shuja, Chief Division Officer of the Nemetschek Group’s Build & Construct Segment. “Together, we can offer a best-in-class, end-to-end portfolio that enables customers to manage complex building and infrastructure projects with greater efficiency and confidence. By combining our complementary strengths, we will expand our global reach, accelerate AI-based innovation, and continue to deliver the trusted solutions our customers rely on in their daily work.”

The acquisition is expected to close in H2 2026 and is subject to regulatory approvals and closing conditions. J.P. Morgan is serving as exclusive financial advisor, Latham & Watkins and Hoffmann & de Vries are serving legal advisors to the Nemetschek Group.

To learn more visit here. 

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New in Revit 2027

Revit 2027 focuses on three primary areas: AI and data-driven BIM, production efficiency, and a modernized experience, which includes UI improvements.

Key Takeaways

• Autodesk Revit 2027 features on-board MCP (model context protocol) AI technology to enable context-aware AI.
• Autodesk Assistant can perform common workflow tasks, like finding and tagging elements, generating views and schedules, and more. 
• Revit 2027 features deeper connectivity with updated Forma Cloud offerings
• Accelerated Graphics is no longer in tech preview—Section Box offers real-time graphics

Revit 2027 now features Autodesk Assistant, an AI text prompt tool that leverages MCP technology to help you implement a large array of BIM functions, from finding and tagging all elements of a certain type, to generating certain views and organizing schedules, to providing in-product guidance to complete tasks and resolve issues.

Autodesk Assistant (tech preview), shown in this image of the new Revit 2027, helps users more deeply with context-aware AI assistance.

Autodesk’s AI agent (Autodesk Assistant) leverages Anthropic’s MCP (model context protocol) and is the first version of Revit to officially leverage a built-in MCP server. Introduced in 2024 by Anthropic, MCP is an open-source standard designed to solve “isolation” problems in AI models. What that means in short is that MCP enables AI to look into live BIM model data as if it were a native part of the Revit software, thereby bypassing the long-standing problem of BIM data being isolated within the walled garden of a software application. (see Architosh Analysis and Commentary for more).

MORE: Event: ‘archi+tech’ Social Night at AIA Conference in San Diego

This enables Autodesk Assistant to help you manage and accelerate your BIM workflows, refine those BIM workflows, and automate them. Autodesk Assistant can also save your prompts, so repeatable work goes faster. While early AI tools in Autodesk software helped you understand the application and what it can do, MCP-based AI actually helps you run the Revit 2027 software.

Forma Connectivity

To aid efficiency across teams and multi-stakeholder workflows, Revit 2027 has new connections to the newly updated Forma Cloud. Revit 2027 connects to the new Forma Data Management Essentials, Forma Site Design, Forma Building Design, and Forma Board. All of this comes as standard with a Revit 2027 subscription. For the user, this establishes a cloud foundation for Revit 2027 users, from early-phase site analysis and preliminary design through CDs to construction-phase workflows.

MORE: Autodesk intros new Forma Building Design

Issues for Revit are now part of the core Revit 2027 version. Users can display pinned issues from Forma Data Management directly in their model or create the issues directly in a Revit 3D view, assign responsibilities and due dates, and associate models. The Revit 2027 user can continually monitor and track issues from inside Revit.

Revit 2027 also improves interoperability with more granular control over the model, generating superior IFC exports for consultants. There is a new updated IFC parameter mapping control toolset. Recap Pro and Revit are also more tightly integrated.

Modernized Experience

Revit 2027 is also improved under the hood. Revit’s Accelerated Graphics is no longer a tech preview but is fully supported. The Options Bar is now removed, offering a cleaned-up modern UI/UX. And under the hood, Revit 2027 has been updated to .NET 10 runtime, which provides a faster, more modern, and stable foundation for Revit and its add-ins.

Accelerated Graphics is now foundational in Revit 2027 and works in tandem with .NET 10, which enables Revit to keep pace with modern software development on chips with unified memory (Intel Core Ultra, Apple M-series, etc.). Improved multi-processing due to .NET 10 fundamentally changes how the GPU and CPU process their memory tasks simultaneously, this time during Section Box manipulations.

Dynamo 4.0.2 now runs on .NET 10, resulting in dramatically faster geometry operations, helping complex parametric workflows. As for day-to-day use, the graduation of Accelerated Graphics from tech preview is the biggest win for users, says Autodesk. This is especially true for the user with a powerful GPU.

The section box now updates in real-time as you drag it, a huge win for Revit users who have longed for this since seeing it in rival BIM solutions offered years ago. Archicad’s 3D Cutting Planes have felt instant for well over a decade, and Vectorworks introduced its Clip Cube back in 2014. Why did Revit lag on this for so long? The difference goes back to how Revit was originally coded. Revit has worked by recalculating the entire model’s visibility and graphics every time the box moved. (see our Analysis Section below for a more technical explanation).

With Accelerated Graphics now foundational to Revit in version 2027, it should mean users experience much improved model navigation, increasing speed and responsiveness.

To learn more and watch some videos of the new Revit 2027, visit here. 

Editor’s Note

15 Apr 26 — The article has made a correction with Model Context Protocol, correcting “control” for “context.”

Architosh Analysis and Commentary

Software applications have long been a “walled garden” for data, especially for CAD and design applications like BIM. The long-held way to get data out of the walled garden was through a gateway we call “exporting” into industry-standard file formats like DWG, STEP, or IFC, for example. Another way data has been accessible outside the walls of the application is through a dedicated API (application programming interface) provided by the application itself. However, MCP solves technical limitations in an API. Every application API has its own inherent structure, and an AI model like Claude or ChatGPT doesn’t necessarily know how to talk to a Revit API. Without having to write thousands of lines of code to teach an AI how to translate AI prompts into API commands, MCP offers a plug-and-play MCP server model where you can point a generic AI like Claude at the server and the AI self-discovers what an application (like Revit) can actually do by reading its menus and available tools, commands, and knowledge. 

You can think of it like this. With Revit 2027 now having its own MCP server, an AI agent can learn nearly everything about Revit, map its software’s capabilities, and understand your specific BIM model’s data. The MCP server itself provides a list of JSON-based schemas that define what the AI can actually do. And the AI instantly understands your BIM model in context. There is so much to be said about the MCP technology in Revit 2027. (see, BIMsmith, “Revit 2027: What the Built-in MCP Server Actually Does in Practice,” 7 Apr 2026).

Finally, on the live section box, catch up. Why so long? The answer is that Revit was originally built as a massive relational database—a parametric spiderweb, if you will. In Revit, every element is aware of every other element. Historically, when you moved the Section Box, Revit tried to “re-solve” those relationships for every element being cut. The foundational issue is how Revit “thinks” about the model versus how other BIM solutions think about the model. 

In the case of Revit’s primary rival, Archicad separated the visual representation from the “database” much earlier. Well over a decade earlier. The same with its sister BIM, Vectorworks. The 3D visual environment of Archicad is more like a video game environment, built for real-time speed and interactivity. So, in short, Autodesk finally decoupled the “visual state” from the “database state” as part of its Accelerated Graphics technologies. We believe it now keeps a cached version of the model’s geometry in your GPU’s memory, enabling the user to interact with that geometry while the CPU waits for the mouse to stop before it rebuilds the Revit database. .NET 10 enables these actions to happen in simultaneous multi-processing threads. 

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Forma Building Design

Forma’s origins come from the Spacemaker.ai acquisition from a few years ago, where the Scandinavian SaaS offering was focused on pre-design and early design analysis.

Key Takeaways

• Forma Building Design is a new product offering from Autodesk and works like a specialized module within the broader Forma AEC industry cloud.
• Revit is the first official Forma Connected Client, and the implication here is that there will be more Forma Connected Clients in the future

Forma Building Design (FBD) enables teams to develop more complete architectural designs based on analysis data, including daylight, sun hours, and carbon energy impacts. It begins with teams geolocating their building site, which happens in minutes. FBD can then generate building design options, and architects can evaluate these based on a comprehensive set of analysis data.

Autodesk introduces Forma Building Design with Revit as first Forma Connected Client. The new application expands the existing Forma platform toolset and is a supplement to Forma Site Design.

Forma Building Design enables direct plan and massing manipulation so architects can work fluidly in a way that is much more difficult in today’s BIM tools. Program areas, unit types, and mixes are all definable and can serve as criteria in an outcome-defined workflow. The entire goal and purpose of Forma Building Design (FBD) is for architects and designers to explore and evaluate design options quickly before committing to more detailed design directions and pushing into other tools to continue the design work.

Sandra Petkute Roberts, Solutions Consultant at Arcadis, says:

“Forma Building Design is making it easier for us to explore more facade and layout ideas without heavy manual effort or in-depth expertise in more complex tools,” she adds. “With the potential to scale well across different teams and regions, Forma Building Design makes early design exploration more accessible for our designers during the schematic design process.”

To help teams do deeper energy analysis work in early phases, Forma Carbon Insights is also available now across Forma Building Design.

Revit as First Client

Autodesk Revit is the first Forma Connected Client and is now available as such in Tech Preview mode.

Forma Building Design also works with Forma Board as well as Forma Data Management Essentials.

Inside Tech Preview, teams can move building and sites into Revit from Forma Building Design and Forma Site Design, respectively, without manual file exchanges. The Revit connection is an important first step in the broader Forma Connected Clients initiative and will continue to expand to additional desktop solutions over time.

Availability

All current Revit subscribers now have access to Forma Site Design, Forma Building Design, Forma Board, and Forma Data Management Essentials. The Essentials version of Forma Data Management (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud) provides all Revit subscribers with a more basic version of Autodesk’s cloud-based AEC industry CDE (common data environment). (see, Architosh, “Autodesk Construction Cloud (ACC) is now Autodesk Forma,” 31 Mar 2026).

To learn more about Forma Building Design, visit here.

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Our full conversation is available on our Architosh Official YouTube channel, but several themes emerged that deserve a closer look through the lens of architectural practice and the specific evolution of the machines that built our world.

The Architecture of a Collection

“Back in the day, in order to buy your next Mac, you had to sell the previous one,” Pann recalls, reflecting on the humble origins of what has become a staggering personal archive.

For many architects, the Mac was never just a tool; it was a capital investment. Pann’s collection—spanning over 73 machines—began almost by accident, fueled by a meticulous habit of preservation. “I always kept everything—the boxes, the manuals, everything in pristine condition,” he says. This attention to detail eventually yielded high resale values, allowing him to bootstrap his way through Apple’s evolving product cycles.

Architect Neal Pann, co-founder of podcast Archispeak, creator of Apple for Architects, has a vast 73 machine collection of Apple computers, including a NeXTstation. We talk about this collection–and a range of Macs in Architecture issues–in the ToshTalk video interview above.

As Pann’s career (and studio space) grew, the need to sell faded, giving way to a desire to preserve the industrial design that mirrored his own professional values. “I appreciated not only the operating system and its simplicity, but the design of the computers themselves. They were pieces of art,” Pann notes, echoing a sentiment that traces back to the Jony Ive era and the celebrated monograph, Apple Design.

A Symbolic Totem: From the SE to the Twentieth Anniversary

Every collection has its “Patient Zero.” For Pann, it is the Macintosh 512k—the very machine he used in an architect’s office straight out of high school. In a poetic gesture, the computer now sits atop a classical architectural column in his studio. It is a striking visual metaphor: the “New Order” of digital drafting literally supported by the “Old Order” of classical tradition.

From that SE, the collection scales the heights of Apple’s hits and misses, including several rare “halo” products:

• The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (TAM): A rare, integrated system that Pann still keeps in its original box.
• The Power Mac G4 Cube: A masterpiece of miniaturization that, despite its market failure, remains a pinnacle of Apple’s aesthetic ambition.
• The iMac G3 Era: His collection includes a “Dalmation Blue” iMac and a near-complete rainbow of the original fruit-colored units.

As we can see from the images in this article, Pann’s collection includes nearly the full rainbow of colors that the famous iMac G3 came in.

The Professional “Muscle”: Towers and Portables

For the practicing architect, the collection highlights the machines that actually did the heavy lifting of CAD and early 3D rendering. Pann’s archive includes the “muscle” towers that defined the professional workstation for decades:

• The Quadra & early PowerPC Era: His collection features the Power Macintosh 8600/200 in the Quadra 800 form factor and the Power Macintosh 9500/AV, marking the industry’s pivot from Motorola 68k chips to the PowerPC architecture.
• The G3 & G4 Towers: From the “side-saddle” beige Power Macintosh G3 to the iconic “Blue and White” G3 with its easy-access fold-down door—a design godsend for architects adding RAM or storage.
• The G5 & Beyond: The aluminum Power Mac G5 towers led into the Intel era, eventually leading to the infamous 2013 Mac Pro “trashcan” cylinder and a few Intel Xeon-based Mac Pros.

The portable history is equally represented, featuring the Titanium MacBook Pro, the original clamshell iBook (1998), and a wide array of PowerBooks that allowed the “mobile architect” to take their studio to the job site.

NeXT and the Lisa: The DNA of macOS

Not all of Pann’s collection bears the Apple logo. He also possesses a NeXTstation (1990), the sleek black hardware that Steve Jobs built during his “exile.” Beside it sits the NeXT Laser Printer, a reminder of Jobs’ obsession with high-fidelity output.

Power Macs sit below a collection of 1998 iMacs.

The PowerBook in various models.

Pann’s NeXTstation computer and NeXT Laser Printer.

The collection also pays homage to the Apple Lisa 2 (1984 variant). Often described as Apple’s “best failure,” the Lisa used Sony 3.5-inch floppy drives and introduced technologies like QuickDraw and Object Pascal. However, it remained a document-centric machine, whereas the Mac would eventually win the day by being application-centric, but more importantly, vastly less expensive.

The “Apple for Architects” Legacy

Pann’s evangelism isn’t just about silicon and aluminum; it’s about community. When he launched Apple for Architects in the early “teens,” he effectively took up the mantle of Architosh’s original mission during a period when the “Mac in AEC” story was in flux.

The Macintosh 512k sits on an architectural column.

Apple Lisa 2 its above the NeXTstation.

1998 iBooks in a range of colors.

Through his Inside The Apple Studio podcast and his online galleries, Pann created a space where architects could “relive a kind of nostalgia,” as he puts it. It wasn’t just about hardware specs; it was about the shared experience of “lusting after” a machine that promised a more elegant way to work. And it was also, as he puts it, a bit of fun to see how other Mac-using architects created their workspaces and what Apple tech they used to get their practice done, on both the hardware and software sides.

Conclusion: The Ultimate Personification

As we look toward the next 50 years, Pann asks a rhetorical question: Where does Apple go from here?

The Power Mac G4 Cube was Apple’s most stunning when released by Steve Jobs’ gorgeous creation was a market failure. It’s successor the ill-fated 2013 trash can Mac Pro in black.

His hope is for a return to the foundational ethos: “The Computer for the Rest of Us.” In Pann’s view, the iPhone is the ultimate personification of that goal—a device that democratizes complex technology through superior design. For the architectural community, Neal Pann remains a vital curator of that history, reminding us that the machines we use are not just appliances, but milestones in our own creative journeys.

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