Drafting & 3D CAD Software

Create interior and exterior elevations — toggle color on/off, add dimensions, change line weights, and callout text. Any changes you make to an Elevation view are automatically linked and synchronized to the model. Use a Cross-Section or a Back-Clipped Cross Section for detailed views.

Over 500 CAD Residential Details for structural elements — architecturally correct and scaled. There are detailed assemblies for floors, roofs, decks, walls and foundations. Import your own existing CAD Details or from manufacturers for your construction drawings.

Create wall elevation views with Cross-Section and Wall Elevation camera tools — including automatic Room Elevations. Add dimensions and callout text. Display individual wall details for framing or structural information.

Easily import CAD files, such as AutoCAD®, including DWG and DXF. Use the CAD-TO-WALLS tool to import and convert CAD files into a 3D model. Use the layers to map CAD lines into walls, windows, and doors.

Automatic framing tools quickly create the framing, which can be manually edited. Walls and platforms are framed based on wall thickness. Choose metal, wood, I-joist, or glulam beams for your walls. Truss Framing tools are included for floors and roofs.

Create Electrical, HVAC, and Plumbing plans. Automatically place electrical items for each room such as switches and outlets. Assign lighting properties, connect circuits, and dimension your electrical plan. Use Layers to display only items you need, such as the Electrical and Walls. Control the line weights and colors of your design by Layer.

As you design your model, all views and layers can be defined to create scaled Construction Documents with our Layout tools. Every view is linked to the model ensuring changes in floor plans, elevations, cross-sections or CAD Details are always accurate.

As you design your model, all materials that are automatically generated in the materials list — doors, windows, cabinets, framing, concrete, etc. You can create the materials list by room, area, or by project. Also, display lineal or square feet, create Cut & Buy Lists, create Schedules off Materials — such as Windows and Cabinets.

Schedule of Materials — generate cabinet, door, window, electrical, appliance, and room schedules in a spreadsheet format. The schedules automatically update as you change the design model. Use Schedule labels to illustrate in your technical drawings.

Powerful Building Tools for foundations, framing, ceilings, roofs, stairs, cabinets, terrain, and CAD makes it easy to create the design. 2D & 3D camera tools make it easy to visualize and create the Sections and Details for your construction drawings.

Comprehensive CAD objects and editing tools: Points, Lines, Polylines, Splines, Arcs, Circles, Ovals, Boxes, Arrows, Solids, Primitives, Fence, Trim Extend, Parallel, Perpendicular, Reflect, Replicate, Transform, Fillet, Chamfer, and several others.

Chief Architect allows you to design in a variety of views — 2D plan view, 2D elevation and the 3D perspective views. While some programs show 3D or have partial editing, with Chief Architect, every object in your design, including structural items, can be edited completely in 3D.