GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD 29

About this release

ArchiCAD is a building information modelling application built for architects rather than a general CAD tool pressed into building work. You design the building as a coordinated 3D model made of real elements, walls, slabs, roofs, doors and windows that know what they are, and every drawing comes out of that model. Change a wall once and the plan, the sections, the elevations and the schedules all update together, which is the whole point of working this way.

The design side is fast because the tools speak the language of building. Walls carry their construction layers, stairs and railings build to rules, curtain walls and roofs are parametric, and a large library of objects covers the fittings and furniture that populate a plan. The application is comfortable from an early massing study through to the detailed documentation set, so the same model carries the project from concept to the drawings that get built.

Coordination is where BIM earns its keep, and ArchiCAD is built for it. It exchanges the open building model format so it sits in a team with structural and services consultants running other tools, it detects clashes, and it produces the schedules and quantities that come straight from the modelled elements rather than a hand count. Teamwork features let several architects work in one model at once, which is how larger practices run a project.

What it does

• Building information model made of real, parametric building elements
• Coordinated plans, sections, elevations and 3D views from one model
• Schedules and quantities read directly from the modelled elements
• Parametric walls, stairs, railings, roofs and curtain walls
• Large object library for fittings, furniture and fixtures
• Open building model exchange for working with other disciplines
• Clash detection and model coordination tools
• Teamwork mode for several architects in one model at once
• Full documentation and layout set for construction drawings
• Built in visualisation for quick model renders

Changes in this version

• Faster model performance on large multi storey projects
• Improved open format exchange fidelity with other disciplines
• Reworked stair and railing tools with more parametric control
• Better background processing so the interface stays responsive
• Refreshed object library

What the package contains

• GRAPHISOFT ArchiCAD 29 full offline installer
• Standard object and material library
• Documentation templates and layout sets
• Selected interface languages, chosen during setup
• Readme with the install order written out step by step

Installation notes

Follow these in order. Most reports of a failed install come from skipping a step rather than from the package itself.

1. Disconnect from the network before you start.
2. Pause real time protection for the length of the install.
3. Extract the archive to a short path such as C:\Setup.
4. Run setup as administrator and choose your language and library.
5. Let the installer finish, then launch the application once.
6. Close it and reconnect the network.

System requirements

Things worth knowing

• Keep the project file on a fast local drive, working off a network share slows a large model badly.
• Agree the open format exchange settings with your consultants early, mismatched settings cause coordination headaches.
• Add ons and libraries from an older ArchiCAD version need versions matched to this release.

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Listing information

This entry is catalogued under CAD & 3D and carries the tags below. Language coverage is Multilingual, 12 interface languages, and the supported platform list is Windows 10, Windows 11. Version 29.2.1.5101 is the current catalogued build, last checked 3 days ago, and the entry has been in the index since it was added 2 years ago.