World's most powerful BIM technology, affordable for all...

This affordable, entry-level version of ArchiCAD, for architects seeking to expand their business with building information modeling (BIM) skills, is based on the Virtual Building technology of ArchiCAD 12, but with a feature set and price tailored to the needs of small architectural practices, home builders and contractors.

ArchiCAD START Edition 2009 brings the benefits of BIM to the small-firm segment of the architectural market at a very competitive price. ArchiCAD START Edition 2009 allows architects and builders with tight budgets to get the best BIM technology at an affordable price.

ArchiCAD START Edition 2009 contains the necessary tools to create a building information model from which all of the associated 2D documents can be automatically extracted. It also provides the latest DWG-DXF and IFC 2x3 file exchange interfaces with external applications.


ArchiCAD START Edition 2009 features include:

Virtual Trace - Achieve better coordination of your design. This innovative technology enables simultaneous management of multiple views of the 3D model, as well as your 2D documents, with full coordination and continuous visual feedback.

Visual Compare - The ultimate solution for architects to efficiently control coordination of models, views and documents. With Visual Compare you have the confidence that all of your project documents are synchronized, and any differences will be easily found and resolved.

Gradient Fills - Linear & Radial Gradient Fills will help you achieve higher levels of graphic quality and create better representations of your design.

Integrated Layout - Managing the entire document set becomes simple. The design documentation is generated directly from your model swiftly, efficiently, and completely. In fact, depending on the level of detail of your design documentation, up to 80% of your documentation may have been completed during your work on the model.

ArchiCAD START Edition 2009 contains all the powerful design and documentation features of ArchiCAD 12, but without the group collaboration features required by large firms. At the same time it ships with the full international content of ArchiCAD 12.

ArchiCAD Start Edition grows with you:
Graphisoft makes it easy to upgrade from Start Edition to the latest full version of ArchiCAD. All projects created with Start Edition can be opened in the latest full version of ArchiCAD.