Why does a consulting firm build its own software?

Building and shipping our own tools keeps our advice practical. The modeling, BIM, quantity and rendering problems we solve in aecobuild are the same ones we help clients with.

Is aecobuild a project-management tool?

No. aecobuild is a 3D modeler with parametric BIM. It does not manage projects, tasks or schedules.

Can CloudBrain help us adopt aecobuild?

Yes. Our product implementation service covers templates, standards, training and rollout across your firm.

Case study: building aecobuild, a free offline BIM modeler

Project at a glance
Client	CloudBrain (in-house product)
What we built	Offline 3D architectural modeler with parametric BIM
Platforms	macOS 11+ (Apple Silicon), Windows 10/11 64-bit, and the web
Open formats	IFC, DXF, OBJ, GLB/glTF and STL import and export; native .aecb files
Price	Free — no account, no ads
Status	Available at aecobuild.com

What did we set out to build?

A 3D modeler that architects can use without barriers. Four principles are visible throughout the product:

Free and private — no account, no ads, and projects stay on the user's own device.
Works offline — the full modeler runs without an internet connection.
Familiar to use — SketchUp-style Push/Pull modeling with inference snapping and typed dimensions.
Open data — IFC, DXF, OBJ, GLB/glTF and STL exchange, so models are never locked in.

aecobuild modelling a two-storey villa in 3D, with the build tools on the left and the Live BOQ panel listing built-up area, wall areas, concrete and masonry quantities — aecobuild: a two-storey villa modelled in 3D, with the Live BOQ panel calculating areas and quantities as you model.

What does aecobuild do?

Area	What aecobuild provides
Modeling	Push/Pull modeling, inference snapping, typed dimensions
BIM	Parametric layered walls, doors, windows, slabs, roofs, stairs, railings, columns and beams
Drawings	Textured 2D presentation floor plans with dimension chains and room areas
Interiors	Interior design studio, Auto Decor one-click styled interiors, modular kitchens
Quantities	Tile and stone layouts with full and cut tile counts; live BOQ with costs in ₹ or any currency
Visualisation	Real-time PBR viewport and GPU path-traced photoreal renders
Exchange	IFC, DXF, OBJ, GLB/glTF, STL; native .aecb files

What does this mean for our clients?

aecobuild required us to solve, in shipping software, the problems our clients bring to us:

Parametric BIM and open exchange — the foundation of our BIM and data integration work.
Quantities from the model — the same idea behind the BOQ workflows in workflow automation.
Rolling tools out to real users — what our product implementation service helps firms do.

Read more on the aecobuild product page or download it free from aecobuild.com.

Frequently asked questions

Why does a consulting firm build its own software?: Building and shipping our own tools keeps our advice practical. The modeling, BIM, quantity and rendering problems we solve in aecobuild are the same ones we help clients with.
Is aecobuild a project-management tool?: No. aecobuild is a 3D modeler with parametric BIM. It does not manage projects, tasks or schedules.
Can CloudBrain help us adopt aecobuild?: Yes. Our product implementation service covers templates, standards, training and rollout across your firm.