# Case study: building aecobuild, a free offline BIM modeler

Source: https://cloudbrain.in/case-studies/building-aecobuild
Last updated: 2026-11-10

CloudBrain designed and built aecobuild, a free 3D architectural modeler that works fully offline on macOS, Windows and the web. It combines SketchUp-style Push/Pull modeling with parametric BIM, presentation drawings, interiors, a live bill of quantities in rupees, photoreal rendering and open IFC exchange — the same skills we bring to client BIM and automation work.

## 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.

## 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](/services/bim-data-integration) work.
- **Quantities from the model** — the same idea behind the BOQ workflows in [workflow automation](/services/workflow-automation).
- **Rolling tools out to real users** — what our [product implementation](/services/product-implementation) service helps firms do.

Read more on the [aecobuild product page](/products/aecobuild) 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.