Great Software
I’ve been using Chief Premier since the X3 version and I must say that I’m very please with the software; it’s ease of use, features and professional output. I’m currently using X15 and I must say that the renderings are phenomenal. I actually had a few instances where I posted renderings of finished products and persons inquired about the prices of the buildings or cost for rental.
Chief Architect: The Ultimate Architectural Drafting and Design Software
Chief Architect is an architectural drafting and design software that is used by professionals and hobbyists alike. It is known for its powerful features, intuitive interface, and abundance of learning resources.
One of the things that I like most about Chief Architect is its short learning curve. Even if you are new to architectural drafting software, you can get up and running quickly with the help of the included tutorials and documentation. There are also a number of online resources available, such as forums and video tutorials, that can help you learn the software.
Another great thing about Chief Architect is its abundance of learning resources. The software comes with a comprehensive library of objects, materials, and textures that you can use to create your designs. You can also import your own objects and materials, or purchase additional content from the Chief Architect store.
Chief Architect is also an excellent communication tool. You can use the software to create 2D and 3D drawings, renderings, and animations that you can share with clients, contractors, and other stakeholders. This can help you to communicate your design ideas clearly and effectively.
Finally, Chief Architect has a large 3D library that you can use to create realistic models of your designs. This can be helpful for visualizing your projects and for getting feedback from clients.
Overall, I am very impressed with Chief Architect. It is a powerful and versatile software that is perfect for architectural drafting and design. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a comprehensive and user-friendly software solution.
New User
I am just entering the design field, and I find Chief Architect to be accessible, with oodles of features and powerful capabilities, and with a great long list of tutorial videos to teach me how to use it. Thanks!
I love the speed at which I can enter a plan and the ease of being able to click a couple of buttons and instantly be able to see it in 3D.
I’ve been using Chief since 2005 and attended a training in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, in 2006. When I started my own company in 2018, it was no question that I would use Chief Architect. I started with Home Designer and upgraded within a couple of years.
I love the speed at which I can enter a plan and the ease of being able to click a couple of buttons and instantly be able to see it in 3D. These capabilities make communicating my design ideas to my clients a piece of cake. And they love seeing the photo-realistic renders before the foundation is even poured!
I find it invaluable. Thank you, Chief Architect, for providing me with a tool that I can utilize to create an Architectural Design Company that is head and shoulders above most of my competition.
I own and operate an Architectural Design Studio in Honolulu, Hawaii, and have been using Chief Architect since the year 2000. We solely operate Chief Architect here in my office and currently have 8 licenses.
It is a great tool for communicating different ideas and design concepts. I find it invaluable. My clients are thrilled and amazed at what the program can do. They get so excited to be able to see their kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, living areas, and exterior renderings of their house designs.
We also do all of our construction drawings in-house, with Chief Architect, including floor plans, elevations, foundation, framing, and cross sections and details. I have shown how fast Chief is compared to other programs to those who are experts in those programs, and they have all conceded Chief is faster and easier to use than their programs.
Thank you, Chief Architect, for providing me with a tool that I can utilize to create an Architectural Design Company that is head and shoulders above most of my competition. It has truly helped to make us one of the best Architectural Design Companies in Honolulu.
Great Product!!!
I have a small four person architecture firm and utilize Chief Architect for all our residential projects. It’s a great resource for our designers and sets us apart from other residential designers / drafting services in our area.
Great Software
I built my house using the Premier level software, which was very functional. It had so many variables, that I could do all my design for the custom house I was building. That license long expired, and I needed something a little less powerful, but still had the same familiarity that I had with Premier. The Pro fits the task nicely! It has the same look and feel as the Premier that I was used to, at a much lower price. I see reviews that folks are saying that this software is too complicated and hard to use. Well, guess what, if it is complicated, it probably is very functional! All it takes is a little time to familiarize yourself with the different features, and go read tutorials or blogs from current users. Personally, I love it!!
By far the best decision I could have ever made!
I switched from another program to Chief Architect 11 months ago, and it was by far the best decision I could have ever made. I am so much happier working on plans now, and my work quality improves daily. My customers have been ecstatic with the results so far, and I am getting better and better every week.
I look forward to many more years of working with Chief Architect and seeing you all each year in Coeur d’Alene for more training.
Excellent software, I have been using it for years.
This is a powerful software. I have been using various versions and levels of it for roughly 20 years now. We are a small custom cabinet and remodeling company that uses the rendering capabilities to show our customers what their project will look like when Its completed. Everything from the paint color so the cabinet hardware. We can hammer down to the finest details for those clients that simply are incapable of visualizing the end result. I Would like to see some form of integration with KCD for manufacturing the cabinets as an option in the future. The kitchen design capabilities of CA are so powerful, and then to have to draw it over again in another software to produce…… It is time consuming.
Architectural Design-from concept to building permit
I use Chief Architect for design, presentation, and final permit drawings. For residential design and small commercial, there is nothing that matches or exceeds. The work on my site is a direct reflection of its capabilities. I adjust and applied the software to meet Section 9 OBC and other parts of Canada. I exchange files with my engineer without any issues. The CAD is excellent for Sections and Structural Details!
Fantastic tool
Easy to use and understand with great tutorials. A worthwhile investment.
Chief Change of Purchasing Model
I’ve owned license to use Chief Architect from version X1 and before. Now have 8 legal copies and I probably will settle on a different company for future upgrades or programs as we don’t like subscriptions. We rent nothing as for as tools and purchase all of our construction equipment. We don’t like being forced into always purchasing SSA or being able to purchase additional copies . Options almost always good and the Chief management has chosen only to offer one way. How many times in construction have we had to backup and go another way.
We use Chief in our business of construction and have built 95% of everything drawn and have been drawing with Cad programs since 1982. We’ve drawn everything that we’ve built and have been in the building/development/real estate business for more 50+ years and now have sons, grandsons and son-in-laws that are in some form of business or another. (person count 6). We have 8 current legal copies of Chief and probably want renew as version X7 served us well. Just recently upgraded all machines with copies of X14 the latest and greatest.
We hold license in Industrial, Commercial, and Residential, Electrical, Mechanical, Municipality, works in the state of Tennessee as well as Real Estate, and Auction license, We don’t require fancy 3D renderings to impress customers we simply need rendering to show us the work. Our purpose in business is to make money, treat everyone as we would want to be treated, show respect to “God” and be honorable in all that we say and do and enjoy what we do. Our knowledge, skills, abilities, and our truthfulness are what we are known for. Everything we build has been for our companies either to sale or keep as investment properties. We do both single family and multifamily as well as light commercial. Our companies do business in 7 dollar figures.
We have legal current copies of Turbocad, Vectorworks, IntelliCad, FormZ, MOI, Rhinoceros, Alibre, CadDirect, as well as a number of Cam packages Aspire, Caveco, Rhinocam-Visual Cam, MadCam and several more. The picture I’m painting is that there are a lot of choices and there will be more. Years ago purchased Autocad and a number of other programs including Revit that they offered at the time as own a license to the software In there marketing plans they choose to go the route that Chief is going. Personally dropped this company and never looked back! Look at how many other companies now offer look a-like programs. Chief has always produced a good residential house that can be done in a fairly short period of time but it is not the only one that can do so.
My take on the matter!… You judge for yourselves. Not renewing Chief SSA is not going to make us or break us but Chief just lost 8 future sales and who knows beyond my life time.
Blessings,
Kevin
Chief Render
I have been using Chief Architect design software for 23 years now. I and my clients really love this program. It is a great tool for communication between the designer and the client.
We design and produce plans from their inception to construction drawings to obtain permits for approximately 200 projects a year. I have a complete staff of 6 drafters who all use Chief Architect for every phase of our drawings and designs.
Here is a sample of one of the kitchens for a new home we are just finalizing. My client is over the moon Happy with the design.
Thanks, Chief Architect Staff You Guys are Great!
Using Chief since ver 7
Iv been using Chief since ver 7, I also have ver8. It took me a couple days to figure out where every thing was..but Im loving it. My first building is a pole barn..I wish this ver had a way of placing perlins, gerts, post ect. Other than that its great.
3D CAD design made easy
Chief Architect Software makes 3D CAD design so easy. I can render with a push of a button. Other software makes the process much more difficult and complicated. This is the second CAD software I’ve learned, and I definitely won’t be changing!
Great Software – Tutorials need a bit of TLC
I love the software. It’s very capable and the expert knowledge built in is very helpful. I learned to use it by completing all of the tutorials. There were a few places where the lessons didn’t match the UI. I suspect that’s because the tutorial revisions haven’t kept pace with changes to the software. It also seemed that the documentation writers were a bit fatigued when they got to the final couple of lessons, as there were a few lines that were obvious cut and paste revision oversights. Having written and reviewed documentation, I know how tedious this can become. Overall, great software and I’ll give it a strong endorsement.
Happy
Happy two have 2 licenses now just have to figure out physically based rendering my video card, and pc are above requirements but still grainy
Fun, intuitive, user-friendly
You don’t have to be an architect to learn Chief Architect. The software yields impressive professional project results within a fairly short time. The many built-in options provide the user with the tools to try different styles on a wide variety of objects with the click of a few buttons.
This program changed my career.
I started using Chief Architect as just to show interior room concepts but it has grown to producing full exterior views and selling more then just interiors but selling full build concepts. I work with a builder and our business has seen a huge impact from being able to show prospects and current clients how things would look etc.
I’m so impressed with how intelligent and robust it is. For anyone out there who wants to learn Chief Architect, you can do it!
Chief Architect Interiors intimidated me for many years. I’d start and stop over and over. I felt like after a few decades in the business that maybe I was an obstacle in the learning process. That’s not how a testimonial should begin, but that’s how my story began, and it’s an important detail to share in my journey. Thanks to The Kitchen and Bath Interiors Course and taking very detailed notes of the classes, I completed my practice projects.
The real joy came to me when designing a bathroom for a client, I had a lot of complicated details to figure out and was able to troubleshoot it all. My appreciation and confidence in this program soared, to say the least, and I’m so impressed with how intelligent and robust it is. For anyone out there who wants to learn Chief Architect, you can do it. I’m proof it can be done with a little determination. Now that I look back at things, I realize I was the obstacle. I had to get out of my own way and just jump in!
