BricsCAD Shape for macOS—SketchUp Competitor Arrives in Market

Previously, Architosh wrote about the exciting beta of BricsCAD Shape, a new “push & pull” 3d modeling software application that is fundamentally a component of its popular BricsCAD family, a native DWG rival to Autodesk AutoCAD.

BricsCAD Shape — For macOS, Windows and even Linux

BricsCAD Shape, like SketchUp, is meant to be a conceptual 3d modeling program, and specifically is aiming to tackle numerous modeling tasks in various industries but notably the AEC (architecture, engineering, construction) industries.

01 – BricsCAD Shape is now available and free to download for macOS and Windows. A Linux version is coming soon.

While BricsCAD Shape is young and new, an immediate differentiating factor about the program compared to SketchUp, is that the 3d modeler creates CAD industry accurate solids; it is a solids modeler, not a surface modeler. The other key feature is that it is fundamentally DWG-based. You can bring an AutoCAD file into it without translation or conversion.

A Front-End BIM Solution

BricsCAD Shape is specifically also aiming to be the front end of Bricsys’s BricsCAD BIM, a rather new building information modeling application in the making. Shape is a path to BIM, says the company in its literature.

“BricsCAD Shape for macOS brings the power of solid-based schematic design to architecture’s favorite computer,” says the company in its email blast. The program promises to deliver the user with simple-to-use parametric 3d direct-modeling elements like doors, windows and materials. (note: Architosh has not yet reviewed BricsCAD or BricsCAD Shape).

While BricsCAD Shape could be the conceptual architectural modeler for various BIM workflows, the Belgium software company is hoping it is the front end for its own Bricsys BIM workflow.

Availability

BricsCAD Shape is free and is available here for both macOS and Windows. Linux support is also in the works. Learn more here.