Building Design software
 

Can anybody recommend a suitable cost effective building facility interior design software package? We have to relocate a 1600 mtr2 facility into a new, larger facility.
Basic requirements are to model the current facility and then to best fit existing partitions, offices, classrooms etc with maximum reuse into the new facility.
This is a 1 off exercise.

There are quite a lot as a quick google search will reveal, but having played with several they tend to be house orientated and (to me) less than intuitive. A lot of them will let you download a trial version so you can play to see their suitability.

I have previously tried just that and (so far) none seem to be business oriented, just domestic applications hence my post.

Will keep searching.

A couple: the first offers free download:
Office Design Software - Download SmartDraw FREE to easily draw office plans and more!

Office Design Software

Thanks for those - downloaded and evaluating.

AutoCad Lite - buy it. You'll have it for ever. You'll be able to exchange dwg or dxf files with other designers - lighting, heating, plumbing, fire safety, escape routes etc - they'll thank you for it. Easy to download dwg/dxf files from manufacturers of almost anything that goes into a modern building including chairs, tables etc.

Don't forget grey matter, pencil, paper and scissors initially. Moving around cutouts on a background grid is a good way to get started 'broad brush' before committing to detail in CAD.

On the other hand you might get a local freelance CAD technician to do the job under your directions for little more than the cost of the software.

Hmm, I see it's called AutoCad LT now, you probably wouldn't need to buy the latest most expensive version, although it is available as a 30 day free trial in 'selected countries'.

If you can find out which countries then just find a proxy in one of them to download it through. :ok:

But the learning curve is quite steep for Autocad so expect to spend a week or so learning how to use it.

Google do their own - havn't given it a proper go yet but I quite like the look of it

Google SketchUp

FF