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Professional

Professional, Stories

The Construction Industry’s Top 5 Challenges in 2020

November 27, 2019
Clerestory house design with an increasing arrow overlaid on it.

By Kendra Dorosh

What are the biggest challenges your business will face over the next year? If you said finding skilled labor and completing projects on time, you aren’t alone.

With housing starts at a high and labor shortages expected to continue, we set out to identify the biggest challenges that businesses are facing in the coming year and what they’re planning to do to address them. We heard from 35 building industry professionals who provided us with a pulse on what they are preparing for in the coming year.

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Contest Winners, Design Contest, Professional

Finalists in the 2019 Chief Architect Design of the Year Contest

November 21, 2019
Chief Architect Design of the Year Contest rendering

Throughout the year, Chief Architect holds a monthly design contest for our customers to showcase their work. Designers from all around the world, with vastly different backgrounds and design styles, compete head-to-head in the following three categories: Residential, Remodel / Additions, and Kitchen/ Bath & Interiors.

Each month’s Design Contest entries are shared on the Chief Architect Facebook page where the winners are selected by popular vote. The finalists (1st, 2nd, & 3rd place) in each category are automatically entered into our Design of the Year Contest. There will be one Design of the Year winner per category. View the winning designs below and make sure to jump over to our Facebook page where you can vote for your favorite in each category.

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Contest Winners, Professional

Taking Chief Architect Beyond Home Design

October 17, 2019
White, ranch style house with gable roofs and two large trees

Placing 3rd in our Remodel/Addition Design Contest, Mark Supanchick’s story proves Chief Architect is capable of a lot more than Home Design.

“I started designing when I worked for Patterson Dental from 2001 – 2017.  During that time I had an idea that if we could show the dentist one of his existing exam rooms with all new equipment in it with updated colors and flooring in a period of 5 minutes, it would be a great sales tool.  So I started modeling all of the various dental equipment in 3D using AutoCAD.  My problem was I didn’t have a program that I could draw the room with existing windows and doors fast enough to put the new equipment in within 5 minutes.  Without that ability, my idea was useless.

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Events, Professional

Chief Academy 2019 Recap

October 14, 2019
Laptops loaded with Chief Architect X11 sit on tables waiting for attendees to enter the classroom at the 2019 Chief Academy in Coeur d'Alene, ID.

In September Chief Architect held the 2019 Chief Academy near our headquarters in Coeur d’Alene, ID. There were over 100 attendees who came for the 2 ½ days of in-depth training, 1 on 1 support, and networking events. Throughout the event, Users were able to soak up the last few days of summer in Coeur d’Alene through morning events and evening receptions.

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Featured Customers, Professional

Pushing the Boundaries of Style

October 4, 2019
Portrait of interior designer, Rene Rabbitt.

Taking inspiration from a broad spectrum of influences, Rene’s goal is to draw you in, make you feel welcome, and spark intrigue.

By Kerry Hansen

Based out of Oakland, California, Rene Rabbitt has global reach with extensive experience working with people and projects all over the world. As a freelance Designer and Draftsperson, Rene offers a broad scope of services and experience, including but not limited to architectural and structural plan sets, Chief Architect training, and both residential and commercial rendering.

An Asian inspired bathroom design with large walk in shower, modern bathtub in a platform tub deck and elegant vessel sink and fixtures.
The Cavalero Conceptual Design
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Professional, Remodel-Addition, Stories

Capturing As-Built Measurements for Remodel Projects

September 27, 2019
The as-built home with an overlay drawing of the proposed remodel and addition.

By Kendra Dorosh

How do remodeling professionals capture as-built measurements?  Paper, Napkin, App, or Laptop software?  Chief Architect software surveyed remodelers and found 75% measure as-built homes by hand using paper and pencil.  The compounding effects of repetition have made this an efficient process. If the system works, why change?

What is an As-Built plan?

The As-Built plan refers to the original condition of the house before remodeling. Remodeling projects and home additions start with as-built measurements, also called red-line drawings or record drawings. It’s vital to map out the as-built plan as precisely as possible.

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