Big Wins for Architects in Vectorworks 2026

In case you haven’t heard, the Vectorworks 2026 product line is live and ready for action. A host of new features and enhancements makes this version a productivity game changer.

It’s time to discuss the standout features for the architecture industry. Before we dive in, make sure you’re caught up with our exploration of features for the interiors industry. For architecture, let’s explore the following:

• Depth Queuing

• Door & Window Assemblies

• Sustainability Dashboard

One frustration for architects and designers who design digitally has been showing depth and emphasis in elevations, sections, and 3D views. And even though we covered this feature when we discussed features for interiors, it’s an important one to rehash because of how much more expressive it makes your renderings and drawings. 

The new Depth Cueing feature means that viewports can automatically adjust line weights and tonal values in Hidden Line mode, or pixel transparency in Shaded mode, based on how far an object sits from the viewer. With customizable settings, you control exactly how depth is expressed, whether you’re working in clean vector outputs or raster-based renderings.

This automation is a game-changer. Instead of micromanaging linework or layering graphics by hand, you set the rules once and let Vectorworks apply depth consistently across your drawings. The payoff is immediate: sharper communication, faster workflows, and presentation-ready visuals that clearly show what’s foreground, midground, and background. Clients see a design that feels dimensional and polished, and you reclaim valuable time to focus on the work that matters.

For years, designers in Vectorworks have had to wrestle with separate door and window objects that couldn’t be combined into a single unit. Vectorworks 2026 changes that.

The new Door and Window Assemblies feature brings everything together. Now, you can create detailed assemblies that include doors, windows, infill panels, sills, lintels, stools, shutters, and trim working in harmony as a single editable object. Want a custom-shaped window nested inside a custom-shaped frame? Done. Need accurate reporting as one unit or broken down into components? No problem. Styles can be saved and reused across projects, keeping your workflow consistent and efficient.

With the new feature, assemblies can be modeled the way they’re meant to be built. Configurations are accurate, edits are fast, reports are precise, and propagation across your project is effortless. The result is more than convenience — it’s confidence. With Door and Window Assemblies, you design complex, custom layouts in less time, with fewer errors, and with total control over documentation and presentation.

Sustainability is becoming more and more important in architecture, with many architects being required to meet certain benchmarks. 

The new Sustainability Dashboard in Vectorworks 2026 gives you live feedback on your project’s environmental performance as you design. Integrated directly into the workspace as a web palette, the dashboard continuously updates four critical metrics:

• Embodied Carbon – full lifecycle impacts of materials and assemblies
• Urban Greening Factor (UGF) – using DEFRA-approved surface cover multipliers
• Biomass Density Index (SITES) – comparing existing and proposed site conditions
• Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) – tracking habitats, hedgerows, and watercourses

Because the dashboard pulls data directly from parametric objects and material styles, you no longer need to re-run worksheets or piece together reports. Track embodied carbon, urban greening scores, biomass density, and Biodiversity Net Gain at a glance — all updated in real time as you design. Stay ahead of regulations and avoid late-stage revisions, empowering you to deliver smarter, greener projects from the very first draft.