Nemetschek
German software group serving architecture, engineering, construction, building operations, and media and entertainment.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Nemetschek is a German software group whose products support the lifecycle of buildings and infrastructure, from architectural and engineering design through construction, operation, maintenance, and asset management. The group also owns software businesses serving media and entertainment, particularly visualization, rendering, animation, and related creative workflows. Its portfolio is organized around four broad business areas: Planning & Design, Build & Construct, Manage & Operate, and Media & Entertainment. The company originated in 1963 when engineer and professor Georg Nemetschek established an engineering office focused on structural design and construction. From an early stage, the business used computers to address engineering calculations and developed software initially intended for its own professional work. It later commercialized these capabilities, beginning with the distribution of the Statik 97/77 structural-engineering program in 1977. At the 1980 Hanover Fair, Nemetschek demonstrated an integrated calculation and design package for standardized solid-construction components, an early example of computer-aided engineering on microcomputers. Its best-known early product was Allplan, a computer-aided design system for architects and engineers launched in 1984. Allplan introduced three-dimensional building modeling capabilities and became a foundation for Nemetschek's expansion in architecture, engineering, and construction software. The company broadened its international presence during the 1980s and 1990s, establishing subsidiaries and distribution arrangements across Europe. In 1989, Nemetschek Programmsystem GmbH was created to handle software distribution, while the original engineering business continued to participate in development. The corporate entity became Nemetschek AG in 1994 and went public in 1999. Nemetschek's growth has relied heavily on acquiring specialist software companies and maintaining a portfolio of distinct product brands. Major transactions included Diehl Graphsoft, subsequently known as Vectorworks, and Maxon Computer in 2000; Graphisoft and SCIA International in 2006; Bluebeam in 2014; and Solibri in 2015. Further additions expanded the group's coverage of structural engineering, building services, construction documentation, facility management, project information, and operational software. Brands and acquisitions associated with the group have included Vectorworks, Allplan, Graphisoft, SCIA, Bluebeam, Solibri, SDS/2, dRofus, RISA, Spacewell, and Maxon. Since 2008, Nemetschek has operated as a holding company for its software brands. The group positions itself around digitalization of the built environment and promotes open building information modeling, or open BIM, through participation in industry organizations and standards-oriented initiatives. Its products are intended to connect professional disciplines and improve information continuity across design, construction, and operation rather than serving only as isolated drafting tools. The group has also supported research and education. Foundations associated with Georg Nemetschek have funded work concerning the built environment, innovation, democracy, and artificial intelligence. In 2020, the Nemetschek Innovation Foundation provided funding for the Georg Nemetschek Institute at the Technical University of Munich, an institute focused on artificial intelligence applications in architecture, engineering, construction, infrastructure, and asset management. In 2024, the group completed its largest acquisition to that point by adding GoCanvas and its sister company SiteDocs, extending its SaaS-based field-management capabilities. Nemetschek remains an active international software group with a portfolio spanning design, construction, building operations, and digital content creation.
History
Nemetschek began in 1963 as an engineering office founded by Georg Nemetschek for work in structural design and construction. The company was an early adopter of computing in engineering and initially created software to support its own calculations and design activities. In 1977, it began distributing Statik 97/77, a structural-engineering program. A major early technology milestone came in 1980, when the company presented an integrated calculation and design system for standardized solid-construction components at the Hanover Fair. The system was notable because it brought computer-aided engineering to microcomputers at a time when such tools were not widely available. Allplan, launched in 1984, became the group's principal architectural and engineering design platform. Its three-dimensional modeling capabilities helped establish Nemetschek in computer-aided design and later building information modeling. In 1989, Nemetschek Programmsystem GmbH was established to manage software distribution, while the original engineering organization continued development work. The company expanded beyond Germany during the 1980s and 1990s through subsidiaries and European distribution partners. It became Nemetschek AG in 1994 and completed its initial public offering in 1999. The group's modern structure was shaped by acquisitions. In 2000, it acquired Diehl Graphsoft, later known as Vectorworks, and Maxon Computer, the developer of Cinema 4D. Graphisoft, known for Archicad, and SCIA International were added in 2006, strengthening the group's architecture and structural-engineering portfolio. Further acquisitions included Data Design System in 2013, Bluebeam in 2014, and Solibri in 2015. After adopting the legal form Nemetschek SE in 2016, the group added SDS/2, dRofus, RISA, MCS Solutions, Axxerion, and Plandatis. MCS Solutions, Axxerion, and Plandatis were subsequently associated with the Spacewell brand, while some acquisitions made by Maxon and Spacewell expanded the portfolio at subsidiary level. Since 2008, Nemetschek has operated as a holding company with four business units: Planning & Design, Build & Construct, Manage & Operate, and Media & Entertainment. The portfolio covers design authoring, analysis, coordination, documentation, construction workflows, facility management, building operations, rendering, animation, and visual effects. This multi-brand approach allows the group to preserve specialist products while offering coverage across the building lifecycle. Nemetschek has promoted open BIM and interoperability through industry participation, including involvement with buildingSMART and the German Sustainable Building Council. Its research and philanthropic activities include the Nemetschek Foundation, the Nemetschek Innovation Foundation, and the Georg Nemetschek Institute at the Technical University of Munich. The institute focuses on artificial intelligence applications in the built environment, including digital twins, structural monitoring, infrastructure maintenance, construction robotics, and analysis of construction materials. The group's expansion continued in 2024 with the completion of its acquisition of GoCanvas and SiteDocs, field-management software businesses delivered primarily through SaaS models. The transaction extended Nemetschek's reach into mobile and cloud-based workflows used by construction and field-service teams. Today, Nemetschek remains an internationally active, publicly traded software group whose brands serve professionals across architecture, engineering, construction, real-estate operations, and media production.
- 2024
GoCanvas and SiteDocs acquired
[1]The group completed its largest acquisition to that point by acquiring GoCanvas and SiteDocs.
- 2020
AI institute funded
[1]The Nemetschek Innovation Foundation funded an artificial-intelligence research institute at the Technical University of Munich.
- 2018
MDAX inclusion
[1]Nemetschek joined the MDAX in addition to its TecDAX listing.
- 2016
Conversion to Nemetschek SE
[1]The company adopted its European Company legal form and operated as Nemetschek SE.
- 2015
Solibri acquired
[1]Nemetschek acquired Solibri, strengthening its model-checking and BIM-quality capabilities.
- 2014
Bluebeam acquired
[1]Nemetschek completed the acquisition of Bluebeam Software, a provider of construction-documentation and collaboration tools.
- 2008
Holding-company model adopted
[1]Nemetschek began operating as a holding company organized around four business units.
- 2006
Graphisoft and SCIA acquired
[1]Nemetschek acquired Graphisoft and SCIA International, expanding its architecture and structural-engineering portfolio.
- 2000
Vectorworks and Maxon acquisitions
[1]The group acquired Diehl Graphsoft, later known as Vectorworks, and Maxon Computer.
- 1999
Public listing
[1]Nemetschek went public and subsequently became associated with the Frankfurt Prime Standard and TecDAX.
Products and positioning
A multi-brand, lifecycle-oriented software group for the architecture, engineering, construction, operations, and media industries, differentiated by specialist applications and an emphasis on open BIM and connected digital workflows.
Architecture and engineering BIM · 1984
Allplan
Allplan is Nemetschek's architecture and engineering design platform. It developed from the group's early CAD work and introduced three-dimensional building modeling capabilities. The product is used for design, documentation, coordination, and related BIM workflows across building and infrastructure projects.
CAD and BIM
Vectorworks
Vectorworks is a design software brand acquired through Diehl Graphsoft. Its tools serve architecture, landscape architecture, entertainment design, and related professional fields, combining drafting, modeling, documentation, and visualization workflows.
Architecture BIM
Archicad
Archicad is Graphisoft's BIM platform for architects and building-design teams. It supports building modeling, documentation, collaboration, and information exchange, and forms one of Nemetschek's central architecture software brands.
Construction documentation and collaboration
Bluebeam
Bluebeam provides software for creating, reviewing, marking up, sharing, and managing PDF-based technical and construction documentation. It extends Nemetschek's portfolio from design authoring into project communication and construction collaboration.
BIM model checking
Solibri
Solibri develops model-checking and quality-assurance software for BIM projects. Its tools help project participants inspect model information, identify coordination or compliance issues, and improve the reliability of digital building data.
Structural engineering
SCIA
SCIA provides structural-analysis and design software for engineers. The brand contributes structural calculation, modeling, and documentation capabilities to Nemetschek's Planning & Design portfolio.
Facility and real-estate management · 2018
Spacewell
Spacewell is the group brand for software serving building operations, facilities, workplace management, and real-estate processes. It was formed in connection with the integration and rebranding of MCS Solutions, Axxerion, and Plandatis.
3D modeling, animation, and rendering
Cinema 4D
Cinema 4D is Maxon's 3D modeling, animation, and rendering software. Through Maxon, it represents Nemetschek's Media & Entertainment business and supports motion graphics, visualization, animation, and other digital-content workflows.
Construction field management
GoCanvas
GoCanvas provides cloud-based and mobile field-management software intended to digitize forms, inspections, workflows, and operational processes. Its addition expanded Nemetschek's SaaS presence in construction and field operations.
Brand decisions
2024
Acquired GoCanvas and SiteDocsM&ABackground
Nemetschek sought to expand its cloud and SaaS capabilities in construction field management.
Action taken
The group completed the acquisition of GoCanvas and its sister company SiteDocs.
Aftermath
The transaction extended the portfolio into mobile-first field workflows and was described as the largest acquisition in Nemetschek's history at the time.
2018
Expanded the Spacewell platformStrategyBackground
Acquisitions in building management and operations broadened Nemetschek beyond design and construction software.
Action taken
MCS Solutions, followed by Axxerion and Plandatis, was integrated and associated with the Spacewell brand.
Aftermath
Spacewell became the group's principal brand for facility, workplace, and real-estate operations software.
2008
Adopted a four-business-unit holding structureStrategyBackground
Nemetschek had developed a broad portfolio of specialist software brands across design, construction, operations, and media.
Action taken
The group organized its activities into Planning & Design, Build & Construct, Manage & Operate, and Media & Entertainment.
Aftermath
The structure supported a multi-brand strategy covering multiple stages of the building lifecycle while retaining specialist product identities.
Recent events
- 2024
Nemetschek completes acquisition of GoCanvas and SiteDocs[1]
M&A
Nemetschek completed the acquisition of SaaS field-management software provider GoCanvas and its sister company SiteDocs, described in the reference material as the largest acquisition in the group's history.
- 2020
Nemetschek establishes AI research institute at Technical University of Munich[1]
Other
Funding from the Nemetschek Innovation Foundation supported the creation of the Georg Nemetschek Institute for Artificial Intelligence for the Built World.
- 2018
Nemetschek enters the MDAX[1]
Other
Nemetschek was added to the MDAX while retaining its TecDAX listing, increasing its visibility among major German listed companies.
- 2018
Nemetschek joins the MDAX[1]
Other
Nemetschek was added to the MDAX while remaining associated with the TecDAX, increasing its visibility among major German listed companies.
- 2018
Nemetschek expands through Spacewell-related acquisitions[1]
M&A
The group acquired MCS Solutions and subsequently added Axxerion and Plandatis, consolidating these activities under the Spacewell brand for building and facility operations.
- 2016
Nemetschek becomes a European Company[1]
Other
The company began operating as Nemetschek SE, reflecting its corporate reorganization as a European Company.
- 2015
Nemetschek acquires Solibri[1]
M&A
Nemetschek added Solibri, strengthening its capabilities in model checking, quality assurance, and open-BIM coordination.
- 2014
Nemetschek acquires Bluebeam Software[1]
M&A
The group completed the acquisition of Bluebeam, expanding its portfolio with PDF-based construction documentation, markup, collaboration, and workflow tools.
Sources1 sources
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