Building projects rarely move forward on a single track. Architects, structural engineers, and mechanical and electrical teams are all working on the same building at the same time, and their decisions constantly affect one another. A structural change shifts ceiling heights, a mechanical routing decision affects the architectural layout, and so-on. Without a shared, information-rich model, these changes surface late and when they’re most expensive to fix. OpenBuildings Designer is Bentley’s answer to that problem: a multidiscipline Building Information Modeling (BIM) platform built to keep architecture, structural, mechanical, and electrical teams working from one coordinated model instead of separate files.
What is OpenBuildings Designer?
OpenBuildings Designer is Bentley’s core BIM application for building design, analysis, simulation, and documentation. It combines 3D modeling with computational design and building performance tools, and it lets teams bring in real-time models so new designs can be evaluated directly against real site conditions rather than an approximate base map.
Rather than treating architecture, structural, and MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) work as separate disciplines stitched together at the end of a project, OpenBuildings Designer runs them on a shared data model. Each discipline works in the same environment, on the same underlying project data, whether the team is in one location or spread across several.
For engineers who are new to the platform, the discipline-specific tools tend to be the easy part: wall and door catalogs, parametric HVAC and piping, and steel and concrete modeling mirror workflows most users already know from other CAD or BIM software. The bigger adjustment is getting comfortable working inside a shared model with live reality-model references instead of a single-discipline file.
Key capabilities
Multidiscipline modeling
Architecture, structural engineering, mechanical, and electrical design all happen inside the same platform, so changes made in one discipline are visible to the others instead of being discovered during a coordination review.
Real-time collaboration on a shared model
Distributed teams can work on the same project simultaneously. Because the data model is shared rather than siloed by discipline, there is no need to wait on file handoffs to see what another team changed.
Reality model integration
Site context can be brought in directly as a reality model, giving teams an accurate picture of existing conditions to design around, rather than relying on older survey data or assumptions.
Standards enforcement through ProjectWise
OpenBuildings Designer connects with Bentley ProjectWise to manage file permissions, enforce CAD standards, and keep every discipline working from the same templates and naming conventions, which matters as much to a CAD manager rolling the platform out to a team as it does to an individual modeler.
Energy Simulator
A built-in module, using EnergyPlus for whole-building energy analysis and Radiance for daylighting, for evaluating and improving building performance. Useful for teams that need to weigh design decisions against efficiency, sustainability, and LEED targets early rather than after the design is locked in.
Computational design tools
Built-in parametric and associative design tools for exploring design alternatives quickly, particularly useful on projects with complex geometry or facades where manual iteration would be slow. Teams that need deeper generative workflows can pair OpenBuildings Designer with Bentley’s standalone GenerativeComponents application.
Visualization and documentation
Photorealistic renderings and animations help communicate design intent to clients and stakeholders, while built-in documentation and reporting tools support the drawing sets and compliance records a project needs to move through approvals.
Why teams choose OpenBuildings Designer
- One model, every discipline
The shared data model is the core advantage. Instead of architecture, structural, and MEP teams maintaining separate files and reconciling them at milestones, everyone works against the same project data. This reduces the version conflicts and coordination errors that tend to surface late in a project. - Built-in performance and sustainability tools
With Energy Simulator included, teams do not need a separate application to evaluate building performance. Energy considerations can be part of the design process rather than a compliance step tacked on afterward. - Site-aware design from day one
Reality model referencing means designs are evaluated against actual site conditions from the start, which is particularly valuable on renovation, retrofit, or infill projects where existing conditions drive major design decisions. - Interoperability within a wider ecosystem
OpenBuildings Designer integrates with other Bentley applications such as ProStructures, OpenSite Designer, and LumenRT. For firms already working across Bentley’s civil and structural tools, that means design data can move between applications without a full rebuild at each handoff.
Licensing options and pricing
OpenBuildings Designer can be licensed as a standalone application or as part of a broader bundle. From there, the license type depends on team size, budget cycle, and how the software will be used day to day:
OpenBuildings Designer (standalone)
Building WorkSuite (bundle): includes OpenBuildings Designer alongside other Bentley building applications, plus Bentley Keys and training credits that can be put toward onboarding and adoption.
- Perpetual license + SELECT maintenance: a one-time purchase paired with an annual maintenance subscription that includes 24/7 support.
- Annual Subscription: a 12-month subscription with no long-term contract, that bundles in Bentley Keys (training credits) new users can put toward onboarding.
- Cloud Services Subscription: pay-as-you-go, usage-based licensing for teams whose OpenBuildings Designer needs change from project to project.
Because the right structure depends on team size, project pipeline, and how the license will be used day to day, it’s worth having a call with a Bentley expert from CAD Journey to make the right decision for your organization.
Who should be considering OpenBuildings Designer?
- Architects and building design professionals working on multidiscipline projects
- Structural, mechanical, and electrical engineering teams that need to coordinate with architecture on a shared model
- Small to mid-size firms looking for an affordable, bundled path into full BIM capability
- Organizations that need documentation and compliance support built into their design workflow, rather than handled separately
- CAD managers and IT leads standardizing BIM workflows, training rollout, and license management across a multidisciplinary team
At its core, OpenBuildings Designer is built for teams that need architecture, structural, and MEP work to stay in sync from concept through documentation, without the coordination gaps that come from working across disconnected files.
To talk through licensing options for OpenBuildings Designer or Building WorkSuite, training options, or see how it could fit your workflow, get in touch with the CAD Journey team.
