SketchUp Pro 2013 offers more powerful tools for modifying and designing in 3D. With SketchUp 2013 the release cycle changes to an annual release, so the releases will be referred to by model year. “It provides a horizontal platform to tie together the other professions in the construction piece.” SketchUp director of Product Management, John Bacus said “when we moved to Trimble we joined the new Trimble Building Group, which has been primarily tasked with building tools for architects, now at Trimble we’re making tools for architects again.” SketchUp is also useful during construction, and to building owners, review designers and for planning.
SketchUp is now part of Trimble Buildings, a group targeting design-build-operate lifecycle of construction.
Trimble acquired SketchUp from Google in April of last year, and SketchUp 2013 is the first major update since that acquisition. The new release features an Extension Warehouse for add-on tools for professional architectural, construction and design users, as well as rebranding of the software’s free version, to SketchUp Make. Trimble announced SketchUp 2013, the latest version of their 3D modeling platform. 21st Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP21/CMP11.