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Does anyone know a good CAD software for an aspiring architect (in high school)?

My son is still in high school, but he is considering becoming an architect. I wanted to surprised with some CAD software for his birthday. Does anybody know anything about this type of software. I did a search online but there are so many different versions to choose from - help!!!

Public Comments

1. My company uses Pro E and I like it just because I'm use to it. When it comes down to being able to do anything in the field Pro E is the best (My personal opinion). But I wouldn't suggest a first timer to start out with it just because of its complexity and size (not to mention the cost on pops pocket). If he is just getting started he will probably like Solid Works. Its easy to use, and has pretty good tutorials that come with it. It will do just about anything Pro E can do but it will be easier for him to learn design intent instead of spending a lot of time focusing on just learning the software. Most schools will teach on Solid Works first.
2. AutoCAD is the industry standard, and would be the best to learn. Unfortunately, packages are incredibility expensive, costing in upwards of a thousand dollars for a single seat of the program. Instead, you should take a look at Google SketchUp. It is a basic 3-d drafting program, now widely-used for conceptual design in the architectural industry. A free version is available for download from Google, or you could purchase a full version with a student license for $60. Since SketchUp is free, it is used by many, not just architects, so there are plenty of tutorials and help online. What's more, it will offer a great introduction for your son to the basic concepts in 2-d and 3-d computer drafting. With a foundation in SketchUp, it will be easier for him to pick up more complex and specialized programs like AutoCAD, Revit, SolidWorks, Rhino, and Maya in the future!
3. Undoubtedly AutoCAD Its an universal industry standard. I've been using it since college days and now at work too.
4. That will be a great birthday present. Here are some of the major players in the CAD software arena. National Instruments - LabView CadStd SmartDraw Turbo CAD ZW CAD Alibre Punch Software CAD Pro Auto Desk Solid Works Prices range widely for these products so understanding that your son is just starting out, one of the smaller more affordable programs may be desirable. CadStd has a lite version that is free and the pro version is still priced under $50. This is a program that could get your son started though it does lack some of the features of the pricier software. If you want a more full featured program, TurboCAD was designed to compete with the market leader, AutoCAD. It comes with more features for the money than AutoCAD including importing from googe sketch and connecting to a remote database. I recommend reading the reviews on this site for more information: http://www.comparecadsoftware.com/