Developer of V-Ray and Enscape will gain valuable AI visualisation technology and unlock new opportunities in AEC design software
Chaos, a specialist in arch viz software, has acquired EvolveLab, a developer of AI tools for streamlining visualisation, generative design, documentation and interoperability for AEC professionals.
According to Chaos, the acquisition will reinforce its design-to-visualisation workflows, while expanding to include critical tools for BIM automation, AI-driven ideation and computational design.
Founded in 2015, EvolveLab was the first to integrate generative AI technology into architectural modelling software, demonstrating the massive potential of mixing imaginative prompts with 3D geometry. Through its flagship software Veras – which AEC Magazine reviewed back in 2023 – EvolveLab connected this capability to leading BIM tools like SketchUp, Revit, Vectorworks, and others, before expanding into smart documentation and generative design.
Looking ahead, the role of AI in traditional visualisation software will only expand, making the acquisition of EvolveLab a smart strategic move for Chaos. It will be fascinating to see how the two development teams collaborate to integrate their respective technologies.
Even before the acquisition, designers relied on the combination of EvolveLab and Chaos tools, using Veras and Enscape to accelerate both design and reviews. In the schematic design phase, this means rapidly generating ideas in Veras before committing the design to BIM where Enscape’s real-time visualisation capabilities pushes the project even further.
“Over a year ago, we began exploring AI tools to speed up our workflows and were excited to discover Veras, a solution specifically designed for AEC that seamlessly integrates with host platforms,” said Hanns-Jochen Weyland of Störmer Murphy and Partners, an award-winning architectural practice based in Hamburg, Germany. “Veras is now our go-to for initial ideation before transitioning to renderings in Enscape. This powerful combination accelerates concept development and ensures reliable outcomes.”
“At Cuningham, we integrate EvolveLab’s Veras and Glyph alongside Chaos’ Enscape to enhance our design process,” said Joseph Bertucci, senior project design technologist of Cuningham, an integrated design firm with offices across the United States. “Using both Enscape and Veras allows us to visualise, iterate, and explore design concepts in real-time while leveraging AI-driven enhancements for rapid refinement. Meanwhile, Glyph has been a game-changer for auto-documentation, enabling us to efficiently generate views and drawing sets, saving valuable time in project setup. These tools collectively streamline our workflows, boosting efficiency, precision, and creativity.”
Chaos and the EvolveLab teams are exploring ways to integrate their products and accelerate their AI roadmaps. EvolveLab products will remain available to customers. The EvolveLab team will join Chaos, with Bill Allen serving as director of product management and EvolveLab chief technology officer Ben Guler as director of software development.
EvolveLab apps include Veras, for AI-powered visualisation; Glyph, for automating and standardising documentation tasks; Morphis, for generating designs in real-time; and Helix, for interoperability between BIM tools.
What AEC Magazine thinks
Like many long-established architectural visualisation software developers, Chaos has undoubtedly sensed growing competition from AI renderers over the past few years.
While tools like EvolveLab’s Veras aren’t yet mature enough or offer the necessary control to replace software like Enscape, they are already capable of handling certain aspects of the arch viz workflow—particularly in the early phases of a project. AI renderers can also enhance final outputs, improving visual quality. In fact, last year, Chaos introduced its own AI Enhancer for Enscape, which uses AI to transform assets like people and vegetation into high-quality, photorealistic visuals—minimising the need for high-poly, resource-intensive models.
Looking ahead, the role of AI in traditional visualisation software will only expand, making the acquisition of EvolveLab a smart strategic move for Chaos. It will be fascinating to see how the two development teams collaborate to integrate their respective technologies.
While EvolveLab’s AI rendering technology and expertise were likely the main drivers behind the acquisition, Chaos has also gained access to powerful tools for BIM automation, AI-driven ideation, and computational design. In our interview with EvolveLab CEO, Bill Allen last year, he spoke of the company’s ambitious vision, including auto-generated drawings.
With the launch of Enscape Impact last year—bringing building performance analysis into Enscape’s real-time environment—Chaos has already shown its willingness to expand into new areas of AEC technology. Now, with advanced AEC design tools in its portfolio, it will be interesting to see how the company continues to evolve.
