I am sad to hear Rich Sales, founder of NZ Autodesk Reseller Salesoft CAD Solutions, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at his home recently.
Rich was an Architect who saw the potential in this thing called CAD in the early 80s and pioneered use of AutoCAD for design in NZ. That grew into becoming an Autodesk reseller, customisation/extension/application development, and an extensive knowledge of the entire Autodesk portfolio.
I knew of Rich from those early days but really got to know him, and see his genius, when I joined The Warehouse in the mid-1990s. As we transitioned from AutoCAD LT (below left) to AutoCAD (below right) Rich created an extension to draw, manage and schedule retail space using extended data on Polylines & Hatch. I lost count of how many times I suggested something, just asking if even possible, only to find the answer (often overnight) was code for a solution to try. I used to joke he must have dreamed in CAD code...
Those tools were a small extension of an extensive AutoCAD application Rich had created. His 'Salesoft Pacifica' architectural package maintained a coordinated 2D/3D representation of a design by clever use of layer toggling, sorcery with 2D/3D blocks and view extraction. It also incorporated many NZ Standards into dialog driven design tools and included an extensive NZ Content Library. I was amazed to learn he'd also created a parametric (as much as AutoCAD could) 2D/3D Scaffolding design tool that incorporated NZ Std design rules and conditions. It was 'BIM' long before 'Building Information Modelling', as we think of it today, was a thing.
When Architectural Desktop (as AutoCAD Architecture was then called) arrived in NZ the 'Pacifica' tools were adapted to control AEC objects, our content to MV Blocks and Space Object Styles. When Revit arrived Rich embraced it, migrated or redeveloped much of his content yet again, to the point where, at one stage, a subset of his Revit Content was part of the default Autodesk Revit NZ install.
Salesoft was influential in the NZ design industry and many in today's NZ Autodesk platform-based design world were nurtured there, either as staff or customers via their extensive training courses.
He was a founder of the Auckland AutoCAD Users Group, which merged with the Revit User Group of New Zealand Auckland where he was an active member & supporter.
Rich was always willing to try new ideas; touring NZ in a customised digital bus to promote Revit 9, launching Autodesk's 2012 releases in an aquarium, using a Segway to commute to the office, and zooming the length of 90 Mile Beach, Northland (where he had a holiday home) in his land yachts!
1900 (A vision of 2000) 2007 (A Vision!)
In 2013 Rich retired, the transition celebrated at a dinner in an Aviation Museum (below), eventually settling in the South Island.
In 2016 Salesoft was acquired by Cadpro Systems, although the name has gone many of the faces remain the same.
I last saw Rich in 2019. I was in the South Island for a bike trip & had an overnight stay in Akaroa. It's a beautiful seaside village (below) on Banks Peninsular, near Christchurch, where he'd settled. We caught up for brunch and afterwards he showed me his new passion. Most of the (large) garage by his home had been devoted to wood working machinery, but he was still using CAD to design the beautiful objects he handcrafted.
Last I heard Rich was still designing, making, still using CAD & Revit. It's strange to think he will no longer, but his legacy remains. His modesty is summed up in this profile line I found on his old LinkedIn page:
Likeable 'guru' with heaps of knowledge that no one knows about!
Vale and thanks for all you did Rich, it was a privilege to know you. My condolences to all the family.
Richard Sales Obituary (link to full Obituary)
On April 9, 2025, passed away unexpectedly, but peacefully, at home in Akaroa, aged 78 years. Much loved partner of Lesley, much loved father and father-in-law of Emma and Rod, and Cathy. Loved grandfather of Milly, Duncan; Isaac, Asher, and Cyrus. Loved brother and brother-in-law of Diana Quinn (Australia), and Peter and Kathryn Sales.The Service for the Late Richard Merwyn Alan Sales "Rich" will be streamed live 13:45 Thursday April 17 (NZST) and available for a couple of weeks afterwards.
