Architectural Drafting and Design Process Explained

Architectural drafting and design is a precise process that requires attention to detail. It involves creating detailed drawings and plans of buildings, structures, and other architectural features.

To begin, architects and designers use computer-aided design (CAD) software to create 2D and 3D models of buildings and structures. These models can be used to visualize the design and make any necessary changes before construction begins.

A well-designed building plan takes into account various factors, including the building's purpose, climate, and location. For example, a building in a hot desert climate might be designed with large windows to allow for natural cooling.

The drafting process typically involves creating a series of drawings, including elevations, floor plans, and cross-sections.

We serve a variety of clients, including architects, contractors, realtors, interior designers, and even homeowner/new home builders. Our custom drafting services are particularly popular among interior designers and decorators.

We provide a range of services, including architectural drafting, blueprints, and permits. Our team is here to help with any questions you may have and ensure your project turns out exactly as you envision.

At Pro Draft, we take pride in serving a diverse range of clients. We work with architects, contractors, realtors, interior designers, and homeowner/new home builders.

Our team is experienced in providing custom drafting services for interior designers and interior decorators. We understand the importance of precise and detailed designs.

From architectural drafting to blueprints, we're here to help. Our services also include assistance with permits, so you can navigate the process with ease.

We're happy to answer all your questions and work with you to ensure your project meets your vision.

At our architecture firm, we've adapted to the digital age by shifting our practices online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Video conferencing has become a popular way to meet with clients and simulate the studio environment.

Collaboration and communication are key, and we use programs like Zoom consistently to facilitate this. Since the pandemic began, people have been expected to become increasingly well-versed in technology.

Coordinating with clients can be challenging, but programs like BIM help improve workflow between architects and clients.

If you're planning to hire CAD drafting services, it's essential to know the types of drafting in architecture that they specialize in.

There are various architectural drafting types, but one of the most common is 2D engineering drawings, which is a service offered by top-notch architectural design and drafting companies.

A highly trained and dedicated team of CAD draftsmen and architects can work as a trusted extended arm for customers across the world, providing top-notch architectural drafting services at competitive pricing.

2D engineering drawings are enhanced by the most up-to-date processes and tools, making them efficient and effective.

3D CAD drawings for construction are another type of architectural drafting service that can be provided by experienced teams of architects and CAD draftsmen.

CAD conversion services are also offered, which can be a game-changer for customers who need to convert their existing drawings into a digital format.

Elegant architectural drawings can be created with the skills and expertise of a highly experienced team of architects, who can bring a project to life with their precision and attention to detail.

When drafting an architectural plan, it's essential to consider the building's purpose and function.

The type of building, such as residential, commercial, or industrial, will determine the layout and design.

A residential building typically has a more open floor plan, whereas a commercial building requires separate rooms for different activities.

The building's size and shape will also impact the plan, with larger buildings often requiring more complex layouts.

A well-planned building can improve the quality of life for its occupants, making it a crucial aspect of the drafting process.

Architectural drafting is a crucial step in construction projects, and understanding its benefits and process is essential for anyone involved in building design or development.

Architectural drafters create detailed drawings for structures using the architect's specifications, often with Computer-Aided Design or CAD software.

Drafters work closely with engineers and architects to verify specifications, materials, and other relevant information, incorporating elements into the design based on their knowledge and experience.

To become an architectural drafter, one typically earns an associate of applied science in drafting or a related degree from a community college or technical school.

Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, are essential for a drafter to effectively collaborate with engineers and architects.

Problem-solving skills are also critical in identifying and mitigating potential risks before construction begins, thanks to advanced simulation and analysis capabilities in modern CAD systems.

High-quality CAD drafting enables real-time cost analysis and budget forecasting, reducing the risk of construction errors and costs.

By estimating labor and material consumption, financial specialists can plan the procurement and working process more effectively.

Architectural drafting services can make a significant difference in the success of construction or renovation projects, and seeking professional drafting services can be a wise investment.

Architectural drawings are produced for a specific purpose and can be classified accordingly.

There are different types of architectural drawings, often including multiple elements on the same sheet. A sheet may show a plan together with the principal façade.

Construction Document Sets (CD) include complete construction document sets with dimensions for plans, doors, walls, rooms, windows, section views, exterior elevations, as-built drawings, and shop drawings.

Architectural drawings can be classified based on their purpose, and often include multiple elements on the same sheet.

A sheet showing a plan together with the principal façade is a common example of this.

Architectural drawings are produced for a specific purpose, which guides their classification.

Several elements can be included on the same sheet, making it a convenient way to present information.

Construction documents are a crucial part of any building project. They include a complete set of plans, which can be used to visualize the structure and its various components.

A Construction Document Set (CD) typically contains dimensions for plans, doors, walls, rooms, windows, section views, exterior elevations, as-built drawings, and shop drawings. This comprehensive set of documents is essential for architects, engineers, and contractors to work together effectively.

Architectural drafting involves creating detailed drawings of a structure, including floor layouts, sections, elevations, construction site plans, and axonometric and isometric views. These drawings are typically created at the initial stages of a project.

These initial drawings are essential for investors and clients to review and approve before construction begins. They provide a clear visual representation of the project's scope and requirements.

Record drawings are a crucial part of architectural history. They have been made for centuries to understand and emulate great architecture.

Historically, architects made record drawings to study and record the remains of ancient civilizations, such as the Roman and Greek. These influences helped develop the architecture of the Renaissance period.

Architects like Colen Campbell and Sir Christopher Wren made record drawings of English buildings. Campbell's book, Vitruvius Brittanicus, is a notable example of this.

Record drawings are also used in construction projects to document the "as-built" conditions of a completed building. This accounts for all the variations made during construction.

The Survey of London, founded in 1894, is a record of notable streets and buildings in the former County of London. It's now available through English Heritage.

The Historic American Buildings Survey, conducted during the 1930s Depression, is another example of record drawings. It's a collection of notable buildings drawn up during that time, and it's available copyright-free on the internet.

In Dunwoody's Architectural Drafting & Design program, you'll learn a wide array of design technologies, including sketching, physical modeling, and digital fabrication.

Through hands-on projects and service learning opportunities, you'll acquire a strong knowledge of building systems, codes, policies, documents, and integrated design techniques. This is all done with frequent interaction with industry professionals, local and national competitions, and off-campus events and jobs.

The program is structured as a two plus three associate’s and bachelor’s completion degree program, where students earn an associate’s degree in Architectural Drafting & Design after two years of coursework and can then pursue an additional three years of study to earn a bachelor’s degree in Architecture.

In the digital era, architecture has undergone a significant transformation. Architects are no longer just problem solvers, but also human-centered designers who consider the human perspective in every step of the design process.

The use of computer-aided design (CAD) has become the norm, with most technical drawings made using CAD software. This has reduced repetition, errors, and increased the speed of drafting. However, it also encourages a proliferation of detail and increased expectations of accuracy.

Simpler software like SketchUp and Vectorworks allows for more intuitive drawing and is intended as a design tool. Architects use CAD to create all kinds of drawings, from working drawings to photorealistic perspective views.

Diagrams are essential tools for thinking, problem solving, and communication in the design disciplines. They can be used to resolve spatial relationships, represent forces and flows, and explore and communicate ideas and solutions.

The level of collaboration in BIM (Building Information Modeling) projects can be characterized into 3 different levels: Level 0 is individualized with no collaboration, Level 1 involves a mixture of 3D and 2D work, and Level 3 involves working on a shared project model.

Here are the key benefits of BIM:

Overall, the digital era has brought about significant changes in the field of architecture, requiring architects to be skilled in using technology to create innovative and effective designs.

Isometric and Axonometric Projections are a crucial aspect of architectural design and drafting. They are a way to represent a building or structure in a two-dimensional format, while still conveying its three-dimensional characteristics.

Elevations, which are views of a building seen from one side, are a common way to describe the external appearance of a building. Architects use the word elevation as a synonym for façade, so the "north elevation" is the north-facing wall of the building.

Isometric projections, which are a type of axonometric projection, provide a bird's-eye view of a building, showing all four sides simultaneously. This is useful for understanding the relationship between different levels of a building.

A cross section, which is a vertical plane cut through the object, can be used to describe the relationship between different levels of a building. In a sectional elevation, elevations of other parts of the building seen beyond the section plane are combined with a cross section.

Architectural 2D drafting services often include digitizing old drawings from scanned PDFs into full-scale 2D AutoCAD drawings with layering and related standards. This can include creating elegant architectural drawings with experienced teams of architects.

Detail drawings show a small part of the construction at a larger scale, to show how the component parts fit together.

Typical scales for details are 1/10, 1/5 and full size.

A full set of construction details needs to show plan details as well as vertical section details.

One detail is seldom produced in isolation: a set of details shows the information needed to understand the construction in three dimensions.

In traditional construction, many details were so fully standardized, that few detail drawings were required to construct a building.

Perspective is a fundamental concept in design and technology, particularly in architectural drafting and visualization. It's an approximate representation of an image on a flat surface as it's perceived by the eye.

Perspective drawing involves creating a view from a particular fixed viewpoint, where horizontal and vertical edges in the object are represented by horizontals and verticals in the drawing. This is achieved by using vanishing points, which are points where lines leading away into the distance appear to converge.

There are three main types of artificial perspective: one-point, two-point, and three-point perspective. One-point perspective is used when objects facing the viewer are orthogonal, and receding lines converge to a single vanishing point. Two-point perspective reduces distortion by viewing objects at an angle, with all the horizontal lines receding to one of two vanishing points, both located on the horizon.

Here are the main characteristics of each type of perspective:

In architectural perspective, the normal convention is to use two-point perspective, with all the verticals drawn as verticals on the page. This technique gives a more realistic representation of a building or structure.

Furniture plays a crucial role in maximizing space in relevant rooms. CAD drawings are essential for sustaining the modern architecture industry, and they help create furniture that optimizes space.

In planning installed storage systems like walk-in wardrobes, it's essential to consider the parameters of the relevant rooms. This ensures that the final result includes furniture that maximizes space.

Furniture drafting is a critical aspect of architectural design. By taking into account the parameters of the relevant rooms, architects can create furniture that enhances the functionality of the space.

Here are some key considerations for furniture drafting:

Animation plays a crucial role in making complex designs more understandable.

An architectural animation is a short film that shows how a proposed building will look, making three-dimensional forms much easier to comprehend.

These animations are generated from hundreds or even thousands of still images, each created using a CAD program to generate a computer-generated building.

The simplest animations use a moving viewpoint, while more complex animations can include moving objects such as people, vehicles, and so on.

The College Catalog is a treasure trove of information for students looking to dive into Architectural Drafting & Design.

You can find degree requirements, course descriptions, and program outcomes in the College Catalog, which will give you a clear understanding of what to expect from the program.

Exploring the College Catalog will also provide you with a sample academic plan for each semester of your college journey, helping you visualize your path to graduation.

This level of detail will give you the confidence to make informed decisions about your education and career goals.