AutoCAD Architecture 1- Residential Buildings

In this 64 hour, online CAD course you will learn the powerful, parametric building modeling capabilities of the latest versions of AutoCAD Architecture. Designed for Architectural and Interior Design professionals, this introductory course covers the creation of integrated building models as the basis for extracted construction drawings. The material has been developed and recorded using Architectural Desktop 2007. A current version of the software (2007 to 2009) will be required to complete many of the exercises. This course also includes a free upgrade to the 2009 version of the course which will be released in the Fall of 2008.

New concepts include: Modeling with AEC Objects, (Walls, Doors, Windows, Openings,, Roofs, Slabs, Stairs, and Railings), Display Management, Style Management, AEC Dimensions, Materials, Extracting Elevations and Sections, Creating Camera Views and working with Visual Styles.

Detailed Course Description

The course begins with an examination of AutoCAD Architecture concepts and the default modeling interface. Students will use AEC tools to layout a small office building complete with doors, windows, and a roof. This introductory building is developed and refined over the next few classes as students explore the display system and Style Manager, creating custom display configurations and learning how to set and control the display to extract reflected ceiling plans and presentation style plans from the model. Wall objects and Wall styles will be examined in depth as students learn how to define custom wall configurations and enhance the display of their walls with modifiers and endcaps. Object isolation tools and Material definitions are explored and the first project concludes with a study of automatic dimensioning routines and AEC dimension styles.

The main level one project is a model of a two storey, 3000 square foot residence and students will commence this building with a study of custom door, window and opening objects. After laying out the first floor and adding a floor system with AEC slabs, students convert the first floor model into a second floor model and then use external references to combine the two models with overlays to ensure proper alignment and to aid in further development. Over the next two classes students learn how to create Roof and Roof Slab objects, developing a multi-slope roof and integrating the roof from the first floor around the second floor walls. Students will add stairs and railings to accomodate vertical circulation and will then learn how to create a master assembly in which they will extract a series of elevation drawings. The elevation drawings will be refined with a custom elevation style and linework editing. After developing the elevation drawings, students will learn how to work with Sections and live sections and then, finally, will add cameras to obtain 3D perspective views of the finished building model.