Developing Architectural Construction Drawings for Commercial Buildings

Precise and complete Architectural Construction Drawings are the key to the successful implementation of any construction project. The main purpose of these drawings (also known as Working Drawings) is to depict “What” is to be built. The specifications on these drawings focus on the materials to be used, quality standards, and any other information that is critical in constructing a building. Construction Drawings are created for all types of construction projects i.e. residential, commercial, community centers, sports complexes, healthcare, etc. Commercial building plans start slightly differently from residential projects. Most of the time residential projects are built in established neighborhoods, requiring minimal site inputs. This is not the case for commercial buildings. For example, the zoning laws will govern the size of the building, parking space requirements, etc. 

Construction Documents serve two purposes:

1. to receive a building permit from the local authority and
2. to construct the building.

For commercial buildings, Construction Drawings form a part of the information that is included in the tender information which subsequently translates into a contract if the tender is awarded. Thus, it has legal significance as it is a part of the contract between the contractor and the client.

Architectural Construction Drawings are the first set of drawings that are developed. These are drawn by detailing the architectural design developed and are generally drawn to scale. A set of standard architectural hatchings and symbols are used so that they are easy to decipher and interpret. A typical set of Architectural Working Drawings for a commercial building comprises:

1. Project Information
   • Cover Sheet: The Cover Sheet contains basic information of the project such as the name and contact information of the architect/architectural firm, detailed information about the property, the zone in which the project falls, building type, city pin code, site map showing the location in the city and any other information as per the applicable regulations.
   • Accessibility Notes and Details: This sheet is specifically applicable for commercial projects. It shows a set of details showing reach ranges, door widths and signs and location of important signage of a publicly accessible building.
   • Site Plan: It depicts the way the building is situated on the entire property.
   • Landscape Plan: The Landscape plan details the landscaping along with the parking spaces and the concrete work.
   • Life Safety Plan: The total occupancy of the building is calculated by breaking up available space into different user types so that the building has the right number and size of exits in case of emergency.
   • Demolition Plan: The Demolition Plan shows the existing state of a building in a renovation project.
2. Floor Plans: The floor plans show a general overview of where the elements of the building will be located along with the detailed dimensions, keynotes, doors, windows, wall type tags, and other relevant callouts.
3. Elevations: Elevations show the heights of building elements, materials, and keynotes on important information about exterior construction.
4. Sections: Sections are a representation of hypothetical slices cut through a particular part of the building, typically at the center. It shows the details of walls, foundation, floor-to-floor heights, etc.
5. Reflected Ceiling Plan (RCP): RCP shows the view of the ceiling. It details ceiling material type (drywall, plaster, wood cladding, etc.), the location of the lights on the ceiling and the locations of light switches to operate these lights (for convenience).
6. Roof Plans: A typical roof plan consists of the dimensions of the entire roof structure including the shape, size, design, and placement of materials used. Additionally, it also includes ventilation, drainage, slopes, valleys, etc.
   • Schedules and Wall Types: Schedules are spreadsheets listing detailed product information (finish types, size, type, materials, handles, etc.) for an element e.g. doors, windows, etc.
   • Details: These sheets list details that are common throughout the building e.g. flooring, the procedure to construct a new staircase, etc.

In a nutshell, Architectural Construction Drawings play a pivotal role at various stages of the construction of the building. Precise and accurate CD sets are at the center of any successful project.