DIGITAL DESIGN

By Christopher Holdsworth
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.Block Plans

2.Site Plans

3. Floor Plans

4. Ceiling Plans
5. Roof Plans

6. Elevations

7.Cross Sections

8. Schedules

9.Costs

References
 I Have been employed as a trainee CAD / BIM technician for a medium sized architectural
practice. I am currently involved with a design and build project consisting of a Visitor
Centre with coffee shop located in a local forest park. The client has specified that the

INTRODUCTION
design should complement buildings elsewhere within the forest park estate and that the
project will be a BIM enabled and as such a Building Information Model is required in
addition to the 2D construction documentation. I have been tasked with setting up Project
Standards and creating an information package for the project including 3D model, 2D
drawings, schedules & specifications. A Presentation will also be provided along side these
to explain key construction information on a typical project.
 Block Plans
Block Plans are a key element at the beginning of any construction
project as they provide a variety of useful information such as the
boundary of the site planning to be worked on, the surrounding
roads and area circulation, the neighbouring buildings and existing
buildings on the current site. Block Plans are plans of an existing
site before any construction work has taken place and are used to
prepare different disciplines for beginning the construction
process. The boundary of the site on a block plan is usually denoted
through the use of a red line or thick dashed line in order to
differentiate between the boundary line and others. These plans
can be used by a variety of different disciplines within the
construction industry. Such as:
• Traffic Control for planning routes for vehicles carrying materials
and planning alternate routes for normal vehicles if access
around the site cannot be provided.
• Architects and developers as they can use them in order to
visualize the project and propose different design choices taking
into account the impact they will have on the surrounding area.
• Buyers and Sellers, they can use a block plan to determine the
price of the site through the easier by being able to see the
property boundary line and its relation ship to neighbouring and
surrounding sites.
• Contractors can also use block plans in order to plan out where
materials can be delivered to on site and be stored while
construction is in motion.
• The Environmental Agency is also able to use block plans in
order to identify what could be considered as a green belt and
what trees within the area may fall under a tree preservation
order.
 Site Plans
Site Plans are developed at the start of a construction project and evolve as the project progress up until
the final completion date. Site plans show existing and proposed conditions of a given plot of land that a
construction project is being started on. Site plans contain a variety of useful information such as site
dimensions, property/boundary lines, fire hydrants, Landscaping areas, neighbouring streets, parking
areas, walkways, accessibility and building extents. Site plans are used by various different roles such as:
• Architects so they can show the proposed building on the site and other external elements in order to
have a graphic representation of everything to be constructed on site.
• Landscape Architects so they can properly plan for stormwater management and erosion control as well
as spot the elevations on the site in order to dictate what landscape works need to be done on the site
before any construction work can begin.
• Urban planning can use site plans in order to maintain infrastructure in and around the site for
transportation, communication, distribution networks and their accessibility.
• Contractors use site plans for the
purpose of material & labour
costing and location of on site
material storage while the building
is under construction.
• Engineers use site plans for a
locating a variety of factors like
sewer, water, telecommunication
lines and electricity. This is so that
they are able to implement utility
design efficiently therefore
minimizing disruptions during
construction and reducing long-
term operational costs.
Site Plan Before construction
Site Plan During Construction
Site Plan After Construction
Site Fire Plan
 Floor Plan
A Floor plan is a depiction of a building as seen from above, they display the relationship between different
building elements such as windows, doors, staircases, rooms and wall arrangements. Floor Plans fall into a
category of drawings known as general arrangements, these drawings set out the different dimensions of
the construction project and allow for the sizing and pricing for materials. The main purpose of a floor plan is
to provide a way for people to visualize the building and its circulation between all the elements. An ideal floor plan
would detail the accessibility, flexibility, size, storage, cost, sustainability and utilization of space within the building, as
floor plans require so much information a final floor plan is the culmination of knowledge from multiple disciplines and
how they used / produced their floor plans. There are multiple different types of floor plans and they all relay different
types of information such as fire plans as they show escape routes and what elements need to be fire protected,
construction floor plans which are heavily dense with dimensions as they are created for the purpose of constructing
the building from them and then there’s real estate floor plans which doesn’t contain any notes or dimensions as it is just
to show the building layout and circulation. Various disciplines use different types of floor plan for a plethora of reasons
• Architects use and produce floor plans from the
start of the project to the end both to create an
indicative design for the client to sign off on and
proceed and then drawings for other disciples to
add onto in order for the building to be ready for
construction.
• Fire engineers use floor plans to create fire
strategy and signage drawings, these drawings
show what walls need to be fire rated, escape
routes from the building, whether steel in the
area needs to be fire rated and to show where the
fire escape signage need to be installed in order
to provide guidance for escape in case of a fire.
• Electrical engineers use floor plans to decide
where light switches and plug outlets can be
installed, This is to ensure that all the power
systems within the building can run efficiently,
safely and smoothly as if this information is
incorrect it could massively effect costs
negatively.
Fire Plan
Floor Finishes Plan
Real Estate Floor Plan
 Ceiling Plans
A Ceiling plan, also commonly know as a reflected ceiling plan (RCL), is a drawing that shows the ceiling on the
drawing like it was reflected in the floor in order to retain the same orientation of the views between the floor and
ceiling plans. Ceiling plan are also classified as a general arrangement drawing, they detail all items related to the
ceilings such as ceiling finishes, size of ceiling tiles, HVAC mounts, sprinklers and all ceiling penetrations aka light
fixtures and smoke detectors. These plans are used by different disciplines.
• Architects use/produce RCPs
in order to display how the
lighting functions within the
room. These plans will have
dimensions that detail the
ceiling height, slope, features
and level of isolation.
Additionally, these plans
denote the material of the
plans and ceiling type.
• M&E (mechanical & electrical)
Engineers will use these plans
for the purpose of setting out
all the kit on the ceilings such
as the previously mentioned
lighting, HVAC mounts and
sprinklers. Their ceiling plans
will also show the structural
layout of the space in order for
them to be able to show all the
wires and services hosted
within the void such as the
panel boards for the dimmers,
telecommunication
connections and electricals.
 Roof Plans
Roof Plans are top down views of the roof of a building. These plans are created for the purpose of detailing and set out
of the roof. Roof plans include information such as the material of the roof, slope, roof access, equipment hosted on the
roof and any penetrations in the roof such as roof lights. Roof not only detail roof material but also parapet details if the
roof requires them and MOE (means of escape) staircase materials. Roof plans are used by various disciplines and they
all add useful information need for the final construction of the roof elements.
• Architects use the roof plan to specify the layout, size and style of the roof as well as the roof material and any
additional features on the roof such as roof lights, solar panels or photovoltaic panels.
• Contractors use the roof plan to
cost for all the elements on the roof
specified by the architect, this
means that if there are errors on
the roof plan then it could
negatively effect the cost and
budget of the project and
subsequently the overall time the
project takes to complete.
• Structural engineers use the roof
plan to specify what elements are
needed in order to hold up the
roof. This is details such as the
materials the roof is made out of,
whether there’s large electronic
devices on the flat roof or not and
other important roof details that
could cause variation in the
calculations of the structural
engineer.
Warehouse Roof Plan
VMU Roof Plan
 Elevation Drawings
An Elevation drawing is created to display a vertical view of the building, contrastingly to floor plans elevations
drawings aren’t from a top down view rather from the perspective of a person facing the given information. Elevation
drawings are typically created in order to display the external envelope of the building as well as internal elements
such as kitchens or glazing setting out. If a BIM 3D model floor plan drawing was to be created in Revit the elevations
would be automatically populated making it a lot more efficient than the AutoCAD counterpart. Elevations are very
useful drawings as they assist in being able to visualize the building. Disciplines that will use this information are:
• Architects to use/produce
elevation drawings as a
means to help the client
visualize the building they
have designed. Additionally,
thy can be used for the
architect to communicate
what cabinets are being used
in the kitchen and where,
what cladding type and
colour the external envelope
will be made out of and
dimension the spans of
glazing for accurate pricing
• M&E (mechanical &
electrical) Engineers will use
these drawings for the
purpose of setting out all the
electrical connections on the
inside of the building. They
use elevations to denote
items such as number of
sockets on a wall and their
height. This is also useful for
if any wall mounted light
fixtures are to be installed
VMU Elevation Drawings
Warehouse Elevation Drawings
 Cross Section
Cross section drawings are created to display the internals of the building and certain elements like if you were to cut
through the building. This enables you to view elements from angles not easily seen and is able to give an accurate
representation of the structure and materials of elements such as stairs, walls, ceilings and floors. Typically, cross
sections drawings are also accompanied by details of certain elements, these are at a larger scale in order to show and
detail specific pieces such as column base fixings, column truss fixings, pit details, etc. Cross section drawings are able
to show information that cannot be covered on elevation or floor plan drawings. Many different professionals in the
industry use cross section drawings such as:
• Architects who use/produce cross
section in order to convey different
types of information like how the
walls are constructed or how to install
specific elements such as toilets,
sinks and other fixings. They also use
them to help the client visualize what
the instal views of the building may
look like at a completed state.
• M&E (mechanical & electrical)
Engineers will use cross sections
drawings in order to represent how
and where certain cables and pipes
can run through the floors, walls and
ceilings of the building to better co-
ordinate with other disciplines as
well as people on site.
• Structural engineers use cross
sections to show how the steel of the
building can connect to the
foundation and one another. They can
also show specific elements such as
the fixing plates and how many bolts
are needed for the purpose of
ordering costs and representation.
VMU Cross Section
VMU Cross Section
 Schedules
Schedules are incredibly helpful documentation usually presented on a spreadsheet that lists all the types of specific
elements within a project. Door schedules are a common example of this as they contain: A door code, door location,
fire rating, height and width, ironmongery type, etc. This formatting of information is a useful and efficient way of
informing all parties involved (contractors, joiners and manufactures) where each door is and the works required for
them. Schedules are also a good way to cost elements, this is because with all the information in one place which details
what every element needs it makes the costing process more efficient and takes away a lot of the risk as the information
isn’t spread across various sources. Autodesk Revit is a great tool for creating schedules as it is primarily a 3D
modelling software but whatever is modelled will be automatically scheduled, this is better than traditional methods as
you don’t need to fill in the schedule and any change made to the model will automatically update the schedule instead
of having to go back and do it manually. There are three main types of schedules an outline specification, full
specification and performance specification. An outline specification is a brief description of all the key components
within a construction project and should be detailed enough to allow for the cost consultant to produce some
approximate quantities. Contrastingly, a full specification details each and every single item on a project which even
includes details such as what type, size, material and number of screws need to be used to fix plasterboard. Finally, a
performance specification is a schedule that details the functional requirements of specific items in order to make it
easier for the client and the contractor to cost, this schedule details the interchangeable characteristics, interface and
the environment that it operates in to specific items. Both defence specifications and program-unique specifications
could be appointed as a performance specification.

A Programme of works is another type of schedule

but instead of detailing the elements it dictates the
time required for works to be complete. Within a
programme of works it will specify what works are
to be done e.g. installing railings or plastering
walls, then the start and end date will be listed as
well as the time it takes to carry out the task. This is
an important document as it allows for the client to
cost the works of the job and also know the
timeframe in which work will take place on site.
 Specifications
Specifications are detailed documents that outline the quality standards, materials and methods required to undergo a
construction project, they prove to be a reliable guide for architects, engineers contractors and project managers in
order to ensure that the projects is preformed following client requirements, legal standards and industry standard
methods.
Specifications complement constructions drawings by providing more detailed and in-depth information comparatively
to what is conveyed visually on a drawing.

• Performance specification
• Outline specification
• Full specification
• Specification templates / standards
 Information Relationship
Block Plans

Site Plans

Floor Plans

Ceiling Plans

Roof Plans

Elevations

Cross Sections

Schedules

Specification
 Costs
Costs are a primary factor within any construction projects and there are many factors that can affect them,
Effective cost control and monitoring is vital to any construction project as without it nobody can ensure that the
construction project will remain profitable and financially viable. By monitoring costs efficiently you are able to create
more profit, better financial stability, implement sustainability factors and ensure that you retain a positive reputation.
Without monitoring costs risks will arise that will be difficult to combat without having previously been monitoring the
costs of the projects such as labour , equipment and material costs.
The labour costs include all the wages paid to engineers, workers and other skilled professionals for any given project.
The costing for labour can be tracked through the programme of works as it denotes when works will start, finish and
how long they will take. This then means if there are any delays that occur for the works it could effect upcoming actions
that need this to be completed therefore delaying the whole project which will increase the money spent on labour and
the project.
Material costs are a large part of any construction project as they include every single asset on site from the foundation
to the bolts in the steel columns. An efficient way of tracking materials and the cost of them is through schedules, this is
because schedules can display and organize all the materials on a project therefore reducing the risk that too much of a
material can be purchased. Additionally, materials needing to be priced can be found on a variety of GA plans such as
finish drawings, ceiling plans and cross sections. Ceiling plans not only specify what type of ceilings there are and how
many square metres you’ll need but also all the fixings within the ceiling that will need to be priced.
REFERENCES
• MTCOPELAND. (2020, June 30). What Is a Site Plan? 11 Things Good Site Plans Must Include.
Retrieved from MTCOPELAND: https://mtcopeland.com/blog/what-is-a-site-plan-11-things-good-site-plans-must-include/
• Finch, E. (2024, September 14). engineering site plan: Understanding the Essentials of Engineering Site Plans.
Retrieved from COOHOM: https://www.coohom.com/article/engineering-site-plan
• Expert, M. (2023, September 4). Mimari Expert Architectural Design.
Retrieved from Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Floor Plan: https://www.mimariexpert.com/blog/key-considerations-
for-home-floor-plan
• Borson, B. (2017 , January 5). Architectural Graphics 101 – Reflected Ceiling Plans.
Retrieved from Life of an Archiect : https://www.lifeofanarchitect.com/architectural-graphics-101-number-01/
• MTCopeland. (2020, July 1). What Is a Reflected Ceiling Plan?
Retrieved from MTCopeland: What is a Reflected Ceiling Plan? | 2020 | MT Copeland
• Digital School Technical Design College. (2024, November 04). Why Cross Sections Matter in Technical Design College.
Retrieved from Digital School Technical Design College: https://www.digitalschool.ca/why-cross-sections-matter-in-technical-design-
college/#:~:text=These%20enable%20you%20to%20slice,for%20molding%20and%20trim%20work.
• Designing Buildings. (2024, November 22). Outline Specification.
Retrieved from Designing Buildings - Construction Wiki: https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Outline_specification