Architectural Drafter Course

Lesson 1 • Lettering and Notation Basics

Teaches single-stroke architectural lettering and numeric notation for drawings. Legible notation ensures drawings communicate accurately to contractors and reviewers.

Lesson 2 • Line Types and Drafting Standards

Introduces standard line weights, types, and their meanings in architectural drawings. Consistent line use is the visual language underlying every drawing produced in this course.

Lesson 3 • Manual Drafting Tools and Setup

Covers selection and proper use of pencils, scales, triangles, and drawing boards. Correct tool handling directly supports line quality in later drawing exercises.

Lesson 4 • Reading and Interpreting Drawings

Develops the ability to extract information from existing architectural drawings. This skill is prerequisite to producing original drawings in subsequent chapters.

Lesson 1 • Polygons and Curved Forms

Teaches construction of regular polygons, arcs, and ellipses used in architectural elements. Mastery enables accurate drafting of arched openings, curved walls, and decorative details.

Lesson 2 • Orthographic Projection Principles

Introduces first- and third-angle orthographic projection for multi-view drawings. This projection system is the foundation for plans, elevations, and sections in architecture.

Lesson 3 • Basic Geometric Constructions

Covers bisecting lines and angles, constructing perpendiculars, and dividing segments. These operations are the building blocks for all architectural geometry tasks.

Lesson 1 • Building Sections and Wall Sections

Explains cutting-plane placement and the drawing of full building and wall sections. Sections reveal structural and assembly information invisible in plans and elevations.

Lesson 2 • Exterior and Interior Elevations

Covers projection of elevations from floor plans and notation of materials and heights. Elevations communicate facade design and vertical relationships to builders.

Lesson 3 • Floor Plans: Layout and Conventions

Teaches wall representation, door and window symbols, and room labeling on floor plans. Floor plans are the primary deliverable in most architectural drafting assignments.

Lesson 4 • Detail Drawings and Enlargements

Teaches how to identify, scale up, and fully annotate construction details. Details are the most technically demanding drawings and require precision line work and notation.

Lesson 1 • Dimensioning Floor Plans

Covers string dimensioning, overall dimensions, and interior partition dimensions on plans. Correct plan dimensioning allows contractors to locate every wall and opening precisely.

Lesson 2 • Title Blocks and Sheet Layout

Covers standard title block content, sheet borders, and drawing set organization. A professional sheet layout is required for all drawings submitted in this course and on the job.

Lesson 3 • Dimensioning Elevations and Sections

Teaches vertical dimensioning, floor-to-floor heights, and ceiling height notation. Vertical dimensions on elevations and sections define the building's spatial envelope.

Lesson 4 • Symbols, Keynotes, and Schedules

Introduces room finish schedules, door and window schedules, and keynote systems. Schedules and keynotes reduce drawing clutter while conveying complete specification data.

Lesson 1 • Plotting and Output Settings

Covers plot style tables, paper space layouts, viewports, and print-to-scale output. Correct plotting settings ensure drawings reproduce at the intended scale and line weight.

Lesson 2 • Layers, Line Types, and Properties

Teaches layer creation, naming conventions, color coding, and line type assignment. Proper layer management is essential for organized, printable architectural drawing sets.

Lesson 3 • Drawing and Editing Commands

Covers essential draw commands (line, arc, circle, polyline) and edit commands (trim, extend, offset). These commands form the core toolkit for producing all 2D architectural geometry.

Lesson 4 • Blocks, Symbols, and Attributes

Introduces block creation, insertion, and attribute-based annotation for symbols. Reusable blocks improve drafting efficiency and drawing consistency across a project.

Lesson 1 • Mechanical and Plumbing Schematics

Introduces HVAC duct layouts, plumbing riser diagrams, and fixture symbols on floor plans. Mechanical and plumbing coordination prevents costly conflicts during construction.

Lesson 2 • Coordinating a Residential Drawing Set

Teaches cross-referencing between plans, sections, and schedules within a complete set. Coordination skills ensure all drawings in the set are consistent and construction-ready.

Lesson 3 • Residential Structural Systems

Covers wood-frame, platform, and post-and-beam structural systems and their representation. Understanding structure enables accurate foundation, framing, and roof plan drafting.

Lesson 4 • Foundation and Basement Plans

Teaches drafting of slab-on-grade, crawl space, and full basement foundation plans. Foundation plans are the first sheet in a residential drawing set and set dimensional control.

Lesson 1 • Core and Shell Floor Plans

Covers drafting of elevator cores, stairwells, restroom cores, and tenant demising walls. Core and shell documentation defines the leasable envelope of a commercial building.

Lesson 2 • Life-Safety and Egress Plans

Teaches egress path notation, exit sign placement, and fire-rated assembly identification. Life-safety plans are required for permit submission on all commercial projects.

Lesson 3 • Structural Grid and Column Layout

Introduces column grid lines, bay spacing, and structural grid notation for commercial buildings. The structural grid is the dimensional framework for all commercial floor plan drafting.

Lesson 4 • Multi-Story Section and Facade Drawings

Teaches building section composition across multiple floors and curtain wall elevation drafting. These drawings communicate vertical structure and facade systems to the construction team.

Lesson 1 • Quality Control and Drawing Review

Teaches systematic drawing review methods including redline markup and coordination checking. Quality control is the final step before issuing any drawing set for construction or permit.

Lesson 2 • Permit Submission Requirements

Covers typical plan review submittal requirements, drawing completeness checklists, and response to comments. Understanding permit requirements prevents costly resubmittal delays.

Lesson 3 • Capstone Project: Full Drawing Set

Students assemble a complete drawing set for a small building from foundation through roof. This project integrates all core skills and simulates a professional deliverable.

Lesson 4 • Specifications and Drawing Coordination

Introduces specification divisions and how written specs relate to drawing keynotes. Coordination between drawings and specs eliminates ambiguity in contractor bids and field work.