AutoCAD for Architecture Course

Lesson 1 • File Management and Templates

Teaches creating, opening, saving, and closing drawing files using architectural templates. Ensures students manage project files correctly from the start.

Lesson 2 • Understanding the AutoCAD Workspace

Covers the ribbon, command line, drawing area, and status bar. Establishes the foundational layout knowledge needed for all subsequent operations.

Lesson 3 • Coordinate Systems and Units

Explains Cartesian and polar coordinate entry and drawing unit configuration. Accurate coordinate input underpins all precise architectural drafting.

Lesson 4 • Navigating the Drawing Canvas

Introduces zoom, pan, and view controls for moving around drawings. Builds spatial awareness essential for accurate drafting work.

Lesson 1 • Drawing Lines and Polylines

Teaches the Line and Polyline commands with precise length and angle input. These are the primary tools for drafting walls and structural outlines.

Lesson 2 • Object Snaps and Precision Input

Explains object snap modes and snap tracking for connecting geometry precisely. Precision snapping is critical for dimensionally accurate architectural drawings.

Lesson 3 • Rectangles and Polygons

Introduces the Rectangle and Polygon commands for rapid closed-shape creation. These tools accelerate room and structural element drafting.

Lesson 4 • Splines and Construction Lines

Covers spline curves and infinite construction lines for layout and reference. These tools support complex curved facades and alignment grids.

Lesson 1 • Move, Copy, and Rotate

Covers repositioning and duplicating objects with precise displacement and angle values. These commands form the backbone of layout adjustment in floor plans.

Lesson 2 • Trim, Extend, and Stretch

Teaches cutting, lengthening, and reshaping objects to meet boundaries. Accurate wall intersections and door openings depend on these editing commands.

Lesson 3 • Fillet, Chamfer, and Array

Covers corner rounding, angled cuts, and pattern duplication in rectangular or polar layouts. Arrays accelerate repetitive element placement in architectural drawings.

Lesson 4 • Selecting Objects Efficiently

Teaches window, crossing, fence, and filter selection methods. Efficient selection is the prerequisite for applying any modify command accurately.

Lesson 1 • Object Properties and Overrides

Explains color, linetype, and lineweight properties at the object level versus by-layer. Understanding overrides prevents inconsistencies in plotted drawings.

Lesson 2 • Layer Visibility and Locking

Covers freezing, thawing, turning on or off, and locking layers. Controlling visibility prevents accidental edits and simplifies complex drawing views.

Lesson 3 • Layer Creation and Management

Teaches creating, naming, and organizing layers following architectural drafting standards. A logical layer structure is the foundation of readable, coordinated drawings.

Lesson 4 • Groups and Object Isolation

Covers grouping related objects and using isolation commands for focused editing. Groups and isolation reduce errors when editing dense architectural drawings.

Lesson 1 • Dynamic Blocks for Flexible Symbols

Explains dynamic block parameters and actions for size-adjustable and multi-state symbols. Dynamic blocks reduce the number of separate block definitions needed.

Lesson 2 • Creating and Inserting Blocks

Teaches defining blocks from existing geometry and inserting them with scale and rotation. Blocks eliminate redundant drawing and ensure symbol consistency.

Lesson 3 • Attributes and Dynamic Data

Introduces block attributes for storing text data such as room names and door numbers. Attributes enable automated schedules and data extraction from drawings.

Lesson 4 • External References and Content Libraries

Covers attaching external drawing files as references and using design center for content. External references support multi-discipline coordination in architectural projects.

Lesson 1 • Placing Architectural Dimensions

Introduces linear, aligned, angular, radius, and ordinate dimensioning commands. Accurate dimensions communicate critical measurements to contractors and engineers.

Lesson 2 • Tables and Schedules

Teaches creating table styles and populating door, window, and room finish schedules. Tables link annotation data directly to drawing content for accuracy.

Lesson 3 • Text Styles and Multiline Text

Teaches creating text styles and placing single-line and multiline text annotations. Consistent text styles ensure drawings meet professional presentation standards.

Lesson 4 • Leaders, Callouts, and Symbols

Covers multileader styles, section callouts, elevation tags, and north arrows. These annotation elements are required on all professional architectural drawing sets.

Lesson 1 • Model Space versus Paper Space

Explains the distinction between drawing in model space and composing sheets in paper space. Understanding this separation is essential for correct scale and output.

Lesson 2 • Plot Settings and Output

Covers plot style tables, printer configuration, and exporting to PDF. Correct plot settings ensure drawings reproduce at the intended scale and line quality.

Lesson 3 • Layer Overrides in Viewports

Introduces viewport-specific layer color, linetype, and freeze overrides. Viewport overrides allow different views to display the same drawing with varied emphasis.

Lesson 4 • Title Blocks and Sheet Setup

Teaches inserting title block templates and completing project information fields. A properly completed title block is required on every professional drawing sheet.

Lesson 1 • Drawing Coordination and Review

Covers cross-referencing sheets, checking dimensions, and using markup tools. Coordination review ensures the drawing set is complete, consistent, and error-free.

Lesson 2 • Building Sections and Elevations

Teaches projecting section cuts and exterior elevation views from the floor plan. Sections and elevations communicate vertical relationships and facade design.

Lesson 3 • Reflected Ceiling Plan Basics

Covers ceiling grid, light fixture placement, and ceiling height annotations. Reflected ceiling plans are a standard deliverable in architectural drawing sets.

Lesson 4 • Floor Plan Drafting Workflow

Guides drafting walls, openings, stairs, and room labels using a structured workflow. A systematic approach ensures accuracy and consistency across all plan sheets.