Building Design Office Course

Lesson 1 • Professional Standards and Ethics

Covers codes of conduct, liability, and ethical obligations in building design. Students apply ethical reasoning to common professional dilemmas.

Lesson 2 • Project Types and Building Categories

Surveys residential, commercial, institutional, and mixed-use project types. Enables students to match design approaches to building category requirements.

Lesson 3 • Design Office Workflow Overview

Maps the end-to-end project lifecycle from client brief to construction completion. Students understand how each phase connects to deliverables and decisions.

Lesson 1 • Drawing Set Organization and Coordination

Covers sheet numbering, drawing index, and cross-referencing between sheets. Students assemble a coordinated drawing set ready for consultant review.

Lesson 2 • Specifications and Drawing Notes

Explains how written specifications complement graphic drawings to define materials and workmanship. Students write concise general and specific notes for a drawing set.

Lesson 3 • Plans, Sections, and Elevations

Teaches construction of floor plans, building sections, and exterior elevations. Students understand how orthographic views collectively describe a building.

Lesson 4 • Detail Drawings and Assemblies

Focuses on large-scale details that communicate material junctions and construction methods. Students produce wall sections and connection details at appropriate scales.

Lesson 1 • Contextual and Environmental Analysis

Analyzes neighborhood character, views, noise, and microclimate as design inputs. Students produce annotated site diagrams that inform massing and orientation decisions.

Lesson 2 • Architectural Programming Fundamentals

Translates client goals, user needs, and operational requirements into quantified space lists. Students write a program document with areas, adjacencies, and performance criteria.

Lesson 3 • Site Survey and Data Collection

Covers topographic surveys, utility mapping, and environmental data gathering. Students compile a complete site data package as the basis for design decisions.

Lesson 1 • Precedent Research and Case Studies

Teaches systematic analysis of built precedents to extract transferable design strategies. Students produce annotated precedent sheets that directly inform their own concept.

Lesson 2 • Design Iteration and Feedback

Establishes a structured review-and-revise cycle using critique and self-evaluation. Students refine a concept through at least two documented iteration rounds.

Lesson 3 • Concept Generation Techniques

Introduces sketching, diagramming, and physical modeling as ideation tools. Students generate multiple concept options before committing to a design direction.

Lesson 4 • Concept Presentation and Communication

Covers layout, graphic hierarchy, and verbal delivery for design presentations. Students present a concept package to a simulated client panel.

Lesson 1 • Systems Coordination and Clash Resolution

Teaches multi-discipline coordination using section overlays and coordination drawings. Students identify and resolve clashes between structural, mechanical, and architectural elements.

Lesson 2 • Mechanical and HVAC Coordination

Explains heating, cooling, ventilation, and duct routing as they affect floor-to-floor heights and ceiling design. Students allocate mechanical space in a building section.

Lesson 3 • Plumbing and Fire Protection

Addresses wet wall stacking, fixture counts, and sprinkler system coordination. Students stack plumbing cores and locate fire protection equipment on floor plans.

Lesson 4 • Structural Systems for Architects

Surveys load paths, structural grids, and common framing systems without requiring engineering calculations. Students select appropriate structural systems for given building types.

Lesson 1 • Permit Application and Plan Review

Explains the building permit process, required submission documents, and plan review response procedures. Students prepare a permit submission checklist for a design project.

Lesson 2 • Accessibility and Universal Design

Applies accessibility standards for routes, entrances, restrooms, and signage to building layouts. Students audit a floor plan and produce an accessibility compliance report.

Lesson 3 • Energy and Sustainability Regulations

Introduces mandatory energy performance requirements, envelope standards, and green building frameworks. Students verify a building envelope design against minimum energy criteria.

Lesson 4 • Fire and Life Safety Requirements

Covers fire-resistance ratings, compartmentalization, egress design, and suppression requirements. Students design a compliant egress system for a multi-story building.

Lesson 1 • Site Observation and Field Reports

Covers site visit protocols, field observation reports, and non-conformance documentation. Students write a field report based on a simulated site observation scenario.

Lesson 2 • Construction Document Set Completion

Covers the full scope of drawings and specifications required for a building permit and contractor bidding. Students assemble a complete CD set with all required sheet types.

Lesson 3 • Submittal and Shop Drawing Review

Teaches the architect's review role for submittals, shop drawings, and product data. Students review a mock submittal package and issue a formal response.

Lesson 4 • Bidding and Procurement Process

Explains bid documents, addenda, contractor selection, and contract award procedures. Students draft an addendum responding to contractor questions during a mock bid period.

Lesson 1 • Project Scheduling and Milestones

Teaches work breakdown structures, Gantt charts, and critical path identification for design projects. Students build a project schedule for a mid-size building from brief to permit.

Lesson 2 • Fee Structures and Budget Management

Covers fee proposal formats, hourly vs. lump-sum structures, and project budget tracking. Students prepare a fee proposal and a project cost-to-complete forecast.

Lesson 3 • Client Relationship Management

Addresses client communication cadence, expectation setting, and managing scope and change requests. Students role-play a client meeting to negotiate a scope change.

Lesson 4 • Team Leadership and Delegation

Develops skills in task assignment, performance feedback, and team motivation within a design office. Students practice delegation scenarios and write a team communication plan.