Architectural CAD (Architectural Desktop)

Course Description

ETD 2395C – Architectural CAD (Architectural Desktop) is a combined lecture and laboratory course (3 credit hours) in the Engineering Design Drafting taxonomy of Florida's Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS). The course introduces students to the use of computer-aided design (CAD) software — with primary emphasis on Autodesk architectural desktop and related tools — applied specifically to the creation of professional-level architectural construction documents. Students produce a complete set of architectural drawings for residential and light commercial structures using industry-standard parametric and 2D/3D CAD techniques. The course is part of the Computer-Aided Drafting and Design program sequence at Florida state colleges and prepares students for entry-level employment in architectural drafting and design firms.

Learning Outcomes

Required Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Set up and configure an architectural CAD environment, including drawing templates, units, layers, and plotting styles appropriate for architectural production.
• Produce accurate architectural floor plans using CAD software, incorporating walls, doors, windows, and interior partitions to industry standards.
• Generate exterior and interior elevations derived from floor plan geometry, applying correct line weights, materials notation, and annotation.
• Create building sections and wall sections that illustrate structural assembly, insulation, finishes, and detailing conventions.
• Develop site plans showing property boundaries, setbacks, topography, drainage, and building footprint placement.
• Construct and manage a layering system consistent with AIA CAD Layer Guidelines or equivalent industry standards.
• Apply architectural dimensioning conventions, text styles, and annotation standards to produce complete, contractor-ready drawings.
• Assemble complete architectural drawing sets including title blocks, sheet organization, schedules (door, window, room finish), and notes.
• Plot and publish drawings using appropriate scale, paper size, and output settings for professional presentation and construction use.

Optional Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis and available software, students may also be able to:

• Create a 3D architectural CAD model of a complete office building or multi-family structure with associated construction drawings.
• Introduce Building Information Modeling (BIM) concepts and compare traditional CAD workflows to BIM-based documentation using Autodesk Revit.
• Apply basic rendering and visualization techniques to architectural 3D models, including material assignments and lighting setup.
• Explore building and zoning code requirements and incorporate code-compliant design decisions into CAD drawings.
• Produce reflected ceiling plans, electrical/lighting layouts, or finish plans as supplemental documents within a drawing set.
• Utilize external references (Xrefs) and dynamic blocks to manage large, multi-sheet architectural projects efficiently.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. CAD Environment Setup & Interface – Software navigation, workspace configuration, drawing templates, coordinate systems, units, and file management for architectural projects.
2. Architectural Layer Management – Creating, organizing, and controlling layers using AIA or industry-equivalent naming conventions; layer states and filters.
3. Wall, Door & Window Construction – Drawing and editing wall assemblies; inserting and scheduling doors and windows using parametric components or blocks.
4. Floor Plans – Complete residential and light-commercial floor plan production; room layout, dimensioning, notes, and symbol placement.
5. Elevations – Projecting exterior and interior elevations from plan geometry; material indications, fenestration, and grade lines.
6. Building Sections & Wall Sections – Cutting plane placement, structural and finish material representation, and detail callout conventions.
7. Site Plans – Property lines, building footprint, setbacks, north arrow, spot elevations, driveways, and landscaping notation.
8. Schedules & Annotation – Door, window, and room finish schedules; architectural text standards and notation practices.
9. Title Blocks & Sheet Layout – Drawing sheet organization, title block customization, paper space / layout tabs, and viewport scaling.
10. Plotting & Publishing – Plot style tables (CTB/STB), scale-to-paper, PDF output, and electronic file delivery standards.

Optional Topics

• 3D Architectural Modeling – Solid and surface modeling of building components; 3D views and walk-through presentation techniques.
• Introduction to BIM / Revit – Overview of Building Information Modeling; comparison of 2D CAD vs. parametric BIM workflows.
• Rendering & Visualization – Basic rendering engines, material libraries, and lighting for architectural presentation.
• Reflected Ceiling & MEP Coordination – Reflected ceiling plan layout, lighting fixtures, and introduction to mechanical/electrical overlay drawings.
• Zoning & Building Code Integration – Applying Florida Building Code setback, occupancy, and accessibility (ADA) requirements within CAD drawings.
• External References (Xrefs) & Dynamic Blocks – Managing multi-discipline drawing sets using external references and parametric block libraries.

Resources & Tools

• Primary Software: Autodesk AutoCAD (Architecture toolset) — industry-standard platform for 2D/3D architectural drafting and documentation.
• Supplemental Software: Autodesk Revit (BIM, optional coverage); Adobe Acrobat / Bluebeam Revu for PDF plotting and markup.
• Reference Standards: AIA CAD Layer Guidelines; Florida Building Code (FBC); Architectural Graphic Standards (Ramsey/Sleeper).
• Autodesk Education Community: Free student access to Autodesk software suite available at autodesk.com/education.
• Textbooks / Lab Manuals: Institution-selected AutoCAD for Architecture lab workbook or Autodesk-authorized curriculum materials.
• Florida Virtual Campus (FLVC): Statewide digital library resources accessible to all Florida college students.

Career Pathways

Completion of ETD 2395C supports entry-level employment and career advancement in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Typical roles include:

• Architectural Drafter / CAD Technician – Prepares construction documents and working drawings under the direction of a licensed architect.
• Architectural Design Assistant – Supports project architects in producing schematic and design development drawings.
• Construction Planner / Contractor's Assistant – Reads, interprets, and coordinates construction drawings for residential and light commercial projects.
• BIM Technician / Virtual Design & Construction (VDC) Specialist – Manages building information models within architectural and engineering firms or major construction companies.
• Cost Estimator (Architectural) – Uses drawing takeoffs from CAD documents to support project budgeting and bidding.

This course articulates into the Associate in Science (A.S.) in Computer-Aided Drafting and Design or Architectural Design and Construction Technology programs at Florida state colleges, and may serve as a pathway toward bachelor's degrees in Construction Management, Architecture, or related fields.

Special Information

The "C" lab indicator in the course number (ETD 2395C) designates a combined lecture and laboratory course meeting in the same place at the same time, per Florida SCNS policy. Students should expect significant hands-on computer lab time each class session.

Autodesk Certification Preparation: Coursework in ETD 2395C aligns with the competencies tested in the Autodesk Certified User (ACU) – AutoCAD credential and the Autodesk Certified Professional (ACP) – AutoCAD exam. Students are encouraged to pursue these industry-recognized certifications upon course completion. Proficiency in architectural CAD also supports preparation for NICET (National Institute for Certification in Engineering Technologies) technician credentials in related engineering technology fields.

AEC Industry Alignment: Course content is designed to reflect current practices in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry workflows, including electronic drawing delivery, PDF-based plan review submissions required by Florida building departments, and collaborative multi-discipline drawing set management.