Residential Project #1: Getting Started

I am pleased to say that I have a residential project currently underway.

Several people have commented on the time and effort that goes into an architectural project.  One memorable comment: "I had no idea it took so much to get a project done."  So, as I get this project started, I thought it would be good to document the process that I go through - at least for a residential renovation/addition.

Existing Conditions Plan

Step #1 - Existing Conditions
For renovations and additions, existing conditions are critical.  The biggest problem that might creap up is that the planning doesn't fit.  No matter what type of project, there are small, medium, or large parts of the plan that have space constraints: kitchen cabinets, toilets, beds (single, double, queen, king), and the list goes on.  Just about every project has at least one of these important features, not to mention the tight planning dimensions that creap up in a renovation project: corridors, door swings, existing window placement, etc.

Existing Conditions Documents need to be as accurate as (reasonably) possible.  A high level of accuracy helps to reduce the likelihood of field changes and/or re-design.

In this case, my project is in the St. Louis metro-area.  I can't just stop by on my way home from work to pick up the missing dimension, so I have to rely on a set of old drawings and the measurements of the homeowner to get the project started.  We will take some more-detailed measurements when we go out to St. Louis next weekend.

Existing Conditions Documents usually consist of Plan(s), Elevation(s), and at least one Building Section.  These drawings help to define the scope of the work, and the principal working dimensions for the new work, whether renovation or addition.  These drawings are the record drawings from the Press Box project slated for construction in 2012.

Once upon a time, we had to draw EACH of these drawings individually.  If there was an error (the height of the ceiling for instance) each occurance of that dimension or condition in the drawings needed to be updated.  Now using Revit, I can make this change in one place, and each occurance of that condition is automatically updated!  The challenge now is to generate enough information to complete the work, without getting completely bogged down in the minutia of the building.