What is it like to work with us? Part IV: Construction Documents

What are “construction documents?”

Construction documents are the set of drawings that communicate the project design to the people who will build it.

What do we do?

All of the decisions we make together in earlier design phases are captured in a single set of drawings. The purpose of the drawings is to communicate the specific project requirements to a contractor or fabricator. Whether it’s a certain dimension, how to keep a window water-tight, or a way to join two materials, this phase establishes the rubric for success for construction.

What does it look like?

The construction drawing set includes drawings at multiple scales (from overall building-scale, to enlarged, to detail). The drawings at each scale are related, but convey different layers of information. Notes call out important components or relationships. We use both 2D and 3D drawings to explain complex conditions.
Wall Section (left) and Section Details (right)
Seaward Facade with Sunshade and Folding Storm Shutters
Gridlines, levels, and drawing callouts help make relationships between drawings.
We continue to use the digital model to communicate design intent to the construction team.
Wall Section
As we update the construction drawings, the digital model serves as a guide to make sure the design goals established in schematic design convey through to construction.

At the end of the Construction Documentation phase, there will be a discreet set of documents which will serve as the basis for the construction of the project. This set of documents will be foundation of the contract between you and the builder. Have questions about what a construction document set would look like for your project? Get in touch!