Construction Technology
Precedent Analysis & Technical DocumentationThis course introduces students to the fundamental relationship between architectural design intent and the realities of construction through rigorous precedent analysis and technical drawing. Students are assigned canonical and contemporary building precedents and tasked with reconstructing them in three dimensions, using digital modeling as a tool to understand how architectural systems are assembled, layered, and detailed. Rather than treating drawings as representational artifacts, the course frames them as instruments of construction—requiring accuracy, clarity, and an understanding of material behavior.
Students develop detailed 3D models that serve as the basis for producing a full set of standard architectural drawings, including plans, elevations, sections, and enlarged wall and foundation details. Particular emphasis is placed on assemblies—how structure, enclosure, insulation, waterproofing, and finishes interface across scales. Drawings are accompanied by written specifications that articulate material selections, construction methods, and performance requirements, reinforcing industry-standard documentation practices.
Through iterative drafting, sectioning, and axonometric assembly drawings, students learn to translate spatial concepts into buildable systems while developing fluency in construction conventions, line weights, notation, and specification language. The course ultimately positions technical documentation as a form of architectural thinking—one that connects design decisions to material execution and prepares students for professional practice by grounding architectural ideas in constructability and precision.
Students Featured Below: Allison Gomez + Ehler Htoo
