The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture: Modeling Buildings, Visualizing Design, and Creating Construction Documents with SketchUp Pro and LayOut

Part IV

The Architectural Design Process

Relating to The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture, the architectural design process has been whittled down into four main phases: Site Analysis (SA), Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), Construction Documents (CD). In this section you will first learn to gather a wealth of 2D and 3D information about the site in a very short amount of time, including site plans, site sections, topography lines, and building context. You will then leverage the Google Geo features and the tools available in SketchUp Pro and LayOut to expedite measuring and drafting as-built drawings. Next, you will respond to the site data and existing conditions with thoughtful designs represented in efficient and organized 3D study models. The study models will seamlessly evolve into a detailed proposed conditions model optimized for any type of presentation, animation, or photorealistic rendering. Ultimately, the organization methods you learn in this section will allow you to share .dwg backgrounds with consultants, move to other CAD programs, and easily create construction documents using LayOut. You will soon realize how the entire architectural design process can be expedited, and how your designs can be more intelligent, by implementing The SketchUp Workflow for Architecture.