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Design Excellence in Two Dimensions
8 Feb, 2011 By: David CohnA small Seattle architecture and interior design firm uses AutoCAD to create stunning hotels — inside and out.
Editor's note: Through a sponsorship by Autodesk, Cadalyst editors bring you this feature, part of a special series of articles that highlight the role of AutoCAD and 2D design in today's demanding CAD work flows. Watch for the next installment later this month.
Architects have been using AutoCAD since the program was released in 1983 and have come to rely on many of the software's features and functions to develop everything from concepts and preliminary designs to complete sets of working drawings and photorealistic renderings. Although the software has become increasingly powerful in the years since its introduction and today rivals other programs in terms of its 3D modeling capabilities, many firms still rely on the program primarily for serious 2D work — and Autodesk is serious about supporting those users by continually upgrading AutoCAD's 2D functionality.
One firm that is firmly planted in the 2D AutoCAD space is Degen & Degen, a full-service architectural and interior design firm founded in 1997 by the husband-and-wife team of principal architect Jeffrey Degen and principal interior designer Anita Degen. The Seattle-based company works on projects throughout North America and Asia, including work for major international hoteliers such as Marriott, Hilton, Starwood, and InterContinental, as well as independent owners and developers. Projects include both new construction and renovation, and no two are ever alike.
The full-service architecture and interior design firm of Degen & Degen work throughout North America and Asia for major international hotel companies.
"There's really no distinction between interior and exterior," said Jeffrey Degen. "Both must be developed simultaneously. At Degen & Degen, every project team has both architects and interior designers from Day One. The design concept is truly an evolution of both interior and exterior."
With just 15 employees, Degen & Degen also is typical of many architectural firms, large enough to take on interesting projects competently, yet small enough so everyone can stay connected to the work. Team members use AutoCAD throughout the design and documentation process, starting with conceptual design and extending through to construction documents, which are created entirely in AutoCAD. Designers use AutoCAD almost exclusively for 2D work, create 3D concept models using Google SketchUp, and employ outside consultants to develop renderings using Autodesk 3ds Max. The firm has customized many aspects of AutoCAD to meet its specific needs.
Maintaining Company Standards
Much of that customization focuses on tool palettes. Daniel Herhold, project architect, explained, "When we hire new people, the [customized] palettes ensure that their drawings are set up properly and [that] they maintain the standards of quality for our drawings. We still get consistency regardless of the person's level of experience."
The palettes, as well as other software customizations, were prepared in-house by staff members. Even drawing standards such as layers, linetypes, and lineweights are established using custom tool palettes. "The layers are all built into our tool palettes, so we can just drag them in," said Herhold. "So depending on what kind of drawing you're doing, you can start with a prototype template and just bring them in." The firm uses different layering systems depending on client requirements and whether a particular project involves interiors only or encompasses the entire building. "Pretty much everything is set up using tool palettes."
Architects at Degen & Degen use custom tool palettes and dynamic blocks to maintain company standards and ensure drawing consistency.
To further ensure that team members adhere to office standards, Degen & Degen uses AutoCAD's built-in standards-checking functions extensively. The firm created several drawing standards files, and the appropriate DWS files are associated with each drawing and then used to perform periodic standards checks. AutoCAD's notification feature alerts team members if they violate standards while they're working on a drawing.
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