Boss wants me to draw a building on future site, help!

[Dan Johnson]

In a better way to show off our new project (a fire station lot and access road) my boss wants me to draw up from the architect's plans the new fire station in it's new proposed location and model it. I'm totally cool with that but I'm trying to find the easiest way to do it. It is 6,500sq. ft and has 5 different roof sections on it and it has varying exterior wall heights.

Should I use the 3D Modeling within Civil 3D or just do it in the civil 3D itself. I would like to make this look really great but I only have 4 days to get it all done before our big presentation.

[Dadgad]

Do you have the POLYSOLID command available in Civil 3D? If so, check it out. It is no problem to create polysolids with different heights. You just draw or select an existing line, having defined the height, thickness and justification, and a 3D solid looking very much like a wall will be generated. Later you can add doors and windows in 2D lines on a face of the wall, then use the PRESSPULL command to press the holes for them right through the solid walls.
If you already have a 2D drawing you can use PRESSPULL from that too, just go into an ISOMETRIC perspective in modelspace before you use PRESSPULL, the better to see and appreciate what you are doing.
You might want to watch this to help you get started.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lskdbcVjv2s

[Organic]

I would be trying to get hold of the 3D model (in AutoCad form) from the architect (it is fairly likely they have one) rather than having to redraw it.

Civil 3D does have the POLYSOLID command.

[Dadgad]

I would be trying to get hold of the 3D model (in AutoCad form) from the architect (it is fairly likely they have one) rather than having to redraw it.

Civil 3D does have the POLYSOLID command.

That is the smartest post I've seen all day, by a longshot Dink!

[Dan Johnson]

The only reason I haven't got the model from the architect is because they want to charge a HUGE fee for it when I could (and can) make it from scratch at a fraction of the cost. I stil don't understand why/how architects can charge so much for their services. I'm obviously in the wrong field!

[rickh]

It probably wouldn't measure right anyway if you got it from them...a bunch of manually editted dimensions that don't add up to the manually editted total.

[Dan Johnson]

So I've been playing around with the Polysolid command as well as the Push/Pull command and I've gotten alright at changing my UCS to view correctly so I can create the correct angles needed. But I'm seriously lacking the ability to get any good level of detail from these methods. Is there any other way?

Is it possible to just draw it out using lines and hatch it? I really feel I'm making this out to be way to hard.

[Dadgad]

So I've been playing around with the Polysolid command as well as the Push/Pull command and I've gotten alright at changing my UCS to view correctly so I can create the correct angles needed. But I'm seriously lacking the ability to get any good level of detail from these methods. Is there any other way?

Is it possible to just draw it out using lines and hatch it? I really feel I'm making this out to be way to hard.

If you turn on your DYNAMIC UCS you won't have to work so hard at adjusting your UCS on the fly.
Another way is to use the VIEWPORT CONTROLS in the upper left hand corner of your modelspace to set your perspectives.
When you use them, they automatically change the UCS so that you can work on the view which is displayed.
Or you can set the UCSFOLLOW value at the commandline to 1.

Remember that if you draw it in 2D you can use that as the basis of your PRESSPULL commands.

Are you at liberty to post your drawing?

[ReMark]

All you really need is the shell of the building along with the roof layout. It isn't as though you need the entire building (interior too) in 3D right? Did you convey this to the architect? Why should they charge your company? Aren't both companies working for the same client?

What level of detail are you looking for?

Normally, if you are going to create a 3D model of a building you would apply materials to it (like brick, concrete, etc.) rather than hatch it.

[Organic]

All you really need is the shell of the building along with the roof layout. It isn't as though you need the entire building (interior too) in 3D right? Did you convey this to the architect? Why should they charge your company? Aren't both companies working for the same client?

When this happens, a quick phone call to the client telling them what is going on usually fixes it up (they don't want to pay twice). Companies won't release data without the authorisation of the client (especially to a new/unknown partner who they do not have a previously established working relationship with).