Possible to get this done in a week? - AutoCAD Architecture (Construction) project

[AutoCBA]

(Spelt Architecture wrong )

 

Hi,

 

First of all I'd just like to make it clear, I'm not trying to pull a Janus11. But just asking for some advice and opinions.

 

I've got a project, due in at the end of next week, which involves, designing a halls of residence to house/wash/entertain 50 students, along with a canteen/dining hall, outside sports area, car park and landscaped gardens.

 

It is to be delivered in the following format

 

• Developed project brief.
  
• Cost forecast.
  
• Evaluation of design.
  

 

 

• Design Cost Plan.
  
• Outline Design (Floorplans, site plan, elevations and sections.)
  
• Detail Design (Floor/Wall/Roof juntion details; Interior wall/door details; window details).
  

 

• Construction method: planning and programming (Including drawings of temporary access routes and any significant construction stages).
  
• Resource schedule.
  
• Cost reconciliation.
  
• Safety policy and application.
  

Now I've left this till now, having only really developed a project brief, for numerous reasons (multiple deadlines and underestimating the amount of work being the main two).

 

So my questions,

 

Has anyone got any advice on how to keep this, specifically the CAD design as simple and easy as possible?

 

The idea I had to try and keep it simple was to have lots of small student houses, which hold 5 - 10 students each, and doing exact clones of them, in a sort of terrace block. This would obviously mean only one small house would need to be designed and detailed, rather than a large block.Good idea?

 

Is it really possible within a week?

 

Should I just give up and shoot myself in the face now, to avoid embarassment?

 

tl;dr = Student with too much work left too late, hoping for magical advice that solves everything.

 

P.S. I'm not a girl, or fit, so sleeping with my lecturer is not an option

[Jack_O'neill]

Doing it in a week may be possible, but you will have to hit it really really hard. A plain-jane rectangular concrete block building with brick fascia might be the fastest way to go. Flat roof, square rooms, nothing fancy. Your idea of cloning a smaller building would give it a barracks look, but you could probably get it done that way, if that is within the guidelines for the project.

 

If its due week from tomorrow, you got 8 days, plus the remainder of today. Run!

[tzframpton]

It's possible but yeah... you won't be doing much of anything for the next week. Even an experienced designer would be pushing it depending on the level of detail.

[resullins]

Hey hey hey... don't sell yourself short.... surely you could sleep with the teacher if you wanted!

[Organic]

What exactly fo you mean by "Construction method: planning and programming", what sort of programming? Are you talking about a 4D construction model?

 

If you know AutoCad well you can do it if you work hard. If you are an absolute beginner at AutoCad, you have little to no chance of completing all of the above within a week.

[AutoCBA]

Right yesterday got my 2D site plan more or less laid out, which still puts me behind schedule, so it's work work work from here on in.

 

I was thinking of maybe posting up a few images along the way and using some of the vast experience on this forum to critique my work. Don't know how well that would go down here though, obviously don't want to appear as though I'm trying to get anyone to do my work. Would anyone be willing just to offer a few suggestions if I did?

 

@Jack_O'neill: Thanks for the advice, I don't think my site actually has enough space for barrack-like blocks, without them being in horrible barrack-like rows. Therefore, I will be going for two medium sized brick/block structures one for the 20 en-suite rooms and one for the 30 standard rooms.

 

@StykFacE: I anticipated the not doing much of anything . I'm not an exactly an experienced designer, but the level of detail isn't overly complex. No MEP systems to design (simply have to describe them) and no loose fittings (cookers, furniture etc).

 

@resullins: K, we'll call it Plan C, Plan B being shooting myself in the face.

 

@Dink87522: I'm not a full-on beginner, did my first CAD project last year and worked on some BIM/4D stuff over the summer on a research placement, so about a years' experience in total.

 

No 4D CAD stuff, thank god. Planning and programming basically entails a "Method Statement" meaning a document stating what happens throughout the build, and a Gannt chart. (I don't know if the terms used, such as method statement, are commonplace in the construction industry, so please don't think I'm patronising you by explaining it if it is already obvious).

 

Thanks for your help/reassurance so far.

[f700es]

Doing it in a week may be possible' date=' but you will have to hit it really really hard. A plain-jane rectangular concrete block building with brick fascia might be the fastest way to go. Flat roof, square rooms, nothing fancy. Your idea of cloning a smaller building would give it a barracks look, but you could probably get it done that way, if that is within the guidelines for the project.

 

If its due week from tomorrow, you got 8 days, plus the remainder of today. Run![/quote']

 

+3 on this one! Good plan. KISS - keep it simple silly

[AutoCBA]

I had done a big ol' reply to everyone's points, but it keeps telling me it needs to be moderated . I haven't the time to re-type it all, as am obviously in a rush, so will summarise what I said.

 

Thanks for your support/reassurances. The Construction Programming is only a Gannt chart and Method Statement, which I assume means a written version of a Gannt chart.

 

I'm not a CAD virgin, did my first CAD project last year, and worked over summer using some BIM/4D CAD for a research placement. So probably about a year experience in total.

 

I'm considering posting up some pictures as I go (would this be okay? I'd just be asking for suggestions and criticisms).

[f700es]

Sounds good CBA keep us posted and post some pics , when you finish

[nestly]

Glad to see you came back. You need to have a few more posts before you can post links, that may be why your other message went into moderation.

[stevsmith]

You say it's due next week.

When were you given the project to start?

[Ollie8974]

The idea of smaller buildings is good. 50 students = 10 students each building = 5 buildings. To avoid the "Barracks look" each building could have different, exterior finish / color/ trim.

[Jack_O'neill]

I wonder if he got it done?

[Murph_map]

I wonder if he got it done?

 

Wonder if he went to bed yet?

[AutoCBA]

Didn't get it done in time , luckily my university permits a week delay at the cost of a 10% mark deduction.

 

All done now, the CAD was a bit slap dash (I ended up hand drawing the details as I had to go home away from my CAD friendly desktop) but I'm fairly pleased with my construction plan and written work so hopefully that'll drag the grade up a bit.

 

Thanks for the optimism, but in answer to the question I originally posed, no, it's not possible.

 

Will probably be posting another similar thread when I get a graduate job that involves CAD, although I'll give myself a lot more time to get things done!

[Organic]

A week delay for 10%? You used to be lucky if it was -10% a day and not just given 0% for submitting late...

 

Good to see you getting it done in the end though.

[Jack_O'neill]

Thanks for the update. I'm glad you got it done and didn't get too much of a penalty. All of that in a week would have been a challenge for anyone, even an office that could have thrown several people at it.

 

anytime someone tries to do a big project in virtually no time, I'm reminded of a sign my uncle used to keep up in his garage. He was an auto mechanic and farmer his whole life and said that you could run any type of business on this principle:

 

We do three kinds of jobs here: Good. Quick. Cheap. You can choose any two of the three. A good quick job won't be cheap. A cheap quick job won't be good. A cheap good job won't be quick.

 

It seems to hold true, from what I've seen over the years.

[Ollie8974]

Post back with your grade.

[Cad64]

It's good you got them done, and you're lucky that you only lost 10%. If this was the real world, and you were a week late with the plans, the client would be calling your boss and chewing him a new one. And I'm sure you can guess what would happen after that phone call.

 

Also, sometimes there is a clause built into the contract stating there will be a penalty for every day the plans are late, after the due date. This penalty is usually a deduction in the amount the client will pay for the plans. So, if you end up not getting the plans done on time, and you have to spend several extra weeks finishing them, the client might end up getting the plans for free, or your boss might even have to write a check for the amount of the penalty. And you might be out of a job.