4 ms·

How to Build a Building

117 points by johansch 14y ago

brudgers 14y ago
"Want to see the full spec? It’s massive." Architectural – 26 pages Civil – 20 pages Electrical – 22 pages Landscaping – 1 page Mechanical / Plumbing – 31 pages Soils Report – 45 pages Structural – 9 pages That's pretty small for a commercial building meeting a sustainability code - adding sheets to a set of plans helps with organization. It's roughly analogous to making one's code modular. However, with modern CAD systems it is entirely analogous to generating a new report from a database.
- milfot 13y ago
  We frequently exceed this level of spec for an average size house.. by a long way. However, simple commercial work can often get away with lesser levels of specification as they are generally dealing with typical construction methods and 'volume' contractors and consultants. Using the standard construction methods is kind of like including stdio.h. The better the knowledge and experience of the contractor, the more advanced the library, but the more complex the docs. In a typical set of docs, it is probably 50/50/50 legal vs contractual vs actual description of the building. "with modern CAD systems it is entirely analogous to generating a new report from a database" (not analogous - they are actually databases with a cadd layer on top) But I would love for this to be true! It is amazing how much is still done manually, or even by hand in the construction industry. There are very few firms who have attempted to fully integrate automation into their processes.
cantrevealname 13y ago
My takeaway was don't try this yourself (unless commercial real estate development is your actual business). It was a great read, and I appreciate that he put it up. But, wow, what a nightmarish, exasperating, multi-year, high-risk distraction to one's core business.
- brudgers 13y ago
  Use the same logic one applies to legal matters - hire an architect familiar with the state of affairs. Boulder is a fairly restrictive community in terms of development - it can afford to be. Local knowledge is helpful - just like when going in front of the judge.
jtchang 13y ago
The amount of planning that goes into erecting a building is mind boggling. I'm pretty damn thankful that as a software engineer changes are just a click away. I really hope I am around to see the advent of 3D printed buildings. Maybe in the future general contractors will actually be programmers who take your spec and code out the program for the 3D building printer.
- justjimmy 13y ago
  The level of skill required to build a building upright and straight and the floors flat is even more mind boggling to me - and those that goes like 100+ floors? Can't…comprehend…
- arbuge 13y ago
  If you find that mind-boggling, try integrated circuit design... especially the analog variety.
deleted 13y ago
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117 points by johansch 14y ago

"Want to see the full spec? It’s massive." Architectural – 26 pages Civil – 20 pages Electrical – 22 pages Landscaping – 1 page Mechanical / Plumbing – 31 pages Soils Report – 45 pages Structural – 9 pages That's pretty small for a commercial building meeting a sustainability code - adding sheets to a set of plans helps with organization. It's roughly analogous to making one's code modular. However, with modern CAD systems it is entirely analogous to generating a new report from a database.

milfot 13y ago
We frequently exceed this level of spec for an average size house.. by a long way. However, simple commercial work can often get away with lesser levels of specification as they are generally dealing with typical construction methods and 'volume' contractors and consultants. Using the standard construction methods is kind of like including stdio.h. The better the knowledge and experience of the contractor, the more advanced the library, but the more complex the docs. In a typical set of docs, it is probably 50/50/50 legal vs contractual vs actual description of the building. "with modern CAD systems it is entirely analogous to generating a new report from a database" (not analogous - they are actually databases with a cadd layer on top) But I would love for this to be true! It is amazing how much is still done manually, or even by hand in the construction industry. There are very few firms who have attempted to fully integrate automation into their processes.

cantrevealname 13y ago

My takeaway was don't try this yourself (unless commercial real estate development is your actual business). It was a great read, and I appreciate that he put it up. But, wow, what a nightmarish, exasperating, multi-year, high-risk distraction to one's core business.

brudgers 13y ago
Use the same logic one applies to legal matters - hire an architect familiar with the state of affairs. Boulder is a fairly restrictive community in terms of development - it can afford to be. Local knowledge is helpful - just like when going in front of the judge.

jtchang 13y ago

The amount of planning that goes into erecting a building is mind boggling. I'm pretty damn thankful that as a software engineer changes are just a click away. I really hope I am around to see the advent of 3D printed buildings. Maybe in the future general contractors will actually be programmers who take your spec and code out the program for the 3D building printer.

justjimmy 13y ago
The level of skill required to build a building upright and straight and the floors flat is even more mind boggling to me - and those that goes like 100+ floors? Can't…comprehend…
arbuge 13y ago
If you find that mind-boggling, try integrated circuit design... especially the analog variety.

deleted 13y ago

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