Course Overview
The ArchiCAD & 3D Modelling course is an intensive, practical training program designed to equip participants with the skills to design, model, visualize, and document building projects using Graphisoft ArchiCAD. The course introduces participants to Building Information Modeling (BIM) workflows, enabling them to develop intelligent 3D building models that automatically generate coordinated plans, elevations, sections, schedules, and construction documentation.
Participants will learn how to create complete residential and commercial building models, develop realistic interior and exterior visualizations, produce construction drawings, and generate presentation materials for clients, consultants, and contractors. The training emphasizes project-based learning, allowing participants to build a comprehensive BIM project from concept design through documentation and rendering. Upon completion, participants will possess practical skills to create professional architectural models and construction documentation suitable for real-world building projects.
Duration: 4 Weeks (20 Training Days)
Tuition: KES 50,000/=
Course Requirements
Participants should have:
- Basic computer literacy and file management skills.
- Familiarity with Microsoft Windows operating systems.
- An interest in architecture, engineering, interior design, or construction.
- No prior ArchiCAD experience is required.
- A laptop capable of running ArchiCAD efficiently.
- Graphisoft ArchiCAD (latest or recent version) installed before training.
- Basic understanding of construction drawings is an added advantage but not mandatory.
- A notebook and storage device or cloud storage for project files.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Navigate and customize the ArchiCAD workspace.
- Understand Building Information Modeling (BIM) principles and workflows.
- Develop intelligent 3D architectural models for residential and commercial buildings.
- Create architectural floor plans, elevations, sections, and roof plans directly from BIM models.
- Model walls, doors, windows, roofs, stairs, slabs, columns, beams, and curtain walls.
- Produce realistic interior and exterior 3D visualizations.
- Generate schedules, quantities, and construction documentation automatically.
- Apply materials, textures, lighting, and rendering techniques.
- Collaborate using BIM workflows and project sharing tools.
- Prepare professional drawing layouts and presentation sheets.
- Export BIM models and drawings in industry-standard formats.
- Deliver complete BIM projects suitable for client presentations and construction documentation.
Course Modules
Module 1: Introduction to BIM and ArchiCAD
- Introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM)
- Overview of ArchiCAD interface
- Project setup and workspace customization
- Navigation in 2D and 3D environments
- BIM concepts and intelligent objects
- Project templates and file management
- Industry applications of BIM
Practical Exercise
Create a new BIM project and configure a professional ArchiCAD workspace.
Module 2: Project Setup and Building Configuration
- Building stories and levels
- Project location and orientation
- Grid systems
- Working units and preferences
- Reference lines
- Project standards
- Site setup
Practical Exercise
Set up a multi-storey building project with grids and levels.
Module 3: Modelling Walls, Slabs and Structural Elements
- Wall tools
- Composite structures
- Slab creation
- Columns
- Beams
- Structural grids
- Building foundations
Practical Exercise
Develop the structural framework of a residential building.
Module 4: Doors, Windows and Curtain Walls
- Door placement
- Window placement
- Curtain wall systems
- Openings
- Custom object editing
- Library management
- Parametric components
Practical Exercise
Complete the external envelope of a building model.
Module 5: Roofs, Ceilings and Stairs
- Roof design
- Multi-plane roofs
- Ceiling systems
- Stair creation
- Railings
- Skylights
- Roof accessories
Practical Exercise
Model complete roof and staircase systems for a two-storey building.
Module 6: Interior Modelling
- Interior walls
- Floor finishes
- Ceiling finishes
- Furniture libraries
- Kitchen layouts
- Bathroom fixtures
- Interior space planning
Practical Exercise
Model and furnish selected interior spaces.
Module 7: Site Modelling and Landscaping
- Terrain modelling
- Mesh tools
- Site grading
- Driveways
- Parking layouts
- Landscaping elements
- External works
Practical Exercise
Develop a complete site model with landscape features.
Module 8: Documentation from BIM Models
- Automatic floor plans
- Elevations
- Sections
- Detail drawings
- Worksheets
- Callouts
- Drawing updates
Practical Exercise
Generate coordinated construction drawings from the BIM model.
Module 9: Annotation and Construction Documentation
- Dimensions
- Labels
- Text
- Drawing standards
- Layout books
- Title blocks
- Revision management
Practical Exercise
Prepare professional documentation sheets for construction approval.
Module 10: Schedules and Quantity Take-Offs
- Door schedules
- Window schedules
- Room schedules
- Material schedules
- Quantity take-offs
- Interactive schedules
- Project reporting
Practical Exercise
Generate automated schedules and quantity reports from the BIM model.
Module 11: Building Visualization
- Camera setup
- Perspectives
- Walkthroughs
- Sun studies
- Scene composition
- Rendering preparation
- Presentation views
Practical Exercise
Produce architectural presentation views of the project.
Module 12: Materials, Textures and Lighting
- Surface materials
- Texture mapping
- Artificial lighting
- Natural lighting
- Environmental settings
- Material libraries
- Rendering optimization
Practical Exercise
Apply realistic finishes and lighting to the building model.
Module 13: Photorealistic Rendering
- Rendering engines
- Rendering settings
- Interior rendering
- Exterior rendering
- Image optimization
- High-resolution output
- Presentation graphics
Practical Exercise
Produce high-quality rendered images for client presentations.
Module 14: BIM Collaboration
- Teamwork features
- BIM collaboration workflows
- IFC export and import
- Consultant coordination
- Clash identification
- Model updates
- Version management
Practical Exercise
Coordinate and update a shared BIM project.
Module 15: Advanced Modelling Techniques
- Complex profiles
- Morph tool
- Shell tool
- Custom modelling
- Parametric editing
- Object creation
- Advanced geometry
Practical Exercise
Create complex architectural features using advanced modelling tools.
Module 16: Commercial Building Modelling
- Office buildings
- Retail buildings
- Institutional buildings
- Space planning
- Accessibility
- Building services coordination
- Commercial project standards
Practical Exercise
Develop a commercial building BIM model.
Module 17: Residential Building Project
- Single-family houses
- Apartments
- Multi-storey residences
- Building optimization
- Interior coordination
- Documentation
- Project refinement
Practical Exercise
Complete a residential BIM project from concept to documentation.
Module 18: BIM Project Documentation
- Drawing organization
- Layout books
- Publishing sets
- PDF generation
- DWG export
- IFC export
- Construction documentation package
Practical Exercise
Produce a complete BIM documentation package for construction.
Module 19: Capstone BIM Project
- Project planning
- Architectural modelling
- Documentation
- Visualization
- Scheduling
- Quality assurance
- Final project preparation
Practical Exercise
Develop a complete BIM project for a residential or commercial building, including the 3D model, construction documentation, schedules, and presentation renderings.
Module 20: Final Project Presentation and Assessment
- Project presentation
- BIM workflow demonstration
- Drawing package review
- Visualization presentation
- Documentation assessment
- Portfolio development
- Career opportunities in BIM and architectural modelling
Practical Exercise
Present and defend a complete BIM project, demonstrating proficiency in 3D modelling, construction documentation, visualization, quantity scheduling, and professional presentation using ArchiCAD.