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Real-world experience, from the ground up

Our Architectural Engineering Technology (AET) students who are nearing graduation completed their Capstone Project and designed a student recreation center from start to finish. This project helps students bring to life what they have learned in the Computer Aided Drafting program by applying their knowledge in an innovative way.

finished student center illustration

The student recreation center assignment is an extensive project with many specifications and requirements, and was focused on four phases:

Phase 1: Create architectural and structural plans including floor plans, foundation and footer planning, building and roof framing, and calculations of the beams, joists, and girders.

Phase 2: Create elevations, cross and transverse sections, wall sections, and furniture plans. 

Phase 3: Create detail sheets for the interior elevations and electrical plans.

Phase 4: Create a site plan, landscaping plan, and schedules and, lastly, document general notes for the building such as room schedules and a legend for all of the project symbols used throughout their engineering plans.

As the project progressed and moved into different phases, our AET students presented their work to the client during mock client meetings. During these presentations, the students are given revisions to their designs and are asked to put their problem-solving skills to test.

  • Student and instructor working together
  • a digital drawing of the rec center
  • a student contributing to the rec center drawaings

One of the important takeaways of this design project is that it shows students first-hand how Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is tied to the project. LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world and provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient, and cost-saving green buildings.

This quarter-long project isn’t an easy one, but it’s important. It prepares our students to think large and small about a project—and to think on their feet when talking with clients. It’s also the kind of project they’ll think about in the years ahead, once they gain more experience.

Experience PTCollege for Yourself.

Sources: https://new.usgbc.org/leed