Building Elevations and Their Importance in Civil Engineering

Building elevations, or exterior facade drawings, are a critical part of architectural and civil engineering design. This in-depth guide covers everything related to building elevations – what they are, why they matter, elevation standards, materials, and best practices for residential and commercial buildings.

What is a Building Elevation?

A building elevation is an architectural drawing depicting the exterior facade of a structure. Elevations are orthographic projections showing the height, width, depth, and design features on a building’s exterior.

Elevations provide important information for construction including:

• External materials, finishes, and architectural details
• The location and size of doors, windows, and openings
• Vertical dimensions and heights
• Exterior structural and decorative elements
• Visualization of the aesthetics and styling

Elevations are drawn to scale like floor plans and sections. But unlike plans or sections, elevations show the true exterior appearance without cutting through the building.

Why are Building Elevations Important?

There are several key reasons elevations are critical for civil engineering and construction:

Visualization

Elevations help visualize and communicate the exterior design, aesthetics, scale, and proportions. They show how the building will look in real life better than plans or 3D models. This allows stakeholders to provide feedback on the exterior.

Complements Plans & Sections

Plans and sections detail interior spaces but lack exterior façade information. Elevations complement these drawings by providing exterior dimensions, openings, materials, and components.

Construction Accuracy

With detailed material types, locations of doors/windows, exterior finishes, and vertical dimensions, elevations ensure the exterior shell can be built accurately.

Code and Zoning Compliance

Local zoning, planning, and building codes often regulate facade aesthetics and elements like window-to-wall ratio. Elevations ensure compliance.

Cost Estimating

Accurately estimating exterior material quantities and construction costs requires the details provided in elevation drawings.

Documentation and Records

Elevations serve as permanent records of the exterior design for facilities management and future renovations or additions.

Types of Building Elevations

There are several common types of building elevations:

Front Elevation

The front elevation faces the primary street or entrance side of the building. This facade receives special design focus and contains the main architectural features and entry.

Rear Elevation

The rear elevation is on the backside of the building. Service entries, utilitarian materials, and minimal openings are common.

Side Elevations

The two side elevations run perpendicular the front and rear. These often have fewer openings and less detail than the front.

Corner Elevations

For buildings on corner lots, the corner elevations treat the sides exposed to the intersecting streets as enhanced facades.

Interior Courtyard Elevations

Elevations facing interior courtyards are also developed to have architectural detail, akin to front facades.

All Sides Elevation

A single elevation can also depict all sides of the building in one drawing. This is more common for smaller buildings.

Best Practices for Building Elevations

Several best practices help produce quality building elevations:

Drawn to Scale

Elevations should be drawn to the same scale and datum as the plans, sections, and other drawings. This ensures consistency across documents.

Include Dimensions

Important dimensions such as building heights, window/door sizes, exterior material thicknesses, and vertical control points should be shown.

Material Notations

The drawings must clearly label all exterior materials and finishes for accurate communication and construction.

Design Consistency

Elevations should match plans, sections, 3D models, and other drawings to ensure a cohesive and buildable design.

Include Key Details

Key details like material interfaces and transitions, special facade elements, and exterior equipment need to be shown.

Follow Standards

Elevations should adhere to industry drafting standards, building codes, and jurisdiction requirements.

Recommended Scales for Building Elevations

The architectural scale used depends on building size and level of detail:

• Small residential: 1/8” = 1’-0”
• Large residential: 1/4” = 1’-0”
• Commercial low-rise: 1/8” = 1’-0”
• Commercial high-rise: 1/16” = 1’-0” or 1/32” = 1’-0”

Large scales show more detail. Smaller scales are needed for larger structures to fit on paper.

Key Elements to Include on Elevations

Quality elevation drawings will incorporate:

• Exterior doors, windows, openings shown accurately
• Vertical dimensions for heights, openings, and floor/ceiling alignments
• Horizontal dimensions for overhangs, offsets, and feature sizes
• Masonry coursing shown and dimensioned
• Exposed foundations, footings, grade beam sizes
• All exterior materials labeled clearly
• Exterior wall construction detailed
• Roof slopes, overhangs, drainage, and penetrations
• Decorative and functional elements like cornices, parapets, railings
• Mechanical/Electrical elements like louvers, vents, equipment
• Lighting fixtures and security devices
• Any special facade features or treatments

Common Architectural Elevation Materials

Typical exterior building materials specified on elevations include:

Masonry

• Brick
• Concrete masonry units
• Stone veneer
• Stucco

Metals

• Steel (panels, architectural shapes)
• Aluminum (panels, storefronts, railings)
• Stainless steel (panels, hardware)

Glass

• Vision glazing
• Spandrel glazing
• Operable windows
• Curtain wall systems

Wood

• Siding
• Decorative timbers
• Wood decking

Composites

• Fiber cement panels
• EIFS
• Metal composite panels

Roofing

• Asphalt shingles
• Standing seam metal
• Membrane roofing

Best Elevations for Residential Buildings

Some elevations are preferred for residential structures:

Front Elevation

The front facade plays a major role in home curb appeal. Asymmetric design with a focus on the main entry is recommended. Mixing siding with brick veneer adds interest.

Rear Elevation

Minimize windows on the rear to enhance privacy. Incorporate decking, sunrooms, and porch additions.

Side Elevations

Maintain similar finishes and roof lines as the front for consistent street views. Strategically add windows to balance natural light with privacy.

Southern Exposures

South facing elevations receive the most direct sun. Use overhangs and tinted glass to control heat gain.

3D Renderings

In addition to 2D elevations, developing exterior 3D renderings helps homeowners visualize the design.

Proper attention to residential elevations creates attractive elegant homes and maximizes property values.

Architectural Elevation Standards

Quality architectural elevations follow industry drafting standards for layout, dimensionality, labeling, notation, and completeness. Key standards include:

• Title blocks with project information
• Drawing orientation indicators (north arrow)
• Column grids, datum, and benchmark references
• Proper line weights and types
• Scale noted with graphic scale
• Dimensions in feet and inches
• Doors and windows labeled and scheduled
• All materials tagged with legends
• Drawing indexed if multiple sheets
• Revisions documented

Standardized professional elevations ensure clear communication for bidding and construction.

The Role of Elevations in Civil Engineering

Building elevations are vital for several civil engineering applications:

Structural Design

Elevations show critical structural information like wall openings, floor-to-floor heights, vertical supports, and foundation requirements architects and structural engineers require.

Construction Engineering

Construction managers rely on elevations for material takeoffs and cost estimation. They inform construction planning, equipment needs, and project timelines.

Site Development and Grading

Elevations provide building heights and perimeter information essential for proper site grading and drainage around structures.

Building Code Compliance

Codes govern aspects like allowable areas, fire ratings, facade materials, and egress. Elevations demonstrate compliance.

LEED and Sustainability

Sustainable design standards relate to building orientation, massing, and facade design. Elevations document these strategies.

Careful development of building elevations by civil engineers is crucial for delivering high-quality, long-lasting built projects.

Conclusion

Building elevations are a critical piece of the design puzzle, showing the exterior aesthetics and details that complete the architectural vision.

Carefully drafted elevations that follow best practices and industry standards ensure the facade can be accurately constructed as intended. Elevations complement other drawings to provide a holistic view of the exterior design.

As civil engineers work through schematic concepts to construction documentation, developing professional elevations should remain a high priority. Doing so results in world-class architecture and buildings that stand the test of time, blending engineering excellence with beautiful and functional design.