Architectural Shop Drawings
Detailed construction and fabrication drawings to international standards, supporting both design and production.
Construction and fabrication drawings are the bridge between design and production. The hanger system of a timber ceiling panel, the joint layout of marble cladding, the way a glass partition meets the floor: every detail is drawn to scale and numbered, in a language the fabricator and the site team understand.
What we deliver
- Construction drawings (plans, sections, elevations)
- Installation details for ceiling, wall and floor finishes
- Fabrication sheets and joint details for joinery, doors and windows
- Setting-out plans for marble, tiles and flooring
- Electrical, mechanical and lighting coordination drawings
- Material schedules, item numbering and quantity take-offs
- Revision control and as-built drawings at handover
How we work
We start by reading the existing design and the site: structure, service levels, column and beam projections. We then list the critical details in order of priority, so the item that goes into production first is drawn first. Every sheet is reviewed with the fabricator, and revisions are numbered and tracked.
Who it is for
Projects designed by another practice that need to be made ready for construction; work to be manufactured or installed abroad; office, retail and hotel projects with a large amount of bespoke joinery.
Construction drawings vs shop drawings
Construction drawings define what the space will be: plans, sections, elevations, material decisions and levels. Shop drawings show how each item will be made in the workshop and installed on site. Construction drawings stay at 1:50 and 1:20, while shop drawings go down to 1:20, 1:5 and, where needed, 1:1.
The difference shows up in practice: a construction drawing says “timber ceiling panel”; the shop drawing gives the panel width, joints, hanger spacing, cut-outs for fittings and access hatches. One set carries the decision, the other carries the build.
Joinery and fitted furniture drawings
Custom furniture is the item that most often needs shop drawings. Each unit sheet includes:
- Carcass and door dimensions, sections and joint details
- Veneer direction, grain flow and joint positions
- Hinge, runner, handle and mechanism types
- Socket, lighting and cable routes
- Tolerances left for uneven walls and floors
- A breakdown plan for transport and installation
Wet areas, ceilings and floors
We prepare separate sheets for the three areas that cause most problems on site:
- Wet areas: waterproofing limits, falls and drain positions, shower niche levels, concealed cistern and support details
- Ceilings: suspension layout, coordination of fittings, sprinklers, detectors and vents, access hatch positions, shadow gap details
- Floors: setting-out and joint layout, transition profiles between finishes, level changes and threshold details
Room schedules and numbering
Every space and every item is numbered. The room schedule brings together the room name, floor, wall and ceiling finishes, door and window types and the furniture numbers for that space. On site, “which material goes where” is answered from this schedule, and quantities and procurement follow the same numbers.
Revisions and delivery formats
Drawings are issued as DWG and PDF. Layer structure, line weights and title blocks are fixed at the start; on projects abroad they are adapted to the drawing conventions of the country concerned.
- Every sheet carries a number and a revision date
- Revisions are tracked by letter or number, and the changed area is marked on the sheet
- The approved set goes to site and to the fabricator at the same time
- At handover you receive an as-built set with the changes made on site
Example: a drawing set for nine shared spaces
On the Railport project for Arkas Holding we prepared construction and fabrication drawings for nine shared spaces, from the lobby to the staff restaurant, phased in fabrication order: the items going into production first were drawn first. We also provided design support and site coordination on the same project.
We carry out site surveys and projects on both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul, as well as across Türkiye and abroad.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between shop drawings and architectural drawings?
Architectural drawings describe what the space will be; shop drawings describe how it will be built. They are prepared at the scales the fabricator and installers work to (1:20 – 1:1).
Can I order drawings for a single package only?
Yes. We can work on joinery only, the ceiling system only or the façade details only.
Which standards do you follow on projects abroad?
Drawing sets are adapted to the drawing standards and fabrication practices of the country concerned, including units and layer structure.
How are revisions tracked?
Every sheet has a number and a revision date. The approved set goes to site and to the fabricator at the same time, and as-built drawings are issued at handover.
At what scale are shop drawings produced?
Usually 1:20 and 1:5, with 1:1 for joints and profile details. The scale follows the level of detail the fabricator and installer need.
What is a room schedule?
A table listing each room's floor, wall and ceiling finishes, door and window types and the item numbers that belong to that space. Quantities and procurement follow the same schedule.
In which formats do you deliver the drawings?
DWG and PDF. Layer structure, line weights and title blocks are agreed at the start; the 3D model can also be shared on request.
What happens if something changes on site?
The change is drawn on the sheet, the revision number and date are updated, and an as-built set with all changes is issued at handover.