🎬 MASSIVE DROP: Complete Architectural Masterclass 2017 Now Live in the Classroom!

 Hey everyone!

I’ve just uploaded an extensive master series of workshop recordings from 2017 to our classroom. If you want to eliminate drafting bottlenecks, stop fighting software bugs, master automated schedules, or build pristine 3D models and sites, this curriculum is built for you.

Every session breaks down real-world workflows, live troubleshooting, and actionable production shortcuts.

What’s Covered Across the Entire Series:

1. Non-Destructive 3D Exploded Views & Roof Iterations (Architect 107) #Jan 2017_am - Exploded Views and Roof Options

• Generate vertical and section exploded views via design layers and viewports without corrupting the primary model.
• Compare roof schemes cleanly using classes vs. layers, and manage textures via object attributes.

2. The Single-File Master Resource Library (Architect 108 & 120) #Jan 2017_pm - Simplifying Default Content

• Consolidate scattered workgroup folders, hatches, textures, and object styles into a single, cloud-synced favorites file.
• Streamline annual software version upgrades, search indexing, and tool preference defaults.

3. Dynamic Space Planning & Automated Reporting (Architect 109) #Feb 2017_am - Spaces and Reports for Planning

• Set up smart spaces tied to story levels for instant net/gross area calculation.
• Attach custom metadata (occupant loads, water/power utilities, costs, client brief targets) to auto-generate fire studies and area schedules.

4. Site Modifier Conflicts & Precise Cut/Fill Mathematics (Architect 110) #Feb 2017_pm - Site Modifiers: Avoiding Conflicts

• Solve the dreaded "intersecting pads" error using the exact 1 mm offset technique.
• Understand how overlapping grade limits silently skew excavation volumes by dozens of cubic meters.
• Model stepped building pads, footings, and basements without mathematical calculation errors.

5. 3D Wall Features, Projections & Break Controls (Architect 111) #Mar 2017_am - Wall Features and Projections

• Model exterior wall features and projections that dynamically adapt when windows or doors cut through them.
• Learn when to use wall-inserted symbols vs. true wall projections, and resolve 3D alignment shifts.

6. Detailing Tools, Plugins & Search Tagging (Architect 112) #Mar 2017_pm - Tools and Resource Manager Technique

• Convert detail tools into red plugin symbols with locked classes and insertion points.
• Navigate filtered mini-browsers vs. main resource palettes, manage column styles, and organize symbols with custom search tags.

7. Symbol Color Codes, Viewport Overrides & Perspective Sections (Architect 113) #Apr 2017_am - Symbol Colors and Class Overrides

• Master the meaning behind symbol text colors: black (standard), blue (convert to group), red (plugin object), and green (page-based).
• Control graphic output using viewport class overrides (e.g., existing vs. demolition plans).
• Create live 2-point perspective section viewports using Clip Cubes, design layers, and cameras.

8. Complex Roadway Design, Station Grading & NURBS Modifiers (Architect 114) #Apr 2017_pm - Wall End Caps and Road Design

• Build smooth roads with even gradients using Roadway Poly and "Send Stations to Surface".
• Handle transitions and driveways using Custom Curbs while eliminating grade limit conflicts.
• Convert 3D polygons, NURBS curves, and extracted surfaces into terrain modifiers.

9. Slab Drainage, Foundation Footings & Quantity Takeoffs (Architect 115) #May 2017_am - Exploring Slab and Roof Design

• Configure slab edge offsets to wall cores with proper capillary breaks.
• Design tapered flat roof insulation falls and outlets using the Slab Drainage tool.
• Accurately calculate continuous pour concrete volumes (slab + footing) and linear trim lengths directly through worksheet formulas.

10. Multi-Directional Slopes, Roads & Story-Free Modeling (Architect 116) #May 2017_pm - Sloped Car Parks and Wall Heights

• Design parking areas that slope in two directions using split triangular roadway curbs to create central drainage valleys.
• Build multi-story designs cleanly without stories by mastering layer elevation and layer wall height hierarchies.
• Understand the interaction between overall wall classes, component styles, and attribute overrides.

11. Production Elevation Viewports & Centralized Keynoting (Architect 117) #Jun 2017_am - Keynotes and Callout Tools

• Rapidly generate full elevation sets (front, rear, left, right) using the "Create Multiple Viewports" command.
• Build an organized keynote database to replace manual text with live, auto-sorted legends (by number or MasterSpec/CBI code).
• Best practices for maintaining 2D/3D detail libraries across multi-year projects.

12. Custom Dimension Standards & Wall Height Boundaries (Architect 118) #Jun 2017_pm - Dimensions and Wall Height Setting

• Import and customize specialized dimension standards (such as joist layout direction markers).
• Master top and bottom wall bounds (Layer Elevation vs. Layer Wall Height vs. Story Levels) to eliminate unexpected wall stretching.
• Use "Fit Walls to Objects" and "Delete Wall Peaks" to cleanly shape walls to roofs without leaving hidden geometry errors.

13. Hardware Migration, Note Databases & Advanced Openings (Architect 119) #Jul 2017_am - Managing Resources and Windows

• Transition to a new computer safely without breaking workspaces, dialog boxes, or user preferences.
• Troubleshoot keynote database disconnections and master complex window/door combinations.
• Utilize 3D wall hole components to show custom windows and penetrations in 3D while controlling plan appearance.

14. Line Weight Standards, Detailing & Curtain Walls (Architect 121) #Aug 2017 - Master Line Weights and Curtain Walls

• Embed standard line weights into drawing labels by converting them into self-reverting plugin symbols.
• Edit callout and section marker symbols inside application files to preserve company graphic standards.
• Repurpose the Curtain Wall tool for non-traditional uses: custom shopfronts, glazed balustrades, and multi-tier shelving.

15. Upgrading to Modern Versions, Multiple View Panes & Legacy Files (Architect 122) #Sept 2017 - Templates, Libraries, Project Control

• A strategic framework for deciding whether to upgrade an ongoing project or finish it in its legacy version.
• Work across multiple view panes simultaneously (e.g., editing a design layer while previewing sheet layers live).
• Modernize older files by replacing legacy layer links with Unified View and in-place section editing.

16. The Modern Title Block Border & Centralized Revision Management (Architect 123) #Oct 2017 - Title Block Border Tool

• Implement the Title Block Border tool using flexible object styles.
• Link title block text directly to project and sheet records without tedious manual record connections.
• Manage project-wide revisions, issue logs, and sheet numbering from the centralized Title Block Manager.

17. Stormwater Gradients, Complex Roof Junctions & Legacy Stairs (Architect 124) #Nov 2017_am - Slab Drainage and Roof Design

• Configure slab drainage for large parking areas and extract surfaces into site modifiers.
• Calculate complex intersections between roofs of differing pitches using line conversion and surface clipping.
• Customize multi-flight renovation stairs with landings using the Custom Stair tool, and offload heavy renders to Cloud Services.

18. Hybrid Object Styles, Waffle Slabs & Interior Elevation Markers (Architect 125) #Nov 2017_pm - Object Styles and Interior Elevation

• Harness object styles for windows/doors to lock dimensions and specifications while keeping ID numbers individually editable.
• Model complex waffle-pod (rib-raft) slabs with integrated drainage falls.
• Automate 4-wall room views using Interior Elevation Markers to eliminate coordination errors between plans and room elevations.

19. Complete Story & Level Architecture (Architect 127) #Dec 2017_pm - Mastering Stories and Sheet Layers

• Group design layers into stories so that floor height adjustments automatically update walls, columns, slabs, and stairs.
• Control independent structural datums, ceiling heights, and basements without confusing elevation offsets.

💡 Why You Should Watch These:

• True Workflow Automation: Stop redrawing details, manually updating revisions, or hunting through scattered folders.

• Flawless Coordination: Keep your 3D models, 2D documentation, schedules, and cut/fill earthwork calculations in 100% live synchronization.

• Real Project Solutions: Learn the exact workarounds and techniques required when complex renovations, sloping sites, and tricky roof geometries don't fit default templates.

Head over to the Classroom tab, pick the session that addresses your current project bottleneck, and dive in!

👉 Leave a comment below sharing which topic you're starting with!

Oct 09 2026 - Vectorworks 2027 and Site Modelling

 Jonathan leads a dynamic session on site modeling and 3D rendering in Vectorworks, focusing on changes introduced in 2026 and 2027 versions. Joined by Rob and Sandrina, they delve into advanced techniques for creating realistic terrains and managing complex site modifiers. The team explores the benefits and challenges of using styled hardscapes and georeferencing tools, offering practical solutions to common rendering issues. With insightful discussions on using PBR textures and plugin styles, this episode is a valuable resource for both seasoned users and newcomers to Vectorworks software.

https://www.skool.com/vectorworks-training/classroom/d1dc17af?md=a941c72b6a134dc594e8aff92a26bc13

Oct 16 2026 - Planting and Graphic Legends

We delve into the intricacies of landscape design plans in this episode. We discuss techniques for creating graphic and technical plans and the significance of using plant symbols and tags in vectorworks. We also explore the use of Canva and graphic legends for integrating images into plans and the benefits of customizing and organizing plant libraries. This episode provides valuable insights for landscape designers seeking to enhance their presentation and technical documentation skills.

https://www.skool.com/vectorworks-training/classroom/d1dc17af?md=17326687bd9748799dcc47cb16f218f3

Use Reports to Find Objects in Vectorworks

Quickstart to Vectorworks Landmark 2027 - Free Manual

 Get the manual here: https://jonathanpickup.bio

Get the Quickstart to Vectorworks Architect 2027 Free Manual!

Get the manual here: https://jonathanpickup.bio

How to Add a Pond to a Site Model with Vectorworks 2027

Use window Styles to speed up adding consistent data on your windows

10000 Subscribers!

How to add skylights and dormer windows to a Massing Model with Vectorworks 2027

Window Schedule - Window Style Preventing Data Entry

“My Elevations Keep Disappearing” — The Saved View Trap

Vectorworks 2027 - Grade Limit Changes

Vectorworks 2027 has Non-Plot Classes, why use them?

How To Model Custom Curved Seating in Vectorworks

Why Can't I Change the Worksheet Data on My Vectorworks Door

Showing Phasing on 2D elevations

Changes to the Vectorworks 2027 Interface

Quickstart to Vectorworks Architect 2027

The Naming Rule That Saves You Hours

 

Stop Redrawing Details—Turn Them Into Reusable Symbols

 

Why Your Driveway Is Wrecking Cut_Fill Calculations

 

Live Model Updates… But Not Perfect

 

The Back Reference Explained in One Sentence

 

Rename Once, Update Everywhere_ Auto-Updating Data Tags

 

Stop Optimizing for Today—Build for Tomorrow

 

The Blind Spots of Brilliance: Why Solar Analysis Must Be Better Than Visual Guesswork in Urban Design

The other morning, I found myself standing outside the historic Wellington Railway Station. It is a magnificent piece of civic architecture—a robust, beautifully proportioned brick structure that has anchored the city’s gateway for generations. As the morning sun hit the facade, the interplay of light and shadow on the brickwork looked absolutely lovely.

Read my latest substack article here...

Why Saving Details for Last is Killing Your Workflow

I'm a big fan of sketching out the details as you start to choose materials. Whenever I am prevented from doing this, it works out badly. 

If you’ve spent more than a week in the architecture, engineering, or design world, you know the feeling of the “model hangover.”

You spend weeks crafting a beautiful, pristine 3D model. The massing is perfect, the window rhythm is poetic, and the client is ecstatic. But then comes the inevitable phase shift: it’s time to cut sections and draw the construction details.

Read more…

How to Create a Serpentine Wall

The Perishable Pencil: The Hidden Cost Not Sketching

 

I was sitting in a design meeting recently with a brilliant landscape architect and their high-end residential client. The client was trying to explain a concept they wanted for a terraced retaining wall that integrated outdoor seating and water features. It was a complex, multi-tiered puzzle.

The designer listened intently, nodded, and said, “Got it. Let me take this back to the office, model it up in 3D, and run some renders so we can see how it looks.”

Three days, a steep software learning curve, and roughly $2,500 in unbillable design hours later, the designer presented a beautifully rendered, highly detailed 3D model.

The client took one look and shook their head. “No, that’s completely wrong. The proportions are too heavy, and that’s not at all what I meant by ‘integrated seating.’”

Back to the drawing board. Literally.

The designer had trapped themselves behind the “precision wall” of a computer screen before the basic spatial logic was even agreed upon. They risked their fee, wasted days of production time, and eroded the client’s trust—all because they used a mouse when they should have used a pencil.

The Illusion of Software Speed

Whether you are designing a botanical garden, a theatrical set, a bespoke kitchen, or a commercial building, the hardest part of design isn’t the software—it’s the start. We stare at a blank screen, paralyzed by the absolute precision that CAD and BIM demand.

If you jump straight into detailed modeling, your brain instantly gets locked into technicalities—wall thicknesses, offsets, rendering styles, and exact dimensions—before you’ve even decided if the form, proportion, and spatial volume look right.

The Fundamental Truth: If you can’t sketch the idea, you can’t model the solution.

Being able to throw down a rapid, three-dimensional technical sketch on a notepad right in front of a client is the ultimate design superpower. It allows you to visually say, “Is this what you mean?” The client can immediately react, pick up a red pen, correct the proportions, and align their vision with yours. You resolve a complex problem in ten minutes with a pencil rather than losing hours fighting a computer model.

Myth vs. Reality: Sketching is a Teachable Skill

Here is the catch: sketching is not an innate gift you either have or you don’t. It is not a talent. It is a raw, physical, structural technical skill—no different than learning the rules of perspective or understanding how materials fit together on site.

But it is also highly perishable. If you don’t practice regular, observational drawing, your ability to control line weight, see perspective, and judge proportions accurately will steadily wither away. You won’t be able to rely on it when you’re standing on a construction site with a contractor, or sitting at a boardroom table with a stakeholder, needing to frantically resolve a detail on the fly.

To keep your mind sharp and your hand steady, you have to get out into the real world and draw what you see.

This Week’s Action: Step Away from the Desk

Lately, I’ve been stepping away from the screen and going back to basics. I’ve been out with local urban sketching groups, capturing the real-world relationships of structure, light, landscape, and human scale. It trains your brain to translate a 3D environment onto a 2D plane with speed and confidence.

If you want to protect your design profits, stop over-modeling too soon. Learn to secure the “early win” with a sketch, build trust with your clients instantly, and keep your creative edge razor-sharp[cite: 1, 2].

🎨 Join Our New Urban Sketching Community!

Because sketching is a technical skill that requires structured practice, you shouldn’t have to navigate it alone. I have launched a dedicated space focused entirely on real-world sketching, perspective layout, and rapid design communication[cite: 1, 2]. The absolute purpose of this community is to provide the structure, peer support, and step-by-step guidance you need to build and protect these vital technical skills.

Join the Urban Sketching Community on Skool!

Keep calm and upskill!

Jonathan Pickup

Trainer & Design Technologist

Stop Digital Gardening: How to Architect a Systemic Landscape Template and Shared Library

 

Stop Digital Gardening: How to Architect a Systemic Landscape Template and Shared Library

We have all been there. It’s a busy season, a complex public park or high-end residential project lands on your desk, and your team immediately dives straight into the design phase. They treat their BIM or CAD software like an electronic sketchpad, dropping in pretty green circles for trees, drawing random lines for paving boundaries, and manually pasting standard notes across dozens of sheets.

Then comes the “Technical Design” phase or a sudden change of mind from the client, and the “Kitchen Sink” trap springs shut.

Suddenly, your team is dragging their feet through hundreds of unorganized, chaotic classes and layers. They spend forty-five minutes manually moving individual circles when a garden bed profile updates, and another hour correcting typos in a disconnected plant schedule. It is slow, it is prone to human error, and it eats directly into your project fee.

As landscape architects, we need to stop digital gardening and start managing our workflow with systemic precision. The solution isn’t working longer hours—it is designing a strategic file architecture.

Here is my breakdown of how to build a high-speed system, separating what belongs in your day-to-day project Template File from what must be stored in a centralized Shared Office Library.

Part 1: The Core Intent of a Strategic Template

A standard office template should never be a dumping ground for every asset you might ever use. If your template contains thousands of options “just to be prepared for everything,” it isn’t a tool—it is clutter.

The core intent of a template is to enforce Organization and Logic. It establishes the fundamental framework of a project so that you can switch between a site plan, a planting scheme, or a hardscape detail layout with a single click.

1. The Dynamic Framework: Layers for Location, Classes for Assembly

To keep your files running fast and your team’s brains clear, your landscape template must follow a strict file structure logic:

• Design Layers (= Where it is): Break your file into geographic, systemic, or vertical chunks. Enforce a clean, standardized structure. Your starter template should pre-populate essential layers such as: Site Import, Property Line, Topography/Existing Site, Hard Landscape, Soft Landscape, and Site Model.

• Classes (= What it is): Classes define the specific material assembly type and control visibility and graphics across your drawing set. Keep this list strictly lean. Use a robust visibility test: If you don’t need to turn an object off independently or change its graphic attributes in a viewport, it doesn’t need its own class. Group them and utilize standard naming conventions (e.g., Hardscape-Paving-Main, Planting-Soft-Shrubs).

2. Dynamic Separation: Saved Views & Palettes

Saved Views are the most underutilized productivity boosters in modern landscape design. Your template should include pre-set Saved Views that map out specific visibility combinations. Enforce your system early so teams can instantly toggle between a “Hardscape Construction Plan” and a “Foliage & Planting Layout” view without sorting through layer options manually.

3. Standardized Output Environments

Do not wait until a deadline to establish drawing sheets. Your template should feature pre-configured Sheet Layers paired with automated text styles, standard scale configurations, and your official Title Block Border setup. This eliminates the last-minute administrative panic of updating metadata sheet by sheet.

Part 2: What Stays in the Centralized, Shared Library?

If the project template is the skeletal framework of the building site, the Shared Office Library is the warehouse down the road. Storing your resources in a centralized library allows you to smoothly migrate assets across projects and implement sweeping changes instantly without bloating your active working file.

Your shared user or workgroup folders should house all data-rich, repeatable elements:

1. True Smart Objects Over Raw Geometry

Put the simple circle tool away. A basic polygon has no data, no weight, and no intelligence. Your shared library must store specialized, parametric object styles that link directly to underlying records:

• Landscape Area Styles: Crucial for large-scale infrastructure projects or major parks where placing individual shrubs causes extreme software lag. Store pre-configured styles that define structural component layers (e.g., specific mulch depths over conditioned topsoil) combined with specified species percentage mixes and density requirements. When a bed boundary updates, the tool recalculates plant volumes automatically.

• Hardscape & Boundary Styles: Centralize styles for sloped or flat paving assemblies, automated retaining walls, and fencing. By defining main surfaces, joint styles, and border sequences as structural components, your smart objects handle both 2D graphic presentation and 3D terrain modifiers seamlessly.

2. The Plant Database & Bidirectional Reporting

Moving from “making it look pretty” to “making it work” requires attaching non-graphical information to graphic elements. Your shared library must maintain a synchronized Plant Database.

• Link plant styles directly to database records detailing botanical names, automated spacing constraints, container sizes, and water management variables.

• Store your standard pre-formatted Worksheets and Data Tags inside this library. Because these reports are bidirectional, updating a data row inside a plant schedule or shifting an object’s ID format changes the model automatically, eliminating manual typing errors entirely.

3. Graphic Take-Off Assets & Systemic Overrides

Keep your visual rendering files light and fast. Centralize your high-quality material textures, raster image props, and vector hatches inside the shared resource library. For sophisticated quality control, save pre-configured Data Visualization filters. This allows designers to apply a single-command click that instantly flags critical data on a complex plan—for example, color-coding planting beds by hydrozone water demands or highlighting pavement types by carbon footprint density.

The Systemic Lesson

Moving from traditional drafting to a modern, automated landscape workflow is all about building dynamic assemblies. By mapping out a flexible, clean template framework and pairing it with a centralized, data-rich resource library, you remove decision fatigue from your design phases.

Stop redrawing your drawings every time a client requests an iteration. Spend the initial fifteen minutes validating your file architecture, engineer your firm’s profitability from day one, and let your smart template do the heavy lifting for you.

Join now…

#VectorworksLandmark #BIMForLandscape #LandscapeArchitecture #DesignSystemization #CADManager #ProjectProductivity

Why 3D Modeling Matters More Than Ever

 

The Slab Object Shortcut

 

The Modeling Trick That Lets You “Go Back in Time”

 

Convert Any Model to Subdivision Surfaces 1 vs 3 vs 5 Iterations

 

Havelock North Sketching June 2026

 I went out sketching with my urban sketching group and I videoed my sketching method. If you want to improve your sketching, join my skool community:

https://www.skool.com/urban-sketching-5071/about

remove wall materials and allattributes by class

 

Wall Layer Height Control

 

Walls in 2026 Changed Everything

 

Importing Layers and Images: Best Practices and Tip

 Stop learning tools. Start mastering Vectorworks: https://www.skool.com/vectorworks-training/about

In this detailed and instructive episode, Jonathan guides listeners through the process of importing and working with design layers in Vectorworks. The focus is on effective and efficient strategies for managing import processes, including importing layers from a corrupt file and handling DWG files responsibly. By emphasizing practical tips and showcasing the flexibility of Vectorworks, Jonathan provides listeners with a deep understanding of how to maximize productivity using this tool. Jonathan explains the critical steps for importing design layers and highlights the importance of maintaining organized and scalable projects. Key topics include the intricacies of handling DWG file imports, setting up projects with clean layers, and effectively using Vectorworks' tools to create accurate architectural models. Detailed guidance on using RenderWorks cameras to create and manage viewports is also provided, enabling users to refine their approach to creating visually compelling design presentations. Key Takeaways: * Never import a DWG file directly into an existing project; always start with a blank file to avoid corrupting layers and objects. * Using a RenderWorks camera in Vectorworks allows for precise control over viewports, enhancing design presentations significantly. * Reference PDF or image files only when they are subject to updates to keep project files current and efficient. * Utilize the G key for setting datum points for precise measurements without changing the active tool. * Applying fine-tuning techniques when creating camera views can significantly improve the outcome of design visualizations.

Use a stair symbol to speed up Stairs

Mastering Vectorworks: Advanced 3D Modeling Tips and Techniques

Join Jonathan as he dives into advanced 3D modeling techniques using Vectorworks alongside guests Don, Neil, Larry, Sophie, and Rob. Discover tricks for seamless window placement, master the Push/Pull and Taper Face tools, and explore how to work with automatic working planes for accurate modeling. Gain insight into creating intricate shapes like twisted surfaces and learn how techniques like loft surface and shell solid can enhance your architectural designs. This episode is packed with tips and strategies to streamline your 3D modeling processes and expand your creative possibilities.

How To Control Wall Graphics by class

 

Understanding Retentions in Construction Contracts

Jonathan and Ethan dive into the vital topic of retentions in the construction industry. They explore the role of retention money and its significance in ensuring project completion. The discussion highlights New Zealand's Construction Contracts Act 2002, emphasizing the importance of holding retentions in trust. They discuss the shift from "pay if paid" to mandatory payment timelines, exploring how this legislation impacts cash flow and reduces financial disputes. With insights into both commercial and domestic projects, this episode provides an engaging look at retentions' essential role in fostering accountability and smooth monetary transactions within the construction sector.

https://spotifycreators-web.app.link/e/V6EYeYR683b

Vectorworks vs Sketchup

 

Model Fast, Report Everything

 

Mastering CAD: From Proficiency to Expertise in Architecture

Jonathan and Ethan delve into the nuances of mastering architectural software like Archicad, Revit, and Vectorworks. They discuss the distinction between becoming proficient and mastering a tool, likening it to learning chess. With insights into the learning curves of these programs, they offer practical advice on the journey from novice to expert, emphasizing that while proficiency can be achieved in a week, mastery demands more time and dedication. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives on navigating architectural technology in both educational and professional settings.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6NEagGtLnZkk0cPJkuV4GV?si=ia6CC17mSi6TNQEPGkGKPw

The Curtain Wall Tool Hack Balustrades & Handrails

See the Full movie here: https://www.skool.com/vectorworks-training/classroom/790bb503?md=db1f7004881b4fe7aa66d777b71111c2