Moving beyond standard technical write-ups, Rommel Batu’s portfolio project is a narrative of hands-on problem solving, interdisciplinary coordination, and professional growth. Here, we shift the focus from just drawing lines to understanding how those lines become a living, breathing space ready for construction and operation.
From Student to Emerging Professional
When Rommel first enrolled in VDCI’s CAD Technology Certificate Program, he wasn’t just after software skills. He wanted the confidence to deliver real-world documentation. “Watching and listening to the videos was better than I expected—the instructors were always there to help when I needed them,” he reflects . Quick, personal feedback (usually within 24 hours) meant his questions about layering, annotation, or code compliance never stalled progress.
Bringing a Brewery to Life
Rather than a hypothetical exercise, Rommel tackled a commercial brewery in Berkeley, California. This project entails a full-scale, 5,058 sq ft facility complete with an outdoor deck. From the site plan to detailed enlarged views, his documentation package reads like a contractor’s playbook:
Learn AutoCAD
- Nationally accredited
- Create your own portfolio
- Free student software
- Learn at your convenience
- Authorized Autodesk training center
- Site Plan (1" = 10'-0"): Complete with sidewalks, loading-dock access, bocce courts, and a mandatory 10-ft setback on every side.
- Floor Plans (3/16″ = 1′-0″ & Enlargements): Clear division of tap/bar, cold storage, commercial kitchen, ADA restrooms, and seating/game areas, with ½″–¼″ enlarged callouts for kettles, mash tuns, and canning lines.
- Elevations and Roof Plan (1/8″ = 1′-0″): Material callouts including brick veneer, aluminum cladding, vinyl fascia, wood columns, and steel roll-up doors—each keynote tied back to Title 24 energy compliance and NFPA sprinkler notes .
Technical Depth & Coordination
Rommel’s package isn’t just about lines on paper, it’s about marrying architectural vision with code, engineering, and site constraints:
- Title 24 Energy Notes: Integrated directly on the title sheet to satisfy California’s stringent energy code.
- Special Inspections & Fire-Fuel Zones: Fire-resistive construction notes for wildland/urban interface areas, plus fuel-modification details for both 0–50 ft and 50–100 ft zones.
- Consultant Coordination: Clear project directory listing architect, structural engineer, and energy consultant contacts, key for real-world permit submissions.
A Project-Based Path to Mastery
What sets this portfolio project apart is its project-driven curriculum. Each assignment, each video, and each instructor critique built toward a cohesive deliverable that mirrors industry expectations. Rommel tested his workflow on supported CAD/BIM tools and learned to:
- Organize document sets so that contractors can bid and build without confusion.
- Apply professional callout conventions from floor plan keynotes to section details to eliminate ambiguity.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary inputs (structural, MEP, code compliance) to create a "one-stop" package ready to permit review.
Next Steps: From Portfolio to Career
Armed with this comprehensive documentation, Rommel is now targeting entry-level to mid-level CAD/BIM roles particularly in manufacturing and real-estate marketing applications where his brewery experience translates directly. He’s also set to deepen Revit skills to expand his versatility. “I’m ready to start working,” he says, and is preparing through mock interviews and tailored resume-building support.
By centering the story behind each drawing, Rommel’s portfolio transcends technical proficiency, demonstrating authentic problem solving, effective collaboration, and industry-ready documentation. For CAD professionals looking to move beyond isolated skills into integrated, real-world practice, his journey is a blueprint worth following.