Rubab Nusrat’s portfolio is a fully-documented, two-story single-family home, completed as the final deliverable for her CAD/BIM Certificate Program at VDCI.
Rubab Nusrat’s portfolio project is a fully-documented, two-story single-family home, completed as the final deliverable for her CAD/BIM Certificate Program at VDCI. The project simulates a real-world architectural assignment, covering all stages from schematic design through construction documentation. Using both AutoCAD and Revit, Rubab produced a complete set of plans, schedules, and 3D views to demonstrate her skills from the CAD/BIM Program.
Project Overview
- Type: Two-story, single-family residence
- Size: Approximately 2,600 sq ft of conditioned space
- Program:
Main Level: Entry foyer, living room, dining area, open kitchen with pantry, family room, powder room, office, attached garage, laundry.
Upper Level: Master suite (bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet), two secondary bedrooms with shared bath, additional WC, balcony
- Site Context: Suburban infill lot with moderate slope, maximizing daylight and views to a rear patio.
Design Objectives
Rubab’s design approach for the project was guided by a strong focus on modern living needs. At the core of her vision was creating an open-plan living space that seamlessly connects the kitchen, dining, and family areas. This layout is ideal for fostering interaction and connection among family members, offering an inviting, continuous flow between rooms. In addition to promoting social cohesion, Rubab ensured that the design addressed privacy and zoning. By positioning guest and work areas on the main level, and placing bedrooms on the upper level, the design effectively separated public and private spaces.
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Daylight and views were also critical to the design process. Rubab skillfully oriented the primary living spaces towards the backyard, strategically placing large windows on the south and west façades. This not only maximized natural light but also framed beautiful views of the rear patio, making the home feel both open and connected to the outdoors. The design also prioritized an efficient floor plan by centralizing the stairs and hallways, keeping circulation compact to maximize the usable floor area. This thoughtful organization allows the home to feel spacious without wasted space.
Key Deliverables & Design Features
Rubab’s portfolio project showcases her technical skill and design intuition. Key deliverables include a well-organized title sheet and sheet index, providing a logical sequence from site plan to interior views. The site plan details property lines, topography contours, and hardscape layout, offering a clear representation of the home’s context.
Floor plans are scaled at 1/8″ = 1′-0″, annotated with room names, dimensions, and area callouts. The open kitchen with pantry (358 SF) and family room (135 SF) are highlighted. Ceiling and roof plans include lighting locations, roof slopes, and overhangs for clarity.
Rubab’s elevations and sections capture all four façades with material notes and two sections through the living and bedroom wings. Furniture plans for Levels 1 and 2 ensure functional and balanced layouts, with rooms like the office (561 SF), dining (485 SF), and master bedroom (322 SF) thoughtfully arranged.
Her 3D model and perspectives showcase rendered front, rear, and side views, illustrating material choices and the site relationship. An exploded axonometric view isolates floor plates and structure, while an interior 3D perspective highlights the open living and kitchen area.
Technical Execution & Process
- AutoCAD Foundations: Rubab organized layers, dimension styles, and title-block templates per national CAD standards.
- Parametric Families in Revit: She built custom window, door, and furniture families—ensuring accurate tag data in schedules.
- Annotation Consistency: Text, dimension, and hatch standards flowed from her AutoCAD units into the Revit documentation environment.
- Sheet Assembly: Views placed with proper crop regions and scale annotations; sheets numbered and named to mimic professional deliverables.
- Visual Communication: Basic material and lighting families applied in Revit to produce clear, client-ready renderings.
What’s Next?
With a polished portfolio and practical hands-on experience, Rubab is now ready to take on roles such as Junior Architectural Drafter, BIM Coordinator, or Revit Technician. Her portfolio project showcases her technical expertise and strong design thinking—qualities highly sought after by employers in the AEC industry.
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