Creating Columns and Pilasters

The Vectorworks Fundamentals product and all Vectorworks Design Series products include a basic architectural column object (for aesthetic and space-defining purposes). In the Architect product, the column object offers additional structural capabilities, and a pilaster object is provided.

In the Vectorworks Architect product, columns and pilasters can be architectural in nature, structural in nature, or both. Use the Column tool or Pilaster tool to draw an object that not only reflects the architectural appearance of a column/pilaster, but also defines it in structural terms that can be used in an engineering analysis of the building. Structural and architectural elements can be displayed or hidden. The column ID can also, optionally, be placed on the drawing. Additionally, in the Architect product, the column/pilaster can be exported to IFC format for exchange with structural analysis programs.

A pilaster can be placed in a wall (however, a column cannot be placed in a wall). A pilaster inserted in a wall can set its architectural height relative to the wall.

Tool access varies depending on the Vectorworks product installed:

Vectorworks Product
Tool Set / Tool

Fundamentals

Walls, Column tool (basic column)

Architect and Designer

Building Shell, Column tool (architectural column with additional capabilities)

Architect and Designer

Building Shell, Pilaster tool

Landmark and Spotlight

Building Shell, Column tool (basic column)

column_tool.png 

To create a column:

pilaster_tool.png 

To create a pilaster:

  1. Click the Column tool or the Pilaster tool from the appropriate tool set:

  2.     Fundamentals workspace: Walls tool set

        Design Series workspaces: Building Shell tool set

  3. From the Tool bar, click either Active Def to select an existing resource from the Resource Selector, or click Preferences and set the default parameters to create a custom object.

  4. Click on the drawing to place the object, and click again to set the rotation. The properties can be edited from the Object Info palette.

  5. To create a circular or square shaft, capital, or base, enter the same value for the width and depth.

    Basic Column Parameters

    The basic column object is available with the Vectorworks Fundamentals, Landmark, and Spotlight products.

    Walls_edit00128.png 

    Arch00131.pngArchitect Column and Pilaster Parameters

    The architectural column and pilaster objects are available with the Vectorworks Architect and Designer products.

    Walls_edit00132.png 

  6. Optionally, after placement you can create a plug-in object style, which combines style parameters (with a fixed value established by the style) and instance parameters (which can be set independently for each instance of the styled object in the drawing). See Creating Plug-in Object Styles.

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Exporting Columns and Pilasters to IFC Format

 

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