This topic describes how to add architectural columns to a project. You can use architectural columns to model column box-outs around structural columns and for decorative applications.



Architectural columns inherit the material of other elements to which they are joined. Compound layers in walls wrap at architectural columns. This does not apply to structural columns.

Adding a Column
You can add columns in plan view. The height of the column is defined in the properties of the component. Using the properties, you can define the Base Level and the Top Level, as well as offsets.

1. Click Modelling menuColumn, or on the Modelling tab of the Design Bar, click Column.
2. On the Options Bar, select Room Bounding to designate the column as room-bounding before you place it.
   Note: You can also change the room-bounding property of a column after placement. See Architectural Column Properties.
3. Click in the drawing area to place the column.

Attaching Columns
Columns do not automatically attach to roofs, floors, and ceilings. When you select a column (or multiple columns) you can attach it to roofs, floors, ceilings, reference planes, structural framing members, and other reference levels using the Attach and Detach buttons on the Options Bar. When you select one or more columns, the Attach and Detach buttons appear on the Options Bar. From the Options Bar you can attach the Top or Base of a column (or columns) and set the Attachment Style (Cut Column, Cut Target, Do Not Cut), Attachment Justification (Minimum Intersection, Intersect Column Midline, and Maximum Intersection), and Offset from Attachment. Offset from Attachment sets a value to be offset from the target.

The target (roofs, floors, ceilings) can be cut by the column, the column can be cut by the target, or neither can be cut. After a column is attached to a target, you can edit its properties and reset the values for the Instance Parameters Attachment Justification at Top and Offset from Attachment at Top.

Coarse-Scale Cut Patterns
If you join a wall and a column, and the wall has a coarse-scale fill pattern defined, the joined column assumes that pattern. See Curtain Wall Properties. This behavior is evident in coarse-scale plan and section views. The section view plane must cut through the joined face of the 2 elements.


Modifying Architectural Columns

• Changing Column Types
• When you activate the Column command to place columns, you can select different types of columns in the Type Selector.
• Moving a Column
• You can move the column by selecting it and dragging to the new location or you can copy the column by control clicking on it and dragging.

Architectural Column Properties