Project Overview
The Homewood Suites project in downtown Chattanooga involved creating complete as-built floorplans for a multi-story hotel. ATDrafting and Consulting provided accurate 2D documentation for every level of the building, helping the ownership team prepare for upcoming renovation and facility management updates.
Field Tools and Workflow
To streamline the field measurement process, I used a combination of LiDAR-based scanning and manual verification. Using MagicPlan on the iPhone, I was able to scan each room individually, capturing floor geometry and even furniture layouts. While the LiDAR scans provided a fast and organized starting point, they weren’t always perfectly accurate—sometimes differing by a couple of inches.
To tighten tolerances down to roughly ¼ inch, I verified dimensions with a Bosch laser measuring tool and, when needed, confirmed with the classic Stanley steel tape. This hybrid workflow combined the efficiency of digital scanning with the precision of traditional measurement.
The ability to adjust the scanned dimensions within MagicPlan proved invaluable, allowing each floor to be refined before compiling the master plans in SketchUp and exporting the 2D drawings. Interestingly, the scans also logged furniture and fixture locations, which became a helpful reference later in the drafting phase. For example, the layout differences between king and double rooms could be easily identified in the data, ensuring the plans reflected the real-world conditions of each suite.
Software and Collaboration
This project certainly was multifaceted. Early in the process, the owner was reluctant to share details about the designer—possibly because one hadn’t been selected yet. Once the designer’s name surfaced, it became clear that DWG exports would be required for consultant coordination.
That introduced a new technical challenge: SketchUp isn’t inherently built for DWG interoperability the same way AutoCAD or Revit is. To bridge that gap, I developed a custom Ruby extension for SketchUp that could convert CSV data into DXF files, which then exported seamlessly into DWG.
It was a rewarding side project, and I actually developed the Ruby portion with help from ChatGPT, which assisted in fine-tuning the scripting logic and testing export routines. This collaboration made the process faster and more robust, and the resulting extension became a useful internal tool for future drafting work.
This experience also reinforced how important it is to clarify early who you’ll be sharing files with. The export process from SketchUp varies depending on consultant requirements, so understanding the workflow up front saves a lot of time and rework later.
Using SketchUp for Professional Drafting
While AutoCAD and Revit remain the industry standards for architectural production, SketchUp has unique advantages for as-built and conceptual work. It’s lightweight, visual, and intuitive—perfect for layering, stacking, and verifying floors in 3D.
The trade-off comes in interoperability, where exports require careful setup to maintain scale, tag organization, and line weights. Still, for me, SketchUp’s modeling freedom and clarity far outweigh those extra steps—especially when paired with custom tools like the CSV-to-DXF converter we created for this job.
Looking Ahead
After the renovation, I plan to update this article with photographs showing how the refreshed interiors build upon the as-built foundation. It’s always satisfying to see how careful documentation work supports design and construction down the road.
Closing Thoughts
The Homewood Suites project represents a blend of field technology, craftsmanship, and digital problem-solving—everything ATDrafting and Consulting stands for. I learned a lot during this process, from experimenting with LiDAR accuracy to developing custom software solutions with ChatGPT’s help.
If your firm or organization needs detailed as-built documentation, design coordination, or technical drafting support, contact ATDrafting and Consulting to discuss how we can assist with your next project.