Research Guides: Architecture: Building Plans / Drawings

Building Plans / Drawings

FINDING PLANS AND DRAWINGS

Finding Plans and Drawings

The internet is one source for plans, but in many cases, plans and other technical drawings are only found in print.

Books

Search the library catalog for the name of the building or the architect. Sometimes an entire book will be published on a single building, but it is more likely you will need to look in books on the work of the architect. If you find no results, try searching the building type. If you still get no results, you can look for articles in magazines and journals.

Magazines and Journals

Detail magazine is a wonderful resource for finding construction details. Other recommended print magazines include El Croquis, The Plan, Architect, Architecture and Urbanism (A+U) and Japan Architect.

Internet Resources

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals This link opens in a new window
You can search the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals and limit your search to find publications available in print in the library.

ArchDaily
Browse through Selected Works, or enter a building typology in the search feature.
High Performance Buildings Database
2,500 projects that have been considered for the World Architecture Festival Awards.
Library of Congress Archive of Historic American Buildings
More than 581,000 measured drawings, large-format photographs, and written histories for more than 43,000 historic structures and sites dating from Pre-Columbian times to the twentieth century.
OpenBuildings
Contains over 38,000 projects, with browsing, searching, and other filtering options available.
Structurae
Discover the diversity of civil, structural and bridge engineering – more than 68.000 structures with over 13.000 participating companies and their products as well as 9.000 engineers and architects, all of that illustrated with 208.000 images.
US Green Building Council Projects
Contains over 350 green building case studies. Over half are also LEED certified.

Journals

Detail
Highly detailed drawings and news, trends and inspiration for architects and structural engineers. Detail Green focuses on sustainability.
El Croquis
- This link opens in a new window
The most detailed analysis of architectural design projects available. One of the most prestigious architectural magazines in the world, each issue of El Croquis focuses on a leading international architect and their work.
The Plan
Architecture and technologies in beautiful detail.
A+U Japan Architecture and Urbanism
Call Number: Periodical Shelves
The best of Japanese architecture and curated works from across the globe.