Understanding Architectural Title Blocks

“WHERE IS THE NORTH!,” my professor asked as I promptly pointed my finger here and there, even with accurate construction drawings, my sheet was incomplete. The error might seem minute on paper but I learned a valuable lesson – how to present information is key.

One of the key components in sheet presentation is a title block. It’s the first element we’re drawn to and moreover, it provides an organized format and layout to your drawing.

So to make you an expert, we’ve compiled a guide assembled with everything you need to know about architectural title blocks and the techniques required to create the perfect presentation for your project and/or firm.

What is an architectural title block?

The architecture title block is a rectangular box usually present either at the bottom or on the right-hand side of a drawing sheet.

This box contains various information such as the title of the drawing, scale, the logo or information about the company and people associated, the project which includes name, address, and date.

This helps in tracking the revisions made over time as this drawing goes through several changes and those changes need to be checked upon regularly.

An architectural seal is provided to prove its authenticity which should have the signature and license information of the architect in charge.   

Thus, a title block gives you an overview of the project you are working on and data available on the sheet, which makes reading, identifying, and verifying it easier.

This in turn enables a smooth design process and the constant flow of drawing information to be measured and maintained.

What should be included and written in an architectural title block?

Now that we have already discussed a small brief about the standard information required in an architectural title block. We cannot just put that in any way deemed fit, there is a more schematic and orderly way in which these drawings are read.

Additionally we must understand why certain information is important and how they help the sheet to provide vital data.

1. Sheet Information – This section of the title box contains the most valuable piece of information. The title of the drawing is the first thing that anyone will read, so it should be bold and clear.

Every sheet contains a unique drawing number that is specific for the job and to the entire file of blueprints. The dates provided in the sheets are essential and indicate when the drawings were produced. And you must note that these dates should not be tampered with throughout the construction of the project.

This information is particular to the specific sheet rather than the entire set of drawings and is also unique for every sheet. They are located at the bottom of the title box.

2. Drawing Issue/Revision block – It is necessary to have a section dedicated to identify and recording the changes made in the drawing, as we discussed above that design drawing needs amend overtime at the same time it is necessary to keep track of all the changes.

Changes made on the face of drawings should be marked with circles.

They also include major dates related to the entire projects unlike mentioned above, like issued for construction, etc.

3. Project data – The name of the project and a little brief about the site as well as the address of the project should be included. If the scale of the drawing is huge, a key plan may also be included that remains constant throughout the sheets.

4. Project Team data – Depending on who you are and/or work for, there are a few ways to present this section. In some cases, a firm may decide to only publish the company’s info which may include the phone number, address, and email.

In other cases, they may choose to provide contact info of every contributing member. This will help in reducing the time lag when contacting the right person.

5. Architectural approved signatures – It can be a signature or a seal depending upon the regulation of local municipal authority but the signature of the drafter, approving engineer, and issuing officer along with respective dates should be mentioned otherwise the drawing will not be considered authentic.

This is useful because in the case of conflict the issue can be resolved by sourcing these drawings as they become a legal document. 

6. Firm Identification – Present at the top of the title block is the logo/name of the firm and the copyright information. 

7. Scale and North – Speaking from personal experience, this element is very important and has a dedicated block. However, nowadays many architects have opted not to add it in the title block.

Rather they prefer to place it down in every plan, section, or elevation as the scale may vary throughout the set of drawings.

8. Reference Information – This block deals with details related to other schematics which are similar to the current system.

They are quite helpful in collecting additional details and can be implemented depending on the situation of the contractor or site.

Where can a title block be Positioned?

After understanding the hierarchy of placing different blocks of information in an architectural title block, let’s discuss where to locate the title block.

One of the most common locations to start is the bottom right corner along with the sheet number and strategically moving upwards from there.

This is considered ideal because the sheets are bounded from the left side and make it easier to read and flip through the drawings. Another way is to place the title block at the bottom but nowadays it is not the most adopted way of representing a title block. 

What is the correct title block size?

How much of the sheet should be allotted to the title block? Firstly, starting with the border which can also be considered a part of the title block should be a minimum of 10mm to 20mm.

The allocated size can vary from company to company, hence, if you decide to place it on the right or bottom, the length usually stays the same. Well, it’s mainly the width size that changes.

On the other hand, while preparing government drawings you must ensure to follow the guidelines given by them including the size of the title block.

Title block Examples

1. – The below title block by Sakti Studios along the right side of the sheet is a typical example of the title block used in the market today.

The bottom right contains the sheet number and just above it is the sheet title, which provides space for the key plan and a note for construction. At the top is the company logo, project name, and the owner’s name. 

They have also provided blocks for structure and interiors including space for the information on progress. The scale and north are beside the sheet number at the bottom for a clear indication on the sheet.

2. – This title block by ricebean is a short and simple box of information located at the right corner, with the company logo and address at the bottom.

The information states the project, client, and site address and along with the logo are the date, area, and scale of the drawing right above. These types of title blocks take very less space and convey only the necessary information.

3. – This BIM title block by BM / Architecture studio is divided into two rectangles on either side. Box one presented at the bottom contains only the firm logo and the second box contains technical information such as the drawing number, date, and project information.

The remainder of the box is left to record the progress and make construction notes. This title block plays with the hierarchy of different information boxes.

4. – The title block CARGO Architecture used for their Villa Boreale project is placed such that it can be viewed from both landscape and portrait. The company logo, sheet title, drawing number, dates, and project information are written in portrait style.

Then as the drawing is in landscape mode, the progress and revisions are stated in landscape so that they don’t have to rotate the sheet every time.

Architecture Title Block Templates 

Architecture templates provide the useful kickstart. They increase your efficiency as they come with pre-set plot styles, layers, blocks, styles, etc.

Such sets of predesigned, minimalistic title blocks are available in AutoCAD format available in common metric and imperial sizes, matching cover sheets in four sizes along with notes, legends, and symbols sheets.

You just need to add your logo and branding by removing that of the provider after which these layouts are ready to plot.

We provide a free title block template with our AutoCAD Template Kit here.

Benefits of creating an architecture title block template:

There are numerous benefits of having title block templates: 

The most important is the efficiency, you can’t just plot a new sheet every time you are finished drafting. It will be much faster and easier if you have a title block with borders drafted beforehand. Then all that is left is to scale the drawing and compose it in the premade block.

Another benefit of the title block is that you will have all the standard information. You can just change the variable information in the title block suitable to your current project. This will standardize your and your team’s work and leave less room for human errors.

A well-designed title block template gives your sheet an organized look and enhances the presentation style. Not only does it give a nice impression about your firm but also is easier to read and understand as all the information is assembled neatly.

5 tips for creating a successful title block:

Want to create a chic and eye-catchy title block that is unique and authentic to you and your project? Well, there are numerous ways to best represent your sheets. So, here are five tips to create your successful title block –

1. Borders are important, they not only foster a sense of composition but also ensure that the printed sheets are properly aligned.

2.  Location of the title block, this might be the most obvious tip by now as emphasized multiple times the placement of the title block should be at the bottom right corner from which it can either go up or side depending on your preference. 

3. The text height is important as all the information should be readable and depending upon your sheet size should be at least 3.2mm or 1/8″ high.

4. Another important tip regarding text is to make sure your text heights are appropriate. For instance, avoid writing your name in a bigger size as compared to your clients and remember to always pay attention to the title block guidelines given by the government bodies. 

5. While using AutoCAD, the title block should not be drafted in “live” lines and loose text. Rather, it should always be drafted in a block format such that any changes become easier to replicate and reformat.

To sum up

Title blocks are equally important as any technical drawing on a sheet. It’s a given that this enlisted guideline will help you step one inch closer to easier drafting and formatting.

Remember, a small effort towards presentation can go a long way towards building a relationship with your clients and firm!