Project Delivery

My client for a residential project is a developer.  My plans are 98% complete.  He is asking me to provide him with a set of CAD files (not PDF's).  He wants my dwg cad file.  I'm worried he can misuse my cad file for other projects.  Cad files can be reformatted, imported, exported and shared in other cad programs and used for other projects.  He wants to submit the drawings to the building department himself.  He could revise the plan check set.  I have the standard note on my drawings that prohibit re-use but my cad file can be easily revised to delete this note.

Should I provide my cad file to the client?  He already has a full set of PDF drawings.

Thanks for your advice.

Tim Mead, AIA Architect

Maui Chapter, Hawaii

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Timothy Mead AIA Member Emeritus
Timothy N. Mead, AIA, Architect
Kihei HI
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There is no way I would give a developer a full set of CAD files even if we trusted him.  A consideration is an edited version without details for cabinet, tile and subs take-offs and I would send directly to subs not to GC to track where they are.  I have sent CAD to structural and civil engineers when they are contracted separately.

I have had other Architects asked for CAD files and I have no problem sending those since there is an ethical obligation to not misuse.

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Craig Isaac AIA
Craig W. Isaac Architecture
Charlotte NC
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Original Message:
Sent: 11/22/2023 5:26:00 PM
From: Craig W. Isaac AIA
Subject: RE: Providing CAD Files

There is no way I would give a developer a full set of CAD files even if we trusted him.  A consideration is an edited version without details for cabinet, tile and subs take-offs and I would send directly to subs not to GC to track where they are.  I have sent CAD to structural and civil engineers when they are contracted separately.

I have had other Architects asked for CAD files and I have no problem sending those since there is an ethical obligation to not misuse.

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Craig Isaac AIA
Craig W. Isaac Architecture
Charlotte NC
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You need to read your contract to see if those are considered deliverables. alternatively, if you provide the drawings, Make sure they sign a waiver Binding them to the terms that are in your note on the drawing. you can also explode everything and make it hard to deal with to discourage tampering.

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Miguel Martin AIA
MLM - Martin Architects Inc.
Winter Springs FL
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I don't do residential design, only commercial.  I am often asked to provide CAD files and I do, as long as I have been paid.  I only provide the floor plans and elevations for the owner's records.  I don't provide title blocks, my stamp, details, or schedules.  Though the owner could potentially reuse the building plans and elevations for something, they won't be able to reuse much without hiring another Architect.  Also these days PDF are almost as editable as CAD drawings if you know what you are doing.  Hope this helps.

Cheers

Brian

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Brian Moore AIA
BCMA Architecture
Tempe AZ
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Good evening,

No way! Do not provide the CAD files.

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Clifton Strickland III AIA
Strickland Architects and Associates
Virginia Beach VA
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No way.

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Clifton Strickland III AIA
Strickland Architects and Associates
Virginia Beach VA
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Original Message:
Sent: 11-22-2023 06:18 PM
From: Anne Whitacre
Subject: Providing CAD Files

Talk with your attorney regarding  the format type, and  have them write you an accompanying letter that states the date, the project, and what you are transmitting under your copyright and the location of the project.  And you might review your contract regarding who retains ownership of the documents at completion.

In the past, the firms I've worked for have – occasionally – provided  "live" files when requested but kept a record copy plus transmittal in their file that indicates the date and the state of the drawing files when you released them to the Owner.  I provide specs,  and when I was consulting, I did exactly  that in the past with my Word files when requested by some owners.      Obviously, you want to reduce the possible blowback if the files are reused on a different site, a different jurisdiction or a different code version.   These days, PDF files can be unlocked and manipulated, so that may not be the secure delivery that you envision anyway.   

 

ANNE WHITACRE

HOK

anne.whitacre@hok.com

t  +1 415 356 8685   m +1 510 388 4333

 

Dear Mr. Mead:

Refer to AIA contract between Architect and Owner B101-2017

Article 7 Copyright and License

Section 7.2 “ the architect and architects consultant’s shall be deemed the authors and owners of their respective instruments of service. Including the Drawings and Specifications, and shall retain all common law, statuary and other reserved rights”” etc.

I assume that you entered into a standard AIA document.

Not having access to your contract I have made the assumption that you have .

Tell your client that you are not proving electronic documents and you will provide a set with your wet stamp .

Sincerely
Louis Reboy RA

Buffalo NY


Sent from my iPhone

First, I would check your contract to see if the client is entitled to the CAD files. If the drawings are not fully complete, I would not provide them as that can lead to improper use. I suggest speaking with your client candidly about the situation and asking what the intended use of the files are. Perhaps the clients' goals can be achieved through other means.

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Brian Hromadka AIA
Hromadka Associates
Newburyport MA
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Timothy,

We've run across this before. The answer for us was 'No'. Your CAD files are your instruments of service, hence the Architect's sole property. One assumes you have customized your CAD program with your own office standards, library parts etc. and these are for your/your offices' use only.

We faced serious pushback from one client - we told him that we could potentially give him the CAD files, but only after reviewing them and stripping out any of our proprietary information, which is very time-consuming considering these are often deeply embedded in the file. The hourly cost to do that was prohibitive. He decided to pursue preparing his own documents, simply for cost reasons, not because he wanted to do the right thing. 

Look at it this way: Would an author give his word.doc to the publisher? No.  Hope this helps. Best Regards,

Heather

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Heather Johnston
Heather Johnston Architect
Monterey CA
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