What is the purpose of Existing Building Drawings?

Existing Building Drawings serve several important purposes in the context of architecture and building management, but the primary role is to provide an accurate representation of the current state of a building. This includes detailed floor plans, elevations, and sections that help architects and engineers understand the existing conditions before making any assessments or planning future work.

Determining square footage and exhaust requirements is a crucial function because it allows for accurate assessments related to compliance with local building codes, energy efficiency standards, and occupancy requirements. These figures are essential for ensuring that the building meets the needs of its current usage and for planning any necessary upgrades or adjustments, such as ventilation systems in response to occupancy needs.

While the other options touch on relevant aspects of building management or historical significance, they do not capture the primary purpose of Existing Building Drawings as effectively. For instance, providing a historical overview (the first option) may be valuable for preservation purposes but does not address practical application in current usage and compliance. Similarly, assessing construction compliance (the second option) generally pertains more to inspections and regulations rather than the preliminary work motivated by understanding existing conditions. Lastly, outlining future building expansions (the fourth option) is relevant for project planning but not the immediate purpose of creating accurate existing drawings.