If you've never built before, the architecture deliverables list reads like jargon. "Concept design". "3D walkthrough". "BOQ". "MEP layouts". "Working drawings". "Structural drawings". You sign a contract with line items you don't fully understand — and three months in, you realise the BOQ was missing electrical layouts, or the "3D walkthrough" is a SketchUp render with no textures. This blog ends that confusion.
Below is exactly what architects in Chennai should deliver at each project phase, what each deliverable is worth, what to verify in each one, and what's missing from your contract if any of these aren't itemised. By the time you finish, you'll be able to read any architect's proposal in Chennai and know what's solid versus what's vague marketing. To speak with Buildiyo's team about your specific deliverables list, call +91 70921 66366.
Talk to a Buildiyo Architect About Your Deliverables List
Read this guide. Then bring your shortlisted architect's proposal to us. We'll show you exactly what's solid versus what's vague marketing — line by line, free.
Book a Free ConsultationThe 8 Core Deliverables Every Architect in Chennai Should Provide
Architecture deliverables divide into eight categories. Some firms package them differently, but the underlying eight are universal. Every one of these should appear as a line item in your contract — with rupee values and revision counts.
← Scroll to see full deliverables overview →
| Phase | Deliverable | What It Is | Typical Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Pre-design | Site survey + soil report | Plot measurement, soil bearing capacity, drainage assessment | Week 1 |
| 2. Concept | Concept design (2–3 options) | Initial 2D sketches showing layout possibilities | Week 2–4 |
| 3. Design | Final 2D floor plans + elevations | Detailed floor-by-floor layouts, front/side elevations | Week 5–8 |
| 4. Visualisation | 3D walkthrough (interior + exterior) | Photorealistic AI-rendered virtual tour | Week 6–10 |
| 5. Documentation | Working drawings | Construction-ready dimensioned drawings | Week 9–12 |
| 6. Engineering | Structural drawings (RCC + foundation) | Foundation, beams, slabs, columns engineering | Week 10–13 |
| 7. MEP | MEP layouts | Electrical, plumbing, HVAC layouts | Week 11–14 |
| 8. Costing | BOQ (Bill of Quantities) | Itemised cost estimate with material brands, quantities, rates | Week 12–14 |
2D Floor Plan — Why It's Worth More Than 80% of the Design Decision
The 2D floor plan is where every spatial decision is locked. It answers six questions before construction starts: where everything goes, how big it is, how it connects to other rooms, where openings are, where utilities run, and how the space relates to the plot boundaries.
What a Complete 2D Floor Plan Must Include
- All exterior and interior walls with thickness specifications (typically 230mm exterior, 115mm interior in Chennai)
- Door and window positions with dimensions and opening directions
- Room labels with calculated areas (sqft)
- Furniture placement indicators (helps validate room functionality)
- Plumbing fixture positions (sinks, toilets, showers)
- Electrical point indicators (switches, sockets, fans)
- Setback dimensions from plot boundaries (front/side/rear)
- Built-up area calculation matching CMDA/DTCP FSI rules
For details on Buildiyo's complete floor plan process — what's included in our package, sample completed floor plans, and turnaround time — see our professional floor plan design service page.
3D Walkthrough — Why Quality Varies Massively
"3D walkthrough" is the single most marketed and most poorly understood deliverable in Chennai architecture. The difference between a basic 3D render and a true photorealistic walkthrough is the difference between a stick figure and a portrait. Yet both are sold under the same name.
3 Quality Tiers of 3D Walkthroughs
← Scroll to see full tier comparison →
| Tier | Tool / Output | What You Get | Worth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | SketchUp / Free CAD | Untextured 3D model, basic colours, no shadows | ₹5,000–₹15,000 |
| Standard | Lumion / V-Ray | Textured materials, basic lighting, fly-through video | ₹25,000–₹60,000 |
| Photorealistic | Unreal Engine / AI-rendered | Real materials, sun-path lighting, walkable interior cameras, day/night variants | ₹40,000–₹1,20,000 |
If your architect's quote includes "3D walkthrough" without specifying the tier, you'll likely receive basic-tier output. That's fine for understanding spatial relationships — but it's NOT a tool for evaluating whether your house will actually look the way you want it to. Photorealistic tier reveals problems (proportions, material choices, lighting) that basic tier hides.
What to Demand in a Photorealistic 3D Walkthrough
- Actual material textures matching what will be installed (not generic stone/wood placeholders)
- Sun-path lighting at multiple times of day (morning, noon, evening — Chennai-accurate)
- Walkable interior cameras you can move through, not just pre-rendered video angles
- Day and night variants (interior lighting matters)
- Furniture placement matching room functionality
- Exterior context (boundary walls, gate, landscaping placeholder)
Buildiyo delivers photorealistic 3D walkthroughs as standard on every project — see our photorealistic 3D architectural rendering service page for sample walkthroughs, pricing, and turnaround details.
Working Drawings — The Drawings Construction Actually Uses
Working drawings are the bridge between design and construction. Where 2D floor plans show what the building looks like, working drawings show how to BUILD it. Every dimension, every joinery detail, every connection — specified to a level a contractor can execute without guessing.
This deliverable is the most-skipped item in budget architecture packages. Firms quote "complete design" and deliver only floor plans + elevations — leaving the contractor to invent working details on site. Result: errors, miscommunications, rework costs averaging ₹2–5 lakh per project.
What Complete Working Drawings Include
- Dimensioned floor plans with door/window schedules
- Wall sections showing material assemblies (plaster, brick, finish)
- Staircase details (riser/tread dimensions, balustrade height, headroom)
- Toilet detail drawings (fixture positions, slope to drain, waterproofing)
- Kitchen detail drawings (counter heights, cabinet specs, electrical points)
- Door and window schedules with sizes, types, and frame specifications
- Flooring layout drawings (tile pattern, alignment, grout joints)
- False ceiling drawings with electrical fixture positions
Structural Drawings — The Engineering Behind the Design
Structural drawings are produced by a structural engineer (often working under the architect) and specify the reinforcement, concrete grades, and load paths of the building. These are the drawings that prevent your house from cracking, leaning, or collapsing.
What Structural Drawings Include
- Foundation plan (footings, plinth beams, isolated/strip footings)
- RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete) details for beams, columns, slabs
- Reinforcement schedules (steel bar size, spacing, lap lengths)
- Concrete mix specifications (M20, M25 — typical for Chennai residential)
- Staircase structural details (going, rising, landings)
- Lintel and chajja details
- Soil-bearing capacity assumptions (must match actual soil report)
Why Structural Drawings Matter for Chennai Specifically
Chennai's seismic zone is moderate (Zone III), but coastal salinity, soil variance across localities, and monsoon water tables all affect structural design. A good Chennai structural engineer accounts for: high water table in OMR, clay-heavy soil in T.Nagar, coastal corrosion in ECR, and seismic compliance citywide. Outsourced or generic structural drawings miss these.
Buildiyo's in-house structural engineering team handles foundation through slab-roof design with Chennai-specific factors built in — see our structural design and drawings service page for our process, materials specifications, and warranty terms.
MEP Layouts — The Hidden Half of Your House
MEP stands for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing. These three layers run through your walls, floors, and ceilings and account for 25–35% of total construction cost. Yet they're routinely treated as afterthoughts in mid-tier architecture contracts.
Electrical Layout
- Switch and socket positions in every room (with type — 6A, 16A, USB-integrated)
- Light fixture positions including hidden cove lighting, spotlights, pendant points
- Distribution board (DB) location with circuit allocation
- AC point positions (if split-AC) with copper/drain routing
- Smart-home wiring routing (if applicable)
- Inverter / battery / solar integration points
- EV charging point (increasingly standard for Chennai luxury)
Plumbing Layout
- Cold water supply routing from overhead tank
- Hot water supply with geyser locations and pipe runs
- Soil and waste pipe routing from each toilet/kitchen
- Drainage to municipal sewer or septic tank
- Rainwater harvesting integration (mandatory in Chennai for plots above certain size)
- Pump room location and pressure pump specifications
HVAC (Central AC, Applicable Mostly to Luxury Villas)
- AC unit positions with refrigerant and drain routing
- Ductwork for centralised systems
- Return air paths and grille positions
BOQ (Bill of Quantities) — The Document That Makes or Breaks Your Budget
BOQ is an itemised cost estimate that lists every material and labour line in your project — with quantities, unit rates, and totals. A complete BOQ has 200–500+ line items for a typical residential project. It's the difference between knowing what your house will cost and being surprised at every payment milestone.
What a Complete BOQ Includes
- Earthwork (excavation, levelling, filling)
- Concrete works (PCC, RCC by member type, mix grade)
- Steel reinforcement (TMT Fe-500 / Fe-550D quantities by diameter)
- Masonry (brick, block, with sizes and quantities)
- Plastering (internal, external, with thickness specs)
- Flooring (tile, marble, granite by area and rate)
- Doors and windows (sizes, types, hardware specs)
- Painting (primer, undercoat, finish coats, brand specifications)
- Electrical works (wiring, switches, fixtures, brand-by-brand)
- Plumbing works (pipes, fixtures, geysers, brand-by-brand)
- Sanitary fittings (taps, showers, water closets, brand-by-brand)
- Waterproofing (basement, toilets, terrace, with system specs)
- Miscellaneous (cleaning, scaffolding, transport, debris removal)
Book a Free Consultation — Get Every Deliverable Itemised
Site survey + soil report. 2D floor plans. Photorealistic 3D. Working drawings. Structural drawings. MEP layouts. 200+ line BOQ. Every item, every line, contracted before signing.
Book a Free ConsultationHow to Read Any Architect's Deliverables Proposal
Apply this 8-point check to any architecture proposal in Chennai. Anything missing should be flagged before signing.
- Does the proposal list ALL 8 deliverable categories as separate line items? (Site survey, concept, 2D, 3D, working, structural, MEP, BOQ.)
- Are revision counts specified for each? (e.g., "3 rounds of revisions on 2D plans"). Vague is bad.
- Is the 3D walkthrough specified by tier? (Basic / Standard / Photorealistic). "3D walkthrough" alone defaults to basic.
- Are working drawings explicitly listed? Many firms skip these in budget packages.
- Is the structural engineering in-house or outsourced? In-house is better for coordination.
- Does the BOQ commit to brand-specific specifications? If only generic categories — push back.
- Is the MEP layout a deliverable or assumed? If not listed — it's not included.
- Is the timeline stated for each deliverable? Total project timeline alone hides bottleneck risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Talk to an Architect Who Itemises Every Deliverable
8 categories. 200+ line BOQ. In-house MEP. Photorealistic 3D as standard. Read solid vs vague — line by line.
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