Creating a Stage or Raised Area

The information in this article applies to:

QUESTION

I need a raised stage in one portion of my plan. How can I create it?

ANSWER

Stages are often found in churches, schools, theaters and other public buildings. A raised area such as a stage can be created in several ways in Chief Architect. This article describes two of the most common methods.   

To create a stage by defining a room

1. Launch Chief Architect and choose to Open  the Chief Architect plan in which you would like to design a stage. 
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Wall> Room Divider  from the menu, then click and drag divider lines to define the stage area. 
   
   
   
   
   
3. Click the Select Objects  tool and click inside the stage room formed by the room divider to select it, then click the Open Object  edit button to open the Room Specification dialog.  
   
   
   
4. On the Structure panel, specify an appropriate Floor value for your stage height, then click OK to close the dialog and apply your change.
   
   
   
   For the purposes of the example below, 36" was used.
   
   
   
5. Use the Stair tools to create a staircase if desired, then take a Camera view to see the results.  
   
   

To create a stage using a polyline solid

1. Launch Chief Architect and choose to Open  the Chief Architect plan in which you would like to design a stage. 
   
   
   
2. Select Build> Primitive> Polyline Solid  from the menu, then click and drag to draw a rectangle.
   
   
   
   
   
3. Using the Select Objects  tool, click on the Polyline Solid to select it, and use its edit handles to resize it and move it into your desired position.    
   
   
   
   
   
   
4. With the Polyline Solid still selected, click the Open Object  edit button to open the Polyline Solid Specification dialog.  
   
   
   
   
   • Set the Thickness to your liking, which is the total height of the Polyline Solid, and specify where the Polyline Solid will be placed in relation to the floor.
     
     In this example, both the Thickness and the Finished Floor to Top values are set to 36."
     
     
   • On the Materials panel, click on the Polyline Solid component, then click the Select Material button.
     
     
   • In the Select Material dialog that opens, browse to the material you would like to apply to your stage platform, select it, then click OK.
     
     
   • Click OK to close the dialog and apply your changes.
     
   
   
   
5. Use the Stair tools to create a staircase if desired, then take a Camera view to see the results.