03 Unreal for Architects Build Pillars and Ceilings

🏗️ Session 3 Summary: Creating Pillars and Ceilings in Unreal Engine 5.6

---

🔄 Project Setup

• Continued from previous session using apartment_set2.zip.

• Saved a new working level as apartment_02_with_pillars.

---

🧱 Pillar Creation and Placement

• Pillar dimensions: 1ft × 2ft, height: 12.15m (converted to cm).

• Created as a dynamic mesh, then converted to a static mesh named SM_Pillar.

• Positioned 18 pillars as per stilt floor plan using:

  • Manual placement for the first pillar.

  • XForm Pattern Tool to duplicate and space additional pillars.

  • Accurate placement via axis calculations (e.g., moved by 3.8m, 5.96m, 1.47m).

• Used align tools to align and position rows of pillars.

• Named pillars systematically (e.g., SM_Pillar_1 to SM_Pillar_18).

---

🎨 Material Application to Pillars

• Downloaded "Smooth Precast Concrete" material from FAB plugin.

• Applied material to the base mesh so all instances reflect it.

• Reset overridden instance materials for consistency.

---

🧱 Ceiling Construction (Floor Slabs)

• Calculated ceiling size: width 10.19m, depth 14.61m, height 15.24cm.

• Subtracted area for staircase and lift (3.8m × 3m) using Boolean Difference.

• Renamed assets as SM_Ceiling, SM_SiteArea.

• Aligned ceiling height to match architectural levels:

  • Ground Floor at 2.4m

  • First Floor at 5.4m

  • Second Floor at 8.4m

  • Third Floor at 11.4m

---

🧩 Final Adjustments

• Repositioned pillars to avoid intersecting with staircase/lift space.

• Converted ceiling mesh to static mesh and applied concrete material.

• Ensured alignment and material consistency.

---

✅ End Result

• Completed all 18 pillars and 4 floor slabs for ground to third floor.

• Scene now includes site, compound, gate, pillars, and ceiling/floor slabs.

• Saved progress in apartment_03_ceiling level.

---

🚀 Next Session:

Begin modeling the staircase and lift area using the remaining structural details.