History

cadteacher/vdci was founded by our master teacher, Al Whitley, MBA, AIA, in San Diego in 1989 as an extension of his AIA award-winning architectural practice, Whitley Consulting Group.

Al was always a technology geek. The primary thrust of his architectural practice was pushing the technology envelope. Most of his firm's work was providing CAD project 2D and 3D documentation, visualization and animation support to other members of the Southern California construction indusry.

Iin the late 1980s, Al developed the CAD curriculum for the Extension College at the University of California in San Diego. An avid talker (OK, there are times when he never shuts up), Al realized that he truly enjoyed sharing his skills and the capabilities of CAD technology.

In the mid 1980s, he and his colleagues at UC San Diego began to jointly integrate their programs when Al located his offices at the (former) U.S. Naval Training Center in Point Loma, San Diego, California.

In the early 2000s, cadteacher/vdc was moved to a location which was more convenient for our students. cadteacher/vdc was relocated just one block from the Interstate 8 freeway, one exit away from the beach.

The new facility is in a building which was completely remodeled in 2001. Now, the building is passive-solar and is highly-energy efficient. The ceilings are sand-blasted old-growth lumber. The floors are ground concrete. The walls are white and the furniture is remniscent of "old school" drafting tables.

In the 2000s, cadteacher/vdc has striven to continually improve its curriculum and its contributions to the professional community.

The cadteacher/vdci program is registered with the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs' Bureau for Private and Post-Secondary Education. We are also an AIA (American Institute of Architects) Continuing Education Provider, an integral part of the Continuing Education Program at the University of California in San Diego and also an Autodesk Authorized Training Center.

The cadteacher/vdci staff includes highly respected and award-winning architects, project managers and experienced CAD professionals. These dedicated professionals go beyond the norm, and bring their practical, professional experience into the classroom and on-line environments.

cadteacher/vdci has a local advisory team of architects, engineers, drafters and contractors who help us to make sure that our program is appropriate for today's (and tomorrow's) professional skill set.