Approved Electives

An exploration of historical and current technology through the work of artists, architects, craftsmen, and engineers in a brittle medium. Topics include wall systems, connections, structural design of all glass structures, and material properties. Sealants, coatings, adhesives, and impact and blast resistant interlayers will also be covered. A lab component will encourage experimentation of columns, beams, and surfaces from glass components.

Topics vary each semester.

Intended to build on the knowledge and abilities gained in the foundational architectural history and theory courses. This seminar focuses on advanced topics in history, theory, and criticism. Students select from varying and diverse topics such as urbanism, sustainability, design methodology, aesthetics, ethics and law, history of technology, and architecture in relation to other arts. Seminar may also offer intense focus on particular architects, periods, regions, or movements. Critical reading and writing skills will be emphasized. In addition, the advanced seminar will teach research skills, will expect the students to formulate and pursue original research topics, and will expect oral presentations of these projects. These abilities will be evaluated through in-class presentations and research papers. Open only to Architecture majors.

This research seminar examines advances in the technologies that affect the practice of architecture. The course examines leading technologies, processes, and applications, and their role in building design and production. The course will navigate the broad and varied materials related to advanced technologies in architecture by focusing on specific applications for specific projects. Students may select between varying and diverse topics offered by the faculty that may include building envelopes, architectural materials, building and environmental systems, advanced structural design, energy and sustainability, architectural acoustics and lighting, fabrication, and computer-aided design technologies. Open only to Architecture majors.

Selection and design of building support systems: heating, ventilating, air conditioning, water supply, sanitary and storm drainage, power distribution, lighting, communications, and vertical transportation. Systems are analyzed for their effect on building form, construction cost, and operating efficiency.

Selection and design of building support systems: heating, ventilating, air conditioning, water supply, sanitary and storm drainage, power distribution, lighting, communications, and vertical transportation. Systems are analyzed for their effect on building form, construction cost, and operating efficiency. Prerequisite(s): [(ARCH 513)]

Design criteria for achieving human performance goals in energy-efficient buildings, criteria for the exterior/interior environment, and criteria for architectural, mechanical, electrical and building system components. Building upon the fall course, various energy-conserving strategies shall be evaluated for achieving cost effective, energy-efficient design of a specific building type. Open only to Architecture majors.

Design criteria for achieving human performance goals in energy-efficient buildings, criteria for the exterior/interior environment, and criteria for architectural, mechanical, electrical and building system components. Building upon the fall course, various energy-conserving strategies shall be evaluated for achieving cost effective, energy-efficient design of a specific building type. Open only to Architecture majors.

Study of the fundamental principles and engineering procedures for the design of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems; HVAC system characteristics; system and equipment selection; duct design and layout. Attention is given to energy conservation techniques and computer applications.

Study of the analysis and design of electrical systems in buildings utilizing the National Electric Code. Topics include AC, DC, single-phase and three-phase circuits, transients, branch circuits, panel boards, system sizing, fault calculations and overcurrent protection design. Also studies the design and specification of emergency power backup and alternative power systems.

An intensive study of the calculation techniques and qualitative aspects of good luminous design. Topics covered include: photometric quantities and color theory, visual perception, standards, daylight and artificial illumination systems, radiative transfer, fixture and lamp characteristics, control devices, and energy conservation techniques. Design problems, field measurements, computer, and other models will be used to explore major topics.

The role of estimating in construction contract administration. Types of estimates. Unit costs and production rates; job costs. Preparing bid for complete building project using manual methods and the CSI format; checking quantity take-off and cost estimating in selected divisions using a computer package.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is at the core of building performance optimization and sustainability, making it possible to model performance while tracking construction of the building in sequence. This course builds essential knowledge of building performance optimization using BIM processes and provides the necessary background and skills to use BIM with building energy simulation software tools. Autodesk Revit with Insight will be used as the primary design authoring, manipulation, and analysis tool. Secondary Autodesk BIM tools such as Formit for building massing and orientation; recap for existing conditions capturing; Navisworks for interference checking and design collaboration; revit Live for Virtual Reality visualizations and presentations; and BIM 360 Ops for facility management and operation will also be used in class. Proven methods for using BIM to address essential building performance and sustainability issues will be presented using real-world examples, placing particular emphasis on using BIM for analysis of design alternatives for the life cycle of a building. Complete with coverage of sustainability, integrated design, and lean construction requirements, this is a valuable course for architects, architectural engineers, MEP engineers, facility managers, and other construction professionals involved in building performance modeling and optimization.

Design of building exteriors, including the control of heat flow, air and moisture penetration, building movements, and deterioration. Study of the principle of rain screen walls and of energy conserving designs. Analytical techniques and building codes are discussed through case studies and design projects.

Identification of the optimal energy performance achievable with various types of buildings and service systems. Reduction of infiltration. Control systems and strategies to achieve optimal energy performance. Effective utilization of daylight, heat pumps, passive and active solar heaters, heat storage and heat pipes in new and old buildings.

This course introduces students to building energy modeling software and techniques that are widely used in industry applications. The course is practice-oriented and builds upon building energy modeling methods as they are practiced in engineering offices (using IES software). The course centers on the two most common types of energy models in practice: (1) models for LEED and code compliance, and (2) parametric models for evaluating energy conservation measures. During the first half of the course, students will learn modeling methods and assumptions to create an energy model of an actual building project for the LEED Energy and Atmosphere credit with all supporting documents required for LEED submission. In the second half of the course, students will learn to analyze energy conservation measures using parametric energy models. The course will also focus on advanced energy modeling topics, such as modeling HVAC systems and controls, passive techniques, composite fenestration, thermal bridges, thermal mass, and others. At the end of the course, students will have two complete energy models that they can use in their portfolio.

Hands-on experience with energy and indoor environmental quality measurements in buildings including experimental design, data analysis, and experimental statistics. Measurements and techniques covered include: thermal performance (e.g., temperature, humidity, and heat flux); fluid flows and HVAC characteristics (e.g., velocity, pressure, and airflow rates); energy performance (e.g., current, voltage, and power draw); whole building diagnostics (e.g., envelope airtightness, ventilation performance, and duct leakage testing); and indoor air quality (e.g., tracer gas techniques, particle measurements, and gas measurements). Course combines lectures and field measurements in buildings on campus.

Fundamentals and practical use of information technologies in design; basic concepts of building information modeling (BIM); review of software and technology available for BIM; practical use of BIM in design for creating a site, viewing a model, starting a project, working in the AutoDesk "Revit" Environment, adding basic building elements to a project, conceptual energy analysis, designing a preliminary layout, and presenting a project.

Indoor air pollution sources, indoor pollutant levels, monitoring instruments and designs, and indoor pollution control strategies; source control, control equipment and ventilation; energy conservation and indoor air pollution; exposure studies and population time budgets; effects of indoor air population; risk analysis; models for predicting source emission rates and their impact on indoor air environments.