Materials and Construction Systems

ARCH-5300

Materials and Construction Systems centers on the development of a technical knowledge of, sensibility to, and intuition for the process by which an architectural design is realized in built form. The course introduces structural and material strategies and explores their creative and technical application to the architectural design process. In addition, the course establishes an understanding of the most common building materials including their physical properties, appropriate applications, and the implications of their uses in the larger context of embodied energy and material life cycles. The interdependence among building materials, acoustic qualities, enclosure systems, interior, finish, and other systems is investigated, with an emphasis on the broader architectural design endeavor. Complementing performance characteristics, the phenomenology of materials is introduced as a key concept in architectural design. An understanding of assemblies and integration is developed both from a design and engineering perspective as well as in construction application. The course approach will involve in class presentations, design projects and experiments, and the in depth analysis of architectural case studies. The importance of proper detailing, construction, and maintenance to accomplish lasting and efficient enclosures is highlighted.

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