ARCHI 222: Architectural Practice and Working DrawingsSyllabus
Instructor: Daniel Abbott
Office Location: ET 119D
Office Hours: Monday & Wednesday:11:00 - 12:00
Tuesday and Thursday:11:00 – 12:00
E-Mail & Phone: By Request. All questions, concerns and discussions should be conducted in class, or in person during office hours. Please see your professor if you need contactinformation regarding e-mail or phone for specific purposes which may arise in the course.
You are encouraged to visit your professor during office hours to discuss your progress in the class, your models, drawings or design work, or your future goals, ideas and interests in architecture. You will be required to sign up during the hour by arrangement times each week to review your projects and receive feedback on your work in the studio space on campus.
Office hour rules:
Office hours are the only time when your instructor is available for responding to questions outside of class.
Your instructor will not be able to respond to your questions during other times of the day since other work needs to be done, such as teaching other courses, grading, administration, etc.
Office hours are for course related questions only.
You must be able to accomplish the work required in the course without relying on a heavy amount of tutoring or questions outside of class. One specific, thoughtful question per week is considered an acceptable maximum level of interaction outside of class.
Questions that have been covered in class will not be responded to.
Material handed out in lecture will not be reprinted or provided during office hours or outside of class, contact a friend for material you have missed if you were absent.
Summary
Units: 3
Prerequisite: None at this time
Please note: This class is intended for an advanced student seeking professional preparation to work in an architectural firm. The course requires a number of advanced skills in order to pass with a successful grade. You should be somewhat familiar with drafting conventions, architectural drawings and technical drawings as well as orthographic drawing systems at a variety of scales. Students should also possess model making skills and a general understanding of computer operation, familiarity with operating systems and file management.
The production of architectural working drawings is a complex and highly intellectual task that requires years of experience in order to be successful both at the plan check process and at the construction process. A broad knowledge o construction is required so that one can design things that can be practically constructed within budget limits and according to code.
Class Schedule
Monday and Wednesday8:00 - 9:00 pm Lecture
9:00 - 10:50 pm Design Studio
Total2 hours of lecture and 4 hours
of studio per week
Course Description and Objectives
Course covers the methods and processes for the interpretation and creation of architectural working drawings and specifications. Topics covered include schematic design, design development, assembly and graphic representation of building elements and the creation of architectural drawings and construction documents.
Site plans, foundations, framing systems, bearing walls, structural frames, electrical and mechanical systems in addition to details and cladding systems for floors, walls and roofs are included in course curriculum. Discussion of the Construction Specifications Institute format and use of reference material such as local planning ordinances, building codes, architectural graphic standards, and information published by building product manufacturers are included in course curriculum.
Students are introduced to the design review process, standards of practice and graphic representation, and the role of the architect, client and local governing agencies.
Student Learning Outcomes
Students completing the course will be able to:
Communicate architectural concepts, using graphic conventions and representational methods.
Construct physical models of architectural elements and spaces.
Demonstrate understanding of building components, structures, and systems in relation to design.
Required Text
Building Construction Illustrated
Francis DK Ching
Recommended Text
Detail in Contemporary Residential Architecture (with CD)
Virginia McLeod
Graphic Guide to Frame Construction
Rob Thallon
Course Assignments and Grading
The Cube House
This semester we will be working on a small house measuring 20 feet x 20 feet x 20 feet. This Cube house is to be designed by you and thendrawn in a series of technical construction drawings illustrating the assembly of the house using type V combustible framing, or stick framing.
In order to simplify drawings and facilitate a common construction language in the course, the Cube House must be designed in a Modernist architectural vocabulary utilizing clean minimal lines, flat roofs and contemporary materials.
Model
One Model of your building is required. This model will be designed in rough form at a small scale and then developed into a larger ½” = 1’-0” model for final grading.
The model is crucial to the understanding of your project and communicating your ideas to other students in the class and your professor. Without the model it is often difficult if not impossible to understand what the design intentions are, or what spatial relationships exist. The model will also be useful in working out framing details and connections.
Drawings
Drawings to be produced are as follows:
0.A Three dimensional Computer model of your house from which you will generate:
- Site Plan
The site is flat and must accommodate one parked car with sheltered parking - Floor Plan
All features in plan view in your house must be shown using appropriate drafting conventions and working drawing nomenclature. - Second Floor Plan
All features in plan view in your house must be shown using appropriate drafting conventions and working drawing nomenclature. - Building Elevations (four or more if necessary)
All elevation views of your design must be shown with working drawing nomenclature - Two Building Section Cuts
Show two sections through your house illustrating the interior layout of both floors in section view with all required dimensions and nomenclature. - Wall Section
A cross section of the wall assembly and technical details with all spot elevations and materials indicated.
- Roof Plan
A top view of the house and roof layout - Foundation Plan
A plan illustrating all concrete foundations to be used for your house. - Electrical Plan
Layout of all switches outlets and other electrical designfeatures according to code - Structural Framing Plan
A plan illustrating the framing for the first and second floor as well as roof framing. - Interior elevation of bath and kitchen
Interior views illustrating cabinet and millwork, appliances and bath fixtures. - Two sheets of building details: Foundations, connections, joints, finishes etc
Detail drawings showing foundation dimensions, window details, specific connections or special design details
Software
We will be using Vectorworks for all drawings produced in this class. Vectorworks is a parametric design program and deals with architectural objects that can be assembled, modified and assigned specific properties. It also has Building Information management (BIM) features that allow you to better manage your set of construction documents and changes that take place.
The software operates in a similar way to Revit which is rapidly becoming the industry standard in production of construction documents. Use of the software will be covered in class.
Nemetchek is now offering the software free to students who are enrolled in the course. To sign up and download your copy (with banners and watermarking) go to:
Grading
The semester grade reflects your work in two areas in relation to your participation and professionalism:
20% Model
80% Set of working drawings for your Cube House
Work will be checked on a regular basis during class pin ups and discussion and will be recorded for attendance and participation.
Periodic due dates assessing your work will be set throughout the semester and work will be graded in class. These grades may be replaced later on with the final grade for the improved work only if you have presented on time. Late or missing assignments may not be improved.
Guidelines for Class
Food and drinks as well as electronic devices such as cell phones can distract, limit or disengage you from participating in the learning process taking place in the classroom. For this reason, students who bring food, drinks or active electronic devices into the classroom at any time will be marked absent and receive no credit for the class session.
Attendance will be taken promptly at the beginning of class. If you are late you will be marked absent if you are not present when your name is called and will receive no credit for the class session. If a quiz or activity is in session you may not be allowed to begin the quiz late.
All students who miss two weeks of class or two weeks of assignments will be withdrawn from the class at the discretion of the instructor. These missed sessions do not need to be consecutive in order for the student to be withdrawn from the course.
All students are advised to drop the course within the first 75% of the class, if this is your intention.
Due dates for each assignment will be announced by the instructor in class.
Late work will be graded down by 10% per class.