Terri Meyer Boake, BES, BArch, MArch, LEED AP
Professor School of Architecture University of Waterloo
email: tboake@uwaterloo.ca

Arch 172:
Building Construction 1

Fall 2020:
Course Home Page

Course Description:

This is an introduction to building construction dealing with the systems surrounding the making of buildings, building science, soils, foundations, wood frame systems and masonry systems. The course begins with an historical introduction of the primary materials of stone, steel and reinforced concrete to discover the impact of their development on Architectural design through the past 300 years.

Students will
· keep a detailed sketchbook of examples and details addressed in class
· prepare a sketch per week of an aspect of construction/materiality/the city
· complete an end of term technical drawing assignment

There will be an emphasis on developing communication skills through sketching - including both observed situations as well as detailed sketches of building construction assemblies.

Teaching Assistants: Haley Marie Gamble, James Clarke-Hicks

General Course Requirements:
In recognition of the necessity of transforming this from an in person lecture format to a 100% online course, changes have been made to the deliverables to limit the time required outside of the lecture time.

The most important thing that you can do is to attend (sychronous) or watch (asynchronous) the weekly lectures. To this end the major course requirement will be to take annotated (meaning sketches and words) notes from the lectures. I have always required that students have no laptops in my class and take notes by hand, so this is not new. ALL notes are to be taken by hand in your required sketchbook. Sketchbooks will be scanned/photographed for submission and graded on their completeness as well as neatness. The sketchbooks have been normally submitted as a graded component at the end of the term, however this year, to ensure that you keep up with the work, you will be required to make jpgs of your notes pages EACH WEEK submit these to LEARN. Cellphone shots are fine as long as they are legible. The TAs will evaluate and provide feedback on a week by week basis. The notes are due to be submitted prior to the next synchronous lecture.

Additionally there will be a sketch assignment each week. This is a full page sketch in the medium of your choice, to be made in the same sketchbook, of an assigned aspect of building construction, topic noted in the course outline below. These will be posted on another Trello class board, again providing a class gallery of your work.

As time permits, I will do some live detail sketches in class, and these should also be included in your sketchbook as part of the annotated notes. The final term project will require you to make a technical drawing and this information will be critical for your work.

Class Times:
I have scheduled approximately 4 contact hours in order to deliver the 3 hours of lecture material. As I will be recording and uploading the lectures for asynchronous students, I have decided to break the lecture into three one hour (ish) segments. I will open the Webex space 15 minutes before class to allow people to arrive, to give open time for questions, chatting with classmates, etc. I will have 15 minute breaks after each segment to allow for the recording, coffee/bathroom breaks, stretch of legs, etc. Frankly I am already suffering from ZoomButt and the term has not yet begun. Take the time to step outside during the break. Fresh air makes for better minds.

Please feel free to text questions into the chat box on Webex during the lecture. Let me know if I am going too fast or if you need a term clarified.

Office Hours:
I am happy to take questions during the 15 minutes prior to class and will keep the Webex room open for 15 minutes after class. If you wish to contact me personally, you can email, anytime tboake@uwaterloo.ca

Learning Outcomes:

In spite of the required switch to online learning, there are some clear things that you should be able to do or know by the end of this course. You only have two courses in Building Construction in this degree. They both happen in first year. You will be expected to understand fairly detailed concepts and details of construction by the end of both courses.

1. The first 3 lectures are more historically based and trace the impact that invention in the area of structural materials had on the development of modern architectural design. You should be able to select a structural material and understand its design implications - benefits and limitations - when you start any design project. Design works best if you have materiality in mind when looking at the blank page.

2. Understand the critical role of technology as it informs architectural design. From Building Science, to laws, rules, etc - show that you can include these in your design process and thinking. Drawings are comprised of lines, but those lines infer materials.

3. We will look at low rise building systems this term. So be able to detail a residential shallow foundation. Be able to understand the framing of a light wood frame building and draw it both as a wall section and as a 3D axonometric. Understand the role of masonry and differentiate the detailing of load bearing versus veneer systems.

4. When you design and detail a building you don't do this from memory. You surround yourself with information and guides. You should know where to go to look for information on technical building requirements.

Course Materials:

This web page will be updated each week as required, so please check it.

Links for Webex access to the synchronous lectures will be posted in LEARN/TEAMS.

The recordings of the lectures will be uploaded to TEAMS due to privacy restrictions.

Links to the Trello boards are located in TEAMS due to privacy/access restrictions.

Log-in to LEARN: here

OVERALL INTRODUCTION TO THE MECHANICS OF THE COURSE

INTRODUCTION: FROM TECHNIQUE TO TECHNOLOGY
Stone Construction: General Principles and Stereometry
Architects of note: Brunelleschi, Palladio, Soufflot
Material nature of stone: compressive

READ:
Course Notes:
Stone Construction link
Intrinsically Linked through Materiality link
Internet:
The Mystery of the Pyramids link (what do YOU think?)
More on Vitruvius link

50 Architects You Should Know: Brunelleschi, Bramante, Alberti, Michelangelo, Bernini, Palladio, Wren, Gaudi, Jefferson, Schinkel

Note: The Sketch is due to be posted on Trello and the copy of your notes are due to be uploaded to the LEARN Dropbox before the beginning of the next week's synchronous class.

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: A STONE DETAIL/BUILDING
SKETCHES FOR THIS CLASS CANNOT BE SUBMITTED FOR ANOTHER CLASS.
SKETCHES ARE TO BE DRAWN FROM LIFE, NOT PHOTOS.

PLEASE REFERENCE THE EMAIL FROM SEPT 17 AS TO THE ABILITY TO REPRODUCE ONE OF THE SAMPLE IMAGES PROVIDED ON TRELLO BOARD ONE UNDER TERRI/HAGOP/HALEY.

Link to recording of course introduction

First part of Stone lecture recording

Second part of Stone lecture recording

Last part of Stone lecture recording (after class)

IRON AND STEEL: THE CREATION OF THE STRUCTURAL SKELETON AND THE EVOLUTION OF MODERNISM
An historical investigation of the invention of iron and steel framing systems and the ramifications on modern architectural conceptual design theories and implementation.
Architects of note: Behrens, Gropius, Mies, any High Tech architects like Foster, Rogers, Piano
Material nature of steel: tensile

READ:
Allen: Chapter 11: Steel Frame Construction
Course Notes: Steel
images/course_pdf/172-ch5.pdf

50 Architects You Should Know: Ledoux, Sullivan, Burnham, Horta, Gropius, Mies, Neutra, Pei, Rogers, Meier, Foster, Herzog&deMeuron, Gehry, Koolhaas, Nouvel

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: SKETCH SOME EXPOSED STEEL DETAILS

Iron and Steel Part One

Iron and Steel Part Two

Iron and Steel Part Three

THE EVOLUTION OF REINFORCED CONCRETE AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO MODERNISM
An historical investigation of the invention of reinforced concrete and the ramifications of the monolithic structure on modern design theories and construction practices.
Architects of note: LeCorbusier, Pier Luigi Nervi, Eero Saarinen
Material nature of concrete: compressive

READ:
Allen: Chapter 13: Concrete Construction
Course notes: Reinforced Concrete
images/course_pdf/172-ch6.pdf

50 Architects You Should Know: Wright, Perret, Le Corbusier, Kahn, Niemeyer, Saarinen, Ando, Hadid, Ito, Tange

Info on Brutalism

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: SKETCH SOMETHING CONSTRUCTED IN REINFORCED CONCRETE THAT HAS SOME TEXTURE.

Concrete Part One

Concrete Part Two

Concrete Part Three

MAKING BUILDINGS/DESIGNING BUILDINGS
The Process; Zoning; Codes; Drawings

THE RESIDENTIAL PROJECT:
Building and fire code issues as they apply to housing.

BARRIER FREE DESIGN:
It is a legal requirement that we design for barrier free in all public buildings, no matter how large or small. This includes interior and exterior requirements.

https://www.constructioncanada.net/a-practical-guide-to-barrier-free-washrooms/

City of Toronto Guide for Barrier Free Design

READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 1: Making Buildings
Course Notes: Regulatory Determinants link
Canadian Wood Frame House Construction: p. 2-18
Internet:
Have a look at the Official Plan for the City of Toronto link

50 Architects You Should Know: Aalto, Johnson, Pei, Rossi, SOM, Libeskind

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: SKETCH SOMETHING THAT LOOKS ILLEGAL IN TERMS OF THE WAY THE BUILDING IS SITUATED ON A SITE OR CONSTRUCTED

Part one of the recording

Part two of the recording

Part three of the recording

Making/Designing Powerpoint

Residential codes powerpoint

THE EVOLUTION TOWARDS CONTEMPORARY CLIMATE RESPONSIVE DESIGN:
An Introduction to the Science of Buildings
Buildings must not only work from a cultural and functional perspective, but they need to address fundamental issues of site, climate and sustainability. There is much to be learned from indigenous and vernacular architecture - that worked before the advent of modern AC and heating systems. The location and siting of the building must acknowledge solar orientation, the availability of wind for natural cooling, microclimate. Many buildings are designed to meet Green Building ratings.

READ:

Primitive Architecture and Climate: James Marston Fitch and Daniel P. Branch

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: Design your own north arrow, graphic scale, and human scale figure

Part one of the recording

Part two of the recording

Part three of the recording

Powerpoint presentation

INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING SCIENCE
Looking at the physics of the function of the building envelope that impacts detailing in a cold climate.

READ:
Canadian Wood Frame House Construction:
Healthy Housing: p. 15-17
Vapour and Air Barriers p. 273-277
Thermal Insulation p. 255-278
Ventilation p. 283-290
Course Notes: Building Science link

SITING A BUILDING: PASSIVE CLIMATE FOCUS
An introduction to passive site design - issues of climate, orientation, solar geometry, shading, natural ventilation, site materials

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: Sketch an interesting device that can be used on a facade to shade the windows.

Recording of the building science lecture (first part)

Recording of second part of building science and Climate Consultant

Recording of the passive design lecture

building science powerpoint

passive design powerpoint

SOILS, EXCAVATIONS AND SURVEYING
The implications of site conditions on design, Introduction to the principles of surveying and how to read a survey

FOUNDATIONS FOR SMALL TO MEDIUM BUILDINGS
An investigation of shallow foundation types as linked to building design strategy and choices

READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 2: Foundations (excluding portion on deep foundations)
Canadian Wood Frame House Construction:
Location and Excavation p. 29-36
Canadian Wood Frame House Construction:
Concrete Work p.37-42
Footings, Foundations and Slabs p.43-72

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: An interesting exterior building detail

Part one of the recording

Part two of the recording

Part three of the recording

FOUNDATIONS FOR LARGER BUILDINGS
A look at strategies for larger building foundations including, piles, caissons, micropiles, retaining wall systems, under pinning.

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: Residential foundation (a real one or you can draw the detailed technical section from last week's class by hand)

Foundations recording

AN INTRODUCTION TO WOOD CONSTRUCTION
The materiality of wood and the structural implications and potentials of wood systems; sawn framing (traditional) versus engineered wood (more recent)

READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 3: Wood
Chapter 4: Heavy Timber Frame Construction
Canadian Wood Frame Construction:
Protection and Care of Materials on Site p.73-76
Lumber and Other Wood Products p.77-82
Framing the House p.83-88

Properties of Wood recording

Engineered Wood recording

Properties of wood powerpoint

Engineered wood powerpoint

WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION
An in depth investigation of the making and detailing of the wood frame building

READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapters 5, 6 and 7: Wood Light Frame Construction, Exterior and Interior
Finishes.
Canadian Wood Frame Construction:
Floor Framing, Wall Framing, Ceiling and Roof Framing, Roof Sheathing and Coverings, Wall Sheathing and Exterior Finishes, Exterior Trim and Millwork p.89-190
Wood Resources link

Interesting video of framing in Japan link

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: SKETCH SOMETHING THAT SHOWS THE SKELETAL WOOD FRAME, PREFERABLY SOMETHING UNDER CONSTRUCTION OR EXPOSED TIMBERS. DO NOT ENTER A CONSTRUCTION SITE TO DO THIS.

Part one of the recording

Part two of the recording

Part three of the recording

SOLID WOOD
A look at heavy timber framing systems including post and beam construction, glue laminated timbers, mass timber and cross laminated timber.

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: Heavy wood framing details.

Part one of the recording on Solid Wood

Part two of the recording on Solid Wood

Powerpoint of Solid Wood

Part three, recording of Post and Beam examples

AN INTRODUCTION TO MASONRY CONSTRUCTION
Introduction to the fundamentals of masonry construction, including brick and concrete block, modular sizing, terminology, building practices
READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 8: Brick Masonry
Chapter 9: Stone and Concrete Masonry

Links (for reference, not for the quiz):
Brick Institute of America http://www.bia.org/
Hanson Brick (coursing charts and good general diagrams) http://www.hansonbrick.com/english/products/sizes_coursing_us.php

Sketchbook pages due to be uploaded to LEARN by Sunday, December 6 @ 11:59pm

Recording of first part of lecture, drawing tutorial

Powerpoint of part one

Recording of second part of lecture, intro to brick

Recording of third part of lecture, showing detail drawings for final project

The slide show includes some example buildings (mostly showing bad construction) that I did not have a chance to look at in class. You do NOT need to take notes on those.

Hand in for Final Term Project on LEARN - due before midnight.

SKETCHBOOK: 44%

You are required to keep a sketchbook/notebook for the course. 8 ½” by 11” format is recommended with BLANK pages. Grades are allocated based upon notes and technical sketches taken from the lecture.

11 LECTURES: @ 4% EACH (2 marks for completeness, 2 marks for neatness/clarity)

SKETCHES: 10 @ 3% EACH

FINAL DESIGN: 26% a DRAWING

Late Penalties:
The weekly sketch and copies of your class notes are due prior to the subsequent week's class. A 24 hour grace period will be allowed to account for time zones and internet related issues that may impact submission. After 24 hours a grade of zero will be assigned.

For the Final Project late penalties of 5% per day will be applied, following the 24 hour grace period. After 5 days of lateness a grade of zero will be applied.

The following texts will be used for BOTH Arch 172 and Arch 173 (Winter term).

CMHC. Canadian Wood Frame House Construction. Available as a downloadable PDF. here

Allen, Edward. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods.
Seventh Edition preferred. If you are using an older edition, please refer to the chapter titles (rather than chapter numbers) and read the appropriate sections. Honestly, whatever you can get your hands on will do. This is an expensive text but it is also used for Arch 173: Building Construction 2 and will serve as a reference for the balance of your student career.

50 Architects You Should Know. Prestel Press.
http://www.amazon.ca/50-Architects-You-Should-Know/dp/3791340433

Course notes. Available online. As linked throughout the course outline, or find them all here:
crsnotes.html

As there are no quizzes in the course you will be responsible for monitoring your reading of the accompanying texts. The Allen book is typically retained for the duration of this degree as it has a lot of helpful information. The CMHC Wood book will be helpful for your final term project. 50 Architects will help you understand more about the architects I reference in the lectures and help to build your vocabulary of terms/people.

Below are links to pdf copies of some fantastic guides put together by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation on different construction practices in Canada. They are fairly hefty in size, so download with a good connection. Each has a series of details contained within the text. The one on "Wood Frame" would be applicable to most areas of Canada. Since BC is so wet, they have developed a special set of details for BC construction. You could also refer to these for your work -- they are just "better" from a building science perspective. The BC guide also includes some more developed information on different assemblies.Those of you detailing roofs without attics, need to look in the BC guide under roof assemblies for a sandwich type roof that is comprised of rigid polystyrene insulation rather than batt insulation. You need to vent batt insulation as it can retain moisture and freeze/leak. Rigid polystyrene (the blue stuff that comes in boards) is a closed cell system and does not get waterlogged. It is used on flat roofs and below grade around foundations.

CMHC Best Practice Guides: Wood Frame Guide, BC Wood Frame Guide, Brick and Block and Brick and Steel Stud

All of the CMHC Best Practice Guides are available in binder as well as CD form in Musagetes.

Just looking for neat ideas of how to build in wood? Look at the Wood Design & Building periodicals in Musagetes!

The files listed below will take you to some interactive powerpoint files. Upload the files then go to the slide show mode. Every time you click your mouse, the detail will "build itself". You will be able to see all the materials and the sequence of assembly. They are all for wood frame with stucco or wood veneer. You will have to extrapolate the sequence as it applies to masonry veneer situations.

Window Head link
Window Sill link
Door Sill link
Exterior Stair Landing link
"Saddle" (where a roof parapet from a lower roof meets a wall) link
Exhaust Vent link

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Grievance:  A student who believes that a decision affecting some aspect of his/her university life has been unfair or unreasonable may have grounds for initiating a grievance. Read Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances, Section 4, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy70.htm

Discipline: A student is expected to know what constitutes academic integrity, to avoid committing academic offenses, and to take responsibility for his/her actions. A student who is unsure whether an action constitutes an offense, or who needs help in learning how to avoid offenses (e.g., plagiarism, cheating) or about “rules” for group work/collaboration should seek guidance from the course professor, academic advisor, or the Undergraduate Associate Dean. When misconduct has been found to have occurred, disciplinary penalties will be imposed under Policy 71 – Student Discipline. For information on categories of offenses and types of penalties, students should refer to Policy 71 - Student Discipline, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy71.htm

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Note for students with disabilities: The Office for Persons with Disabilities (OPD), located in Needles Hall, Room 1132, collaborates with all academic departments to arrange appropriate accommodations for students with disabilities without compromising the academic integrity of the curriculum. If you require academic accommodations to lessen the impact of your disability, please register with the OPD at the beginning of each academic term. Once registered with OPD, please meet with the professor, in confidence, during my office hours to discuss your needs.