Syracuse University School of Architecture - ARC423 Advanced Building Systems

NAME:	Advanced Building Systems 4 credit hours Course home page: http://soa.syr.edu/faculty/bcoleman/ARC423/423.index.html
PROFESSOR:	Bruce M. Coleman Office: 309 Slocum Hall Office hours: by appointment. Phone: 443-5083 FAX: 443-5082 email: bcoleman@syr.edu www: http://soa.syr.edu/faculty/bcoleman/bmc.core.htm
TA	Jay Lim
CLASSES:	M, W, F: 10:40am to 11:35am
ROOM:	Slocum Hall Room 015
EXAMS:	See schedule for dates. Exam 1: Primarily essay. Exam 2: Primarily essay. Exam 3: Primarily drawing.
GRADING:	Exams: 3 @ 15% ea. =	45.%
	Quizzes	5.%
	Attendance	5.%
	Project First Review 10% Sec Review 10% Final 25%	45.
	Total	100.%
ATTENDANCE	Attendance is expected. Each lecture is condensed, and substantive
PEDAGOGIC GOALS and OBJECTIVES	The emphasis of the course is on the making of architecture through understanding systems as complete assemblies with designed relationships to other systems. Though there is an emphasis on the tectonic aspects of architecture, linkages to other aspects (social, economic, political, material) and causal factors is critical to a more complete understanding of the work. Each piece of architecture used as an example is understood through the relation among its systems. Comparisons are developed between important examples of a type through an analysis of the relationship of systems. The focus is always upon fundamental concepts of systems. The buildings selected are meant merely to illustrate those principles. Ideas of important architectural works are explored through in-depth investigations.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:	This course, the last of the required technology sequence, has three major components: an analytical building comparison, lectures and readings. 1. The Building Analysis: The building analysis, commonly referred to as "The Project", is an in-depth examination of real buildings, typically of comparable type. The examination is by means of dissection, and inspection by systems, identifying each system as an assembly or circuit, locating the primary components of each system, and understanding the role the system plays in the whole. The project is not speculative. The intention is to place the buildings in comparison to each other and into the larger context of issues relating to current buildings as they exist in the real world.The discussion of types ends with the presentation in class of the building analysis by groups of students. The projects are in depth comparisons of two buildings of a given type. The projects are developed through the entire length of the term with consultation by the professor and are presented through the medium of three-dimensional drawings, which explain the systems separately and finally in relation to each other. The sources of information used to develop these comparisons are the construction documents, visits to the actual buildings and interviews with persons involved in the design or the maintenance of the chosen example. See The Project for a more complete discussion. 2. The Lectures: The lectures take an historic approach, beginning with a history of ideas relative to the making of things and a study of building technology since the mid 16th century. Few buildings are presented but they are looked at in considerable detail, each selected to demonstrate a particular aspect of the notion of system. Lecture outlines and supplementary information will be posted on the web as the semester progresses. These are linked via the Lectures page. 3. The Readings: The readings introduce the student to a broader range of concepts regarding system and provide a more diverse point of view on the subject. The readings often range far from the topics of the lectures.
REQUIREMENTS	There are three examinations, one approximately one-third into the semester, one approximately two-thirds into the semester and one at the end. The analysis project requires the preparation of a complete set of systems analysis drawings for a specific pair of buildings. The scope of the project requires student teams of typically 3 to 4 or more students. The teams are self-selected.
REQUIRED READING	All listed readings are on reserve in the Architecture Reading Room. You are not required to purchase any text for this course. Note that the Sherwood text is used only as a reference. It is however a book of sufficient usefulness that you should consider owning a copy. Prices range from $32.50 at Barnes&Noble.com to around $20.00 for a used copy on Amazon.com Strict compliance with rights of access to reading material is essential. Due to the extent of the readings, previous classes have suggested a Course Reader. When we have elected to do this the cost has run around $35. It will be a class decision whether or not there is a course reader. See Reading List.
Use of Student Work	The School reserves the right to retain work produced by students when the work is done in fulfillment of course requirements. This course invokes that right. Originals of the drawings produced for the project analysis or electronic copies of computer generated models must be submitted at the conclusion of the course. Failure to do so will result in the withholding of course grades. All submitted material is retained by the the school and is available to members of the team which produced it for reprographic purposes. See the Syracuse University Policy on Student Academic Work.


	http://soa.syr.edu/faculty/bcoleman/ARC423/423.syllabus.html	Send email to: webmaster@soa.syr.edu
	Last update: February 27, 2003.	Copyright © 2003 Bruce M. Coleman