Arch 172:
Building Construction 1

Fall 2011:
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.

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 a series of quizzes
· complete an end of term major project.

Teaching Assistants: Melissa Ng, Lida Arbabi

Laptop policy:
Please note. ALL notes are to be taken by hand in your required sketchbook. Sketchbooks will be collected at the end of the last class and will be graded on their completeness as well as neatness. Failure to attend class and take notes will be very evident. Laptops are NOT permitted in the class, nor are cellphones or mP3 players.

Office Hours:
Tuesdays 2 - 4pm, Wednesdays 2 to 4pm ARC 3012
Email, anytime tboake@uwaterloo.ca

final project outline

Introduction: From Technique to Technology
Stone Construction: General Principles and Stereometry

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

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: A STONE DETAIL/BUILDIING (this assignment is given OUT on the 14th and due on the 21st...)
***IMPORTANT NOTE: SKETCHES WILL BE RECEIVED BY THE TEACHING ASSISTANTS FROM 9:45 TO 10AM AND NOTED AS SUBMITTED. LATE SKETCHES WILL NOT BE GRADED AND WILL BE AWARDED A MARK OF ZERO. BE ON TIME!

Stone Slide Show Note! the slide shows will download as .mov movies. They are set to run with the slides showing in 2 second intervals. If you wish to view one longer, just hit pause on your player. If you are using Windows, you might need to download Quicktime Player to view these. The slide shows will not be posted until AFTER the lecture, but in time to review for quizzes.

Making Buildings/Designing Buildings:
The Process; Zoning; Codes; The Residential Project

FILM: My First Building by Aaron Nelson (60 minutes)

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

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

Making Buildings Powerpoint

Quiz #1: Making Buildings/Designing Buildings (5%)

The tests will be based on materials that are noted in the title of the test. So, it will include: my lecture, the powerpoint, the readings noted for that week.

Readings are noted in the box for the topic week. It would be helpful if you read them before the class, as what I am saying would seem clearer. At least read them after the class, to refresh and supplement the lecture. And read them at least before the test. I do NOT make up my lectures based upon the textbook. That is pretty repetitive and boring. I supplement the text. They work together.

Climate and Environment: Introduction to Building Science
Understanding the architectural creation of sublime comfort.
The effects of solar geometry, siting, and geo-regional characteristics on conceptual building design
Thermal considerations; heat gain and loss; air and vapour barriers

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

Building Science Powerpoint

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: A BUILDING SCIENCE FAILURE

Quiz #2: Climate and Environment: Building Science (5%)

Soils and Excavations:
The implications of site conditions on design
READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 2: Foundations (soils and excavations portions only, pages 20 - 52)
Canadian Wood Frame House Construction:
Location and Excavation p. 29-36

Surveying and Foundations:
An investigation of shallow and deep foundation types as linked to building design strategy and choices
Introduction to the principles of surveying and how to read a survey
READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 2: Foundations (remainder of chapter)
Canadian Wood Frame House Construction:
Concrete Work p.37-42
Footings, Foundations and Slabs p.43-72

soils and foundations lecture

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: NORTH ARROW AND MATCHING GRAPHIC SCALE - THESE WILL BE DUE ON OCT. 19 BEFORE PATHS TO PRACTICE BEGINS. THE TAS CANNOT BE THERE ON THE 12TH TO COLLECT THEM.

Finish Foundations lecture....

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://na.hansonbrick.com/en/

masonry lecture

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: SOME BRICK DETAILS

An Introduction to Wood Construction:
The materiality of wood and the structural implications and potentials of wood systems; Post and Beam Construction; Balloon Framing; Platform Framing
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 powerpoint
engineered wood powerpoint
post and beam powerpoint

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: WOOD FRAME CONSTRUCTION

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

wood lecture

SITE VISITS: Participation (2.5%) PART ONE

PLEASE LOOK AT THE LIST1 LIST2 TO SEE WHAT GROUP YOU ARE IN. NO SWITCHING!! IF YOU MISS THE BUS YOU LOSE THE 2.5%. NO ATTENDANCE - NO MARKS! MORE INFO

Arriscraft Corporation Plant Tour, Cambridge
(bus leaves @ at 9:00 am, returns 12:30pm)
OR

Ontario Masonry Training Centre:
A hands on masonry cavity wall building session
The class will take a bus to Mississauga for the session. Departure time will be posted. Cost of the trip is $ per person. Dress to get dirty. Wear construction boots or sturdy boots (beware of falling concrete blocks on your toes!!!)
(bus leaves at 8:20am sharp, returns around 1:30pm)

SITE VISITS: Participation (2.5%) PART TWO

PLEASE LOOK AT THE ABOVE LISTS TO SEE WHAT GROUP YOU ARE IN. NO SWITCHING!! IF YOU MISS THE BUS YOU LOSE THE 2.5%.

Arriscraft Corporation Plant Tour, Cambridge
(bus leaves @ at 9:00 am, returns 12:30pm)
OR

Ontario Masonry Training Centre:
A hands on masonry cavity wall building session
The class will take a bus to Mississauga for the session. Departure time will be posted. Cost of the trip is $ per person. Dress to get dirty. Wear construction boots or sturdy boots (beware of falling concrete blocks on your toes!!!)
(bus leaves at 8:20am sharp, returns around 1:30pm)

Quiz #4: Wood and Masonry (5%)

Masonry Construction: Case Studies
A detailed investigation of several building case studies to expose the ramifications of proper and improper detailing
READ:
Fundamentals of Building Construction:
Chapter 10: Masonry Load Bearing Wall Construction

Information on Wall Construction - IMPORTANT:
http://irc.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/pubs/ctus/17_e.html

Excellent guide to envelope design by John Straube:
http://www.buildingscience.com/documents/reports/rr-1005-building-america-high-r-value-high-performance-residential-buildings-all-climate-zones

image of a brick "soft joint"

SKETCHING ASSIGNMENT: CONSTRUCTION RELATED SKETCH OF YOUR CHOICE!

Building Detailing and Light Steel Residential Framing Systems:
A class devoted to drawing and developing residential details for combined masonry and wood framing practices. Introduction to the CMHC Best Practice Guides for Building Construction. THIS INFORMATION IS CRITICAL TO THE ABILITY TO DO NEXT WEEK'S TEST AS WELL AS DETAIL THE FINAL TERM PROJECT! We will also look at the use of light steel framing for residential construction.

Presentation Light Steel Framing Single Family
Presentation Modular Multi Family Steel Framing

Quiz #5: In Class + at desk Detailing Assignment (10%)

This drawing will use material that will be addressed in the previous classes. It will be given out at 11:00AM and be taken in by the TAs at 1:00 pm at the latest. You may work at your desk with any and all materials that you might need. It is to be SKETCHED BY HAND and NOT DRAFTED. You will not have sufficient time to hardline this drawing. You are recommended to make use of a scale where possible.

wood and steel stud
bc wood - humid climate
wood and concrete block
wood frame
rainscreen
bakor details (be careful with this one to only look at the air barrier material detailing!)

A little structural treat.... Stadium roof collapses due to snow load in Minneapolis on December 12, 2010!

Hand in for Final Term Project at 4pm to Terri's Office #3012
link to information on Final Term Project

Evaluation for this course will take place as follows. There will be a series of SEVEN short (30 minute) tests on both the content of the lectures and the assigned reading material. These tests will take place during class time, as scheduled in the course outline. You will be permitted to use your sketchbooks as aids for the test. If you are not present to take the test when given, you will forfeit the opportunity to write the test unless your circumstances are substantiated by a doctor's certificate. Missing two tests will constitute a failure of the entire course.The final term grade will consist of an average of submitted work as follows, however, FAILURE TO ACHIEVE A PASSING GRADE IN THE TERM PROJECT WILL CONSTITUTE FAILURE OF THE COURSE.Final term projects are to be handed in hard copy, i.e. "on paper". Digital submissions will not be accepted.

QUIZZES: 30% 4 tests @ 5% each and one @ 10%

PATHS TO PRACTICE ASSIGNMENT: 5%

SKETCHBOOK: 10%

You are required to keep a sketchbook/notebook for the course. 8 ½” by 11” format is recommended with BLANK pages. I will be using the blackboard to sketch technical aspects and details during class. These are to be recorded in your sketchbooks as well as written notes and supplemental notes from study. Grades are allocated based upon both notes taken in class and additional notes taken while reviewing the Allen text for study purposes. The sketchbook will be submitted with the final project at the end of term and graded. PLEASE DO NOT FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR SKETCHBOOK. These will be returned at the beginning of 1B to enable the addition of notes for Arch 173: Building Construction 2. The sketchbook will be able to be used during the quizzes for reference. You will also be expected to keep preliminary idea drawings for the Final Project in the sketchbook. It will be handed in immediately after the last class for evaluation. Evaluation will be graded /10 for the number of lectures attended, including additional notes and /10 for the completeness and quality of the sketchbook. ie. if you miss 2 lectures you will lose both the points for having attended as well as the quality/completeness.

10 SKETCHES: 10% (actual number seems less than 10. Still worth 10%)

Sketching is one of the basic talents that an architect must develop in order to be able to communicate their ideas. Students are required to go out into Cambridge/the city and prepare one sketch for each week of the term (10 in total) that address the construction processes, detailing and materiality of the city. The particular topic will be announced during the class. The sketches should be included in your sketchbook. The sketches will be graded each week. You will receive either 1/1 or 0/1 for the sketch. If it is not complete when due, you will be awarded zero for the sketch.

FIELD TRIPS: 2 @ 2.5% each

FINAL DESIGN: 40% a set of drawings (minimum requirements)
large scale wall section @1:1 (this is the FULL size of the wall)
structural axonometric @ 1:25 or 1:50
floor plans @ 1:50
perspective view (bonus)

Reference Texts and other Materials:

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

CMHC. Canadian Wood Frame House Construction.

Allen, Edward. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods.
Fifth Edition preferred. If you are using the Third or Second 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:
http://www.architecture.uwaterloo.ca/faculty_projects/terri/crsnotes.html

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. I will make a compiliation CD of resources available for copying later in the term!

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

Academic Integrity: To create and promote a culture of academic integrity, the behaviour of all members of the University of Waterloo is based on honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.

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

Appeals: A student may appeal the finding and/or penalty in a decision made under Policy 70 - Student Petitions and Grievances (other than regarding a petition) or Policy 71 - Student Discipline if a ground for an appeal can be established. Read Policy 72 - Student Appeals, http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infosec/Policies/policy72.htm

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.