Andrew Chatham B.E.S. M.Arch.
Adjunct Assistant Professor School of Architecture University of Waterloo

 

Arch 226:
Environmental Building Design

Winter 2005:
Course Home Page

 

revised course outline
last updated March 25, 2005 8:34 AM
Course Description :

This course centers on issues surrounding the integration of Sustainable and Passive Design principles, into conceptual and practical architectural design. Topics will include: solar geometry, climate/regional limitations, vernacular architecture, natural lighting, passive design and sustainability initiatives. Case studies will be used extensively as a vehicle to discuss the success/failure of ideas and their physical applications.

The term will focus on the use of the LEED Evaluation System as a means to both design and evaluate the relative "greenness" of buildings, as well as to understand the global implications of sustainable buildings.

Research and design projects require that the students engage the specific technological notions presented within the course in the physical discourse of architecture.

Teaching Assistant: Alexandra Juzkiw

Schedule of Classes: Mondays, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Main Lecture Hall, Cambridge

pdf of course outline link

1

Jan 10

Course Overview: Sustainable Design and the Implications of the LEED Rating System:
A discussion of ecological design principles and broad scale urban approaches to sustainable developments. A detailed explanation of the workings of the LEED Rating System.
A selection of case studies will be used to discuss various approaches to incorporating sustainable design objectives into architectural design. Discussion will include material selection, embodied energy, recycling initiatives, quality and durability as attitudes, implications of life cycle costing.

Film on Population Growth.
READ:
Lechner. Chapters 1 to 5.
Course Notes:
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch2.pdf
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch3.pdf
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch4.pdf
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch5.pdf
Specific project references from the lecture:
CMHC Healthy House, YMCA Learning Centre (Burrows), YMCA Learning Centre (Solarium), Earthships

powerpoint presentation "What is Sustainable Design? Intro to LEED" 5.9MB link
Canadian Architect Article "LEED: A Primer" link
Canadian Architect Article "Sustainability and Steel: Integration" link
Architecture and Global Warming: www.architectureweek.com

2

Jan 17

Passive Design -- Heating:
An examination of passive strategies for heating. In depth look at case studies and application procedures.
READ:
Lechner: Chapter 7, 10 and 15
Please review material on Square One Website. http://www.squ1.com/site.html

Passive Solar Heating Powerpoint Presentation 8.3MB link to come

3

Jan 24

REVISED SEQUENCE AND CONDENSATION OF LECTURE TOPICS.... 23JAN05

Passive Design -- Cooling:
An examination of passive strategies for cooling, ventilation and dehumidification of buildings.
READ:
Lechner: Chapter 7, 10 and 15
Please review material on Square One Website. http://www.squ1.com/site.html

Passive Cooling Powerpoint Presentation 26.4MB link to come this is big...

Solar Geometry and the Design of Shading Devices:
A brief review and extension of basic principles. Students learn how to use sun angle data to plot shadows, determine solar gain, understand sun penetration into buildings for various geographical regions and for differing seasons. Understanding of the sky dome and its affect on local conditions.

Interstitial Space:
A study of residential neighbourhoods and the design and sizing of the "spaces inbetween". Emphasis on access to natural light, greenspace, privacy zones.

READ:
Lechner. Chapter 5 and 9, Appendices A, B, C, E, F
Course Notes:
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch6.pdf
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/125-Ch7.pdf
the 4 key solar charts are also available for download on the course notes homepage link

Solar Geometry powerpoint presentation 7.5MB link
Solar Shading powerpoint presentation 9.8MB link
Interstitial Space Powerpoint 4.1MB link
Shading 1.4MB link
Hand out Project #1: Sustainable Building Detailed Case Study 30%
This project will involve a team of 4 students conducting detailed research into the sustainable design aspects of a building. The students must prepare a 2,000 word research paper (to include full bibliography and references), prepare a detailed drawing of a significant environmental/daylighting aspects of the building, conduct a preliminary LEED™ analysis of the project, prepare a scale model of a significant portion of the building/wall for heliodon testing, and present their findings using Powerpoint in class (15 minutes max). A sign up sheet will be made available for your group to select a case study. If you don't find a building to your liking on the list, please feel free to submit an alternate for consideration.
full project outline

4

Jan 31

LEED™ and Green Globes:
Detailed look at the LEED and Green Globes Environmental Assessment tools. LEED™ has become the assessment tool of choice in both the US and Canada by a wide range of institutions. Green Globes is also gaining momentum and clientele, being the evaluation tool of Public Works Canada and some commercial rating systems. How do they compare?

Please refer to this online material for more information on LEED™:
The U.S. Green Building Organization (authors of LEED™): http://www.usgbc.org/
The Canadian Green Building Organization (presently modifying LEED™ for Canadian use): http://www.cagbc.ca/
A simplified explanation of LEED™ : link
Green Globes website http://www.greenglobes.com/

Canadian Energy Guidelines and programs:
Model National Energy Code for Buildings (MNECB): info (The MNECB is more or less the Canadian equivalent of ASHRAE for energy performance targets for commercial buildings.)
Commercial Building Incentive Program (CBIP): info (CBIP provides funding to a qualifying project to assist in paying the design fees that will result from additional costs to verify energy efficient/sustainable design).

Detailed LEED™ information link
Detailed Green Globes information link

Extrapolation of LEED: The Green Guide for Healthcare
This organization has used the LEED Guidelines as the basis for an extended green assessment and guide tool for healthcare facilities, adding criteria for specific mechanical and supply issues that are peculiar to health facilities.
Their website: http://www.gghc.org/about.cfm
The pdf of their guide: link

The LEED Guide to the Use of Wood: (10.1MB) link

Greening the Office:
Public Works Canada Green Office Guidelines: link 1, link 2

Project 2: Light Access and the Residential Development (20%)
Handed out

complete project description

5

Feb 7

Lighting in Buildings:
Detailed look at the use of light in buildings from the point of view of issues of source, quantity, quality, human response, glare, room use, control, strategies, applications.
READ:
Lechner. Chapter 12 and 13
Refer to material under Lighting Design on Square One website. http://www.squ1.com/site.html

Natural Lighting/Daylighting:
The importance of natural lighting, both from an energy conservation point of view, as well as the aesthetic impact of natural light on interior architecture and the function of space. Look at building case studies. How does the design for daylighting impact LEED credit points in a building.
READ:
Lechner. Chapter 12 and 13 continued.
Refer to material on the Square One website under Natural Lighting. http://www.squ1.com/site.html
Daylighting in Canada 1.5MB pdf
Daylighting Guide by Lawrence Berkeley Labs 1.0MB pdf
Daylighting Concepts Powerpoint 14.2MB link
Daylighting Applications Powerpoint 10.0MB link

6

Feb 14

Verifying and Marketing Green Buildings:
We will look at some of the Green Building tools and evaluation methods; including Green Building Advisor software, Athena Environmental Impact Estimator, and LEED™ Standards.
A good portion of the information for this lecture will be derived from the RAIC Seminar, SDCB 201 2002.

Introduction to Computer Assisted Energy Design:
Energy-10, and Ecotect
Computer simulations are becoming increasingly important as a means to both create and validate environmentally motivated designs. Several types of software are available for use, each with their advantages and disadvantages. Caroline Prochazka's Masters Thesis is focussed on a comparative analysis of these and other simulation/design programs and their relevance to daylighting and energy issues.

7

Feb 21

 No class - reading week

8

Feb 28

Project #2: Residential Lighting Study Presentations

9

Mar 7

Active Systems: The Role of Photovoltaics, Thermal Solar, Wind Power and Geothermal Systems, Radiant Floor Heating in Sustainable Design


Active Systems/Renewables powerpoint 6.3MB link
links to more information on environmental heating systems, trickle vents
http://www.windpower.org/en/tour/wres/index.htm

More info on renewables, etc. link

10

Mar 14

 Project #1: Case Study Presentations: Groups 1 thru 9
Attendance for these presentations is mandatory. The point is to learn from seeing all case studies, not just by doing your own. All material is to be submitted at the beginning of class. Groups will be called to present on a random basis.

Students will be allowed 10 to 15 minutes each for the presentation of their Powerpoint and heliodon models.

11

Mar 21

Project #1: Case Study Presentations: Groups 10 thru 18

Students will be allowed 15 minutes each for the presentation of their Powerpoint and heliodon models.

12

Mar 28

The Tectonics of the Double Skin:
A detailed discussion using numerous case studies of double façade envelope design, highlighting buffer, extract air, twin face and hybrid systems. The findings of the masters level course on double ski case studies will be presented as well as a compressed version of the RAIC course on Advanced Curtain Wall Systems from Fall 2003, highlighting some of the work of Transsolar.
Course Notes:
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/ds/title.html
Introducing Double Facade Technology Powerpoint link to come
Apr 21

Project due

 

 

Final Project Details:

The idea behind the final project will be to execute the design of a small building such that it encompasses all of the aspects of sustainable design, passive heating and passive cooling that have been addressed this term. The building must be designed to meet or exceed LEED Platinum, and must include documentation to verify such. Details here

The project is to be in pairs or singly. It will involve the design of a small building using ecological principles. You will need to produce plans, sections, elevations, details, views, lighting studies, all at appropriate scales (suited to the level of detail required.)

The project will be worth 50% of your final term grade.
 

Reference Texts:

Required:
Lechner, Norbert. Heating, Cooling, Lighting.
Course Notes are all available online @
http://www.fes.uwaterloo.ca/architecture/faculty_projects/terri/crsnotes.html

Square One Web Site:
http://www.squ1.com/site.html

Recommended:
Brown, G.Z. Sun Wind and Light.
Moore, Fuller. Environmental Control Systems.
Rocky Mountain Institute. A Handbook for Sustainable Design.
Evaluation:

Evaluation will be based both on the formal/technical execution of the projects, as well as the seminar presentation of material and contributions to the discussions.

Project 1: Case Study 30%
Project 2: Residential Lighting Study 20%
Project 3: Design Project 50%

Total: 100%
 

last updated March 25, 2005 8:34 AM