ARCH 5310 is the first of two courses explaining Construction Technology. The first course introduces the student to the relationship of design and construction in the creation of buildings. The early lectures trace the evolution and innovation of construction techniques throughout history and around the globe . This is used to ground the course in the kinds of environmental, economic, and technological pressures that have influenced the use of materials and methods in construction . Next, the course presents a primer describing how design and the act of drawing establishes a vocabulary that architects use to describe the construction of buildings. The balance of the course presents the building of a “light scale” building from the ground up; examining the fundamental material and construction concepts related to construction starting with excavation and ending with interior finishes . Bi-weekly labs complement the lectures with site visits to construction sites and trade facilities as well as more focused lessons.
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