ARCH-261 Architectural Materials

3 Credits

This course reviews basic building materials in the context of fundamental building issues. Materials studied include wood, masonry, and concrete. Each major material is examined in the context of its chemical structure, historical evolution, relevance to contemporary practice, and utilization in new and future products. This course will examine the relationship between materials and issues of sustainability. The course format consists of weekly lectures followed by discussion seminars. Slide lectures introduce each building material and its major contextual issues and provide a survey of visual information related to that material. Seminar sections provide students with the opportunity to ask questions and clarify the content of the lecture.