Better building acoustics makes better buildings; architectural acoustics needn’t be a mystery. This course introduces the basic theory of sound with discussions on sound level, propagation, and frequency, followed by an overview of sound absorption materials and calculations. This course is part of a seven-part series that translates the quantitative and qualitative content of acoustics into the graphic language of architecture. Each section can be taken as an individual course.

One of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture, this course discusses the various approaches to predesign planning used over the years. It includes various terms and definitions for predesign planning and covers in detail client-based, design-based, knowledge-based, and consensus-based predesign planning. It advocates for value-based predesign planning, beginning with a deep search for the important values relating to a project. It then utilizes the best aspects of the other approaches to predesign planning to produce predesign plans. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge about value-based predesign planning. Each part of this ten-part series can be taken as an individual course.

One of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture, this course discusses how to develop and present a final predesign plan. It covers predesign plan format, content, preliminaries, and executive summary before extensive discussion and illustration of how to present values, goals, facts, needs, and ideas in either a paper or electronic format. Space identification and allocation, relationship matrices and diagrams, space planning sheets, budget and cost analysis, project schedule, and design ideas are all discussed and illustrated. Exercises and references allow the reader to gain the knowledge and skills needed to develop and present a predesign plan. Each part of this ten-part series can be taken as an individual course.

One of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture, this course discusses the importance of discovering strongly held values as a beginning point for predesign planning. It shows how the three enduring values of architecture first expressed by the Roman architect Vitruvius are relevant for today’s architecture. It also shows how many other values impact contemporary architecture and discusses in detail eight value areas under the acronym HECTTEAS (TEST EACH). The course demonstrates at length how these values become issues that architects must address in design. Three case studies show how values uncovered in three very different predesign plans influenced the resulting architecture. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge about value-based predesign planning. Each part of this ten-part series can be taken as an individual course.

This course provides an introduction to green building standards and certification systems in use around the world with an emphasis on differentiating between single-attribute and multiattribute programs. Following green building standards and certification system guidelines leads to buildings that are healthier for their occupants, have a lower impact on the environment, and protect public welfare. The development, benefits, and application of the certification and rating systems are also discussed in order to effectively select and apply the appropriate ones to a project. This course is part of a six-part series that presents practical guidelines for designing sustainable buildings. Each section can be taken as an individual course. This course was last revised in 2022.

Sustainable design provides not only improved indoor environmental quality for building occupants and reduced environmental impact on the earth, but also financial benefits to building owners. However, the perception is that doing the right thing for the environment will cost more. This course focuses on the economic principles used to evaluate and deliver a more sustainable building solution. We will review evaluation of capital investments in equipment, system upgrades, and building maintenance and operations that support buildings with a reduced environmental impact. This course is part of a six-part series that presents practical guidelines for designing sustainable buildings. Each section can be taken as an individual course. This course was last revised in 2021.

This is the second of five courses focusing on methods used in predesign planning. Like the doctor trying to make a medical diagnosis by talking with the patient, the predesign planner makes an architectural diagnosis by interviewing stakeholders in a project. A successful diagnostic interview identifies the primary values and goals of the client(s), staff, and users of a proposed facility. This course covers the techniques and tools required to conduct successful diagnostic interviews. It shows how to plan and conduct these interviews both in person and online. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge and skills about diagnostic interviewing. Each course of this ten-part series can be taken as an individual course. This course was last revised in 2022.

One of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture, this is the third of five courses focusing on methods used in predesign planning. This course covers the techniques and tools required to conduct successful diagnostic observations of people, places, objects, and their interactions to uncover how the environment influences human behavior. The differences with diagnostic interviewing are covered and the need to develop understanding, not just description, is emphasized. Several types of observation and observation formats, including photographic documentation, are included. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge and skills in diagnostic observation. Each part of this ten-part series can be taken as an individual course.

This is the fourth of five courses focusing on methods used in predesign planning. This course covers the techniques and tools required to develop useful questionnaires and conduct successful surveys. It discusses the relationship with other methods, when to use a questionnaire, and the importance of planning. It covers the steps to prepare a questionnaire and discusses the logical order of questions. It covers question types, sampling, bias, data analysis, cost of error, and how to conduct a survey. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge and skills in developing questionnaires and conducting surveys. Each course of this ten-part series can be taken as an individual course. This course was last revised in 2022.

This course is one of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture to identify client goals, user and community needs, and codes and regulations. This course covers the techniques and tools needed to plan and conduct client, user, and executive work sessions to refine the values, goals, needs, and ideas for a proposed facility. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge and skills in planning and conducting effective work sessions. Each course of this ten-part series can be taken individually.

One of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture, this course shows how to use the value-seeking and information-gathering methods described in the previous courses to conduct a comprehensive analysis of site and climate for a project. It discusses site and climate considerations and techniques and tools used in site and climate analysis. It includes case studies of two projects in very different site and climate situations to demonstrate how site and climate impact architectural design. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge and skills in site and climate analysis and how to incorporate them into a predesign plan. Each course of this ten-part series can be taken individually. This course was last revised in 2022.

This course explores contextual issues for security at regional, community, and local levels. Emerging issues facing design professionals are discussed, including existing versus new building design, security and aesthetics, and designing for security in an open society. This course is part of an eight-part series that covers concepts, principles, and processes for incorporating enhanced security into the design of new and existing buildings. Each section can be taken as an individual course. This course was last revised in 2021.

This course is one of a series of ten courses about the reasons to conduct and methods to accomplish effective predesign planning in architecture to identify client goals, user and community needs, and codes and regulations. The various phases of architectural projects are described and the information the predesign planner must develop for project feasibility, site suitability, master planning, and predesign planning are discussed. The course focuses on predesign planning for schematic design, design development, and construction drawings. It stresses the importance of discovering the values that become critical issues for each phase of predesign planning. A case study shows how predesign planning impacts the various phases of project planning. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge about and skills in project planning. Each course of this ten-part series can be taken individually. This course was last revised in 2022.

This course covers the techniques and tools used to gather information from publications and records to identify the values and needs pertinent to the building design. It discusses the different kinds of information needed for precommission, predesign planning, and design. It describes search procedures to find and techniques to record, review, and summarize the information in a value-based matrix. Exercises and references allow the reader to develop knowledge and skills in information search and review. Each course of this ten-part series can be taken individually. This course was last revised in 2022.

The idea that every completed building is an experiment with potential surprises can now be replaced with the knowledge that architects can create facilities that will deliver the quality expected of them by relying on building performance evaluations (BPEs) as the basis for programming and design. This benefits the public’s health, safety, and welfare as architects continue to improve the buildings that they design. This mini-monograph presents an overview of the limits of current post-occupancy evaluation (POE) methodology along with the benefits of and suggestions for improving BPEs. The course concludes with a discussion of the future implications of such critical evaluations. This is part of a six-part series that explores the growing use of POEs and their long-term significance in the design process. Each section can be taken as an individual course.

By relying on building performance evaluations as the basis for programming and design, architects can create facilities that will deliver the quality expected of them. This benefits the public’s health, safety, and welfare as architects continue to improve the buildings that they design. This mini-monograph presents a case study of an elementary school post-occupancy evaluation conducted at the investigative level. This course is part of a six-part series that explores the growing use of post-occupancy evaluations and their long-term significance in the design process. Each section can be taken as an individual course.