Architectural Science

This course intends on bridging technology and design theory through the architectural design process. In a series of exercises, this course introduces students to the foundation principles of architectural design. Students are introduced to contemporary architecture through precedent studies. The students will progress from explorations of two and three-dimensional compositions to investigations of space and form, to the incorporation of a functional program involving users and the multiple constraints of an actual site. Student design work will build on skills acquired in previous course work to address the many concerns and intentions that inform the architectural design process, and that provide the basis for making meaningful architecture.

This course explores the history of building materials, technology and structural systems, following a roughly chronological path from the emergence of First Civilizations to the present day. These explorations take place within the context of the prevailing social, political and economic forces. Students will research and write one term paper on a topic of their choice, focusing on the materials and technology used in a particular building type, geographic or cultural context or at a particular time in history. One mid-term and one final slide exam will test the students’ knowledge of building practices at different periods in history, and their ability to identify and describe significant built examples.

Introduces graphic representation as an exploratory design tool. As a means of communicating one's design intent, this exploration is to be simultaneously open-ended and rigorous as the students work through a process of curiosity, discovery, (self) criticism and understanding. The course will be structured around a series of drawing exercises, building in complexity, many of which will incorporate the work underway in the technology design studios. The emphasis will be on the making of meaningful representations using both manual and computer based media. The course is intended to complement the Architectural Foundation Studio. Note: This course was formerly available as BLDG 5140.

Through a series of lectures and work sessions presenting learning resources, case studies, green building rating systems and other related materials, students will have the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding of environmentally responsible design in the construction industry. This understanding will consider both the technical performance of individual buildings and the social context within which sustainability is now being framed.

Through a series of lectures and work assignments, this course will introduce students to broad principles in building science and performance and will provide learning opportunities for basic application of these principles. Students will learn these principles through the lens of the four elements in building science studies: i) exterior climate and region, ii) wall and separator, iii) user and occupant, iv) energy and technology.

This is a course in advanced composition and rhetoric, in which students will develop skills in complex critical analysis and interpretation by analyzing and evaluating materials from a variety of discourses or genres, including visual, online, and print; developing and writing essays, including critiques and research papers; applying and discussing principles of rhetoric and critical theory; examining and using methods of interpretation and analysis from the humanities and social sciences; evaluating the credibility of primary and secondary sources, including as it applies to media literacy, and for the purposes of academic research; situating discourses within their historical context and relevant to rhetorical theories of different periods (for example, Aristotle in the ancient world and Bakhtin in the twentieth century). The course format will include lecture, discussion, and both individual and group activities.
Prerequisite(s): BCIT ENGL 1177 or (equivalent), OR 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above.

This course offers students an opportunity to broaden their skills and knowledge from previous architectural courses and other coursework in the context of a series of increasingly complex architectural design problems. Each design problem will require the student to initiate the development of conceptual frameworks to explore and resolve issues of site, context, program, scale, organization, space, form, structure, and the role of building technology to mediate the environment. In addition, during the term, the student's design intentions will be investigated and tested at the scale of the detail with drawings and models.
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7002

This course explores tectonics in architecture; relating form to materials, construction and structure. It is the study of architecture as a spatial concept expressed through the relative order of structure, detail and environmental context. The course investigates and tests the design with a built form, further refining the evolution of detail based on aesthetics, function, durability and current construction practice .
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7002

This course investigates the connection between the poetry and prose of architectural language: how ideas expressed in words, images and models are translated into built form. This is achieved through an examination of multiple aspects of the design and implementation process from concept to detail: ideas and intention; program organization and problem solving; designing ‘places’ for people; practice conventions and design innovation among others. The course also looks at the roles and responsibilities of architects as public figures who shape the social and physical environments of their communities and cities.

In this course students will use process and technology for evidence-based, performative-design, decision-making. Through a series of lectures and work assignments, students will extract and visualize data from design information to understand, analyze, and communicate complex, building performance issues. Students will learn how to use technologies to support integrated design processes. Fundamental data-driven design skills will be taught.
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7250

Fosters abilities and values required for ethical decision making at work. Develops skills in logical analysis, a working knowledge of moral principles and theories, and the ability to diagnose and resolve moral disagreements commonly found at work. Examines and applies moral principles to historically famous cases in manufacturing, human resources, management, engineering, health care, and computing.
Prerequisite(s): BCIT ENGL 1177, or 6 credits BCIT Communication at 1100-level or above, or 3 credits of a university/college first-year social science or humanities course.

The purpose of this course is to apply building science knowledge and skills to the architectural design process. This course will integrate with ARSC 8280 (Graduating Project - Project Proposal). Through a series of lectures and work assignments, students will create a holistic site analysis; integrate ideas on design strategies for resilience, and set performance goals and drivers for the graduating project.
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7300

​This studio course permits students to experience the challenges and rewards of integrated design. Projects involve the synthesis of various applied architectural and engineering concepts dealing with architecture, structure and building systems. Students will apply sustainable design principles to schematic design and pursue unprecedented building performance levels, working independently, in teams and with consultants to achieve environmentally responsible and regenerative designs. ​
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7100 and ARSC 7102 and ARSC 7300

This course will enable the student to understand the processes involved in successful management of a project in the context as an Architectural Technologist in an architectural firm. The student will be able to apply goal seeking strategies and overcome impediments in the daily routine of practice management.

​The Graduating Project is comprised of two parts: ARSC 8280 is the pre-design and technical research that provides the basis for ARSC 8800 design work to follow. This course provides a structured approach to conduct the research, complete the contextual analysis, and initiate the critical thinking that lays the groundwork for individual Graduating Project design. The course will be delivered as a series of lectures, seminars, on-site investigations and assignments to guide the investigation process. Students will work independently, in teams and with consultants to prepare a pre-design brief – an essential part of the design process for complex architectural projects. Students will consider history, sustainability, codes and regulations, quality assurance and project management to develop an effective proposal.
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7100 and ARSC 7102 and LIBS 7001

The course provides an overview of the basic skills of a manager and applies these skills through a series of projects and case studies. It examines the evolution of management and the organizational culture and environment. It also teaches the decision-making skills and the skills involved in planning, organizing, leading and controlling, including planning and facilitating change, teamwork, applying motivational techniques and effective communication.

This course holistically integrates previously learned tools and processes to inform and refine the graduating project.. Through a series of lectures and studio assignments, students will pursue transformative architectural solutions based on course-specific performance goals. Students will self-evaluate building performance on an ongoing basis throughout the course.
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7350 and ARSC 8280. ARSC 8800 to be taken concurrently.

This ARSC 8800 Graduating Project continues the project initiated in ARSC 8280 Graduating Project Proposal. The course is structured in 2 distinct parts. Part 1 focuses on refinement of the predesign brief developed in ARSC 8280. Part 2 will focus on the development of the design project. Students will develop a comprehensive design which fully describes the building including its organization, building systems, sustainable design, and materiality through the development of 2 and 3 dimensional models and drawings including plans, sections, elevations, and conceptual construction details. The Comprehensive Design exercise is intended to demonstrate the extent of the student’s ability to understand and synthesize technical, functional and other requirements of their selected project and how the design can be influenced by an integrated design process. The course is structured as a simulated work experience for the graduating project.
Prerequisite(s): ARSC 7350 and ARSC 8000 and ARSC 8280. ARSC 8350 to be taken concurrently.

Directed Studies enables the students to propose an area of study that would lend itself to increased learning through the exploration of study in Selected Topics areas. This Technical Elective course of study may vary from term to term and may include subjects such as: technology and design; environmental ethics; Studies abroad, architectural workshops; Evaluation, Communication and Monitoring of Project deliveries. The student must submit a Statement of Intent which is to be reviewed and approved by the Program Head prior to the student's ability to register for this elective.

This course provides an introduction to an increasingly important aspect of architectural practice: the expanded opportunities for the use of wood in large scale, non-traditional building applications. This renewed focus on wood is driven by a variety of factors, but most importantly by the fact that an increase in wood use can make a significant contribution to the long term mitigation of climate change. As design professionals intensify their focus on reducing the environmental impact of buildings, and as governments and other public institutions look for ways to reduce their carbon footprint, increasing the use of wood in non-traditional applications has emerged as a key component in meeting these objectives. New engineered wood products, new manufacturing technologies, changes to building codes and other legislation are combining to create new possibilities for wood construction. These changes offer the prospect of a future in which our wood structures could rival the iconic architectural and engineering achievements of past centuries: such as Japanese temples, Norwegian stave churches, grain elevators, railroad trestles and the like. This course will: (a) provide an introduction to the unique attributes of wood as a building material, (b) · give an overview of the emerging technologies of mid-rise frame, mass timber and composite construction in British Columbia, (c) explain how wood fits within the broader context of environmental, economic and social sustainability and, (d) discuss the physical and psychological benefits to be gained from the greater use of wood in buildings.