Syllabus

Last Updated on 2023.08.01 by Slee

The basis for the Building Integration Studio is the expectation that every student retains and applies knowledge gained each semester to current assignments in the studio. The Building Integration Studio at Carnegie Mellon University is concerned with the detailed development and refinement of architectural design as informed by the integration of structural, enclosure, environmental, and material systems and the process of construction. A student is expected to comprehensively articulate concepts and develop designs with more precision and in greater detail than done in previous studios and courses.

Our studio coordinator has posted our shared syllabus here: Shared Syllabus

This website articulates the specifics of my studio section and may be slightly different than the two other sections in this semester. I am inspired by the following quotes:

...quoting Louis I. Kahn from World Architecture 1, Studio 12 Books, London, 1964, "I do not like ducts, I do not like pipes. I hate them really thoroughly, but because I hate them so thoroughly, I feel that they have to be given their place. If I just hated them and took no care, I think that they would invade the building and completely destroy it. I want to correct any notion you may have that I am in love with that kind of thing." ...quoting Richard Sennett from The Craftsman, "The architect Renzo Piano explains his own working procedure thus: You start by sketching, then you do a drawing, then you make a model, and then you go to reality — you go to the site— and then you go back to drawing. You build up a kind of circularity between drawing and making and then back again. About repetition and practice Piano observes, This is very typical of the craftsman’s approach. You think and you do at the same time. You draw and you make. Drawing . . . is revisited. You do it, you redo it, and you redo it again." ...quoting Robert Pirsig from Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, "The way to solve the conflict between human values and technological needs is not to run away from technology. That's impossible. The way to resolve the conflict is to break down the barriers of dualistic thought that prevent a real understanding of what technology is--not an exploitation of nature, but a fusion of nature and the human spirit into a new kind of creation that transcends both."

To enable students in this studio to achieve the ambitious learning objectives, the model of a studio coordinator, studio consultants for structure, enclosure and MEP and individual studio instructors has been implemented. The consultants will assist the students with the application and synthesis of the knowledge from previous and concurrent pre-requisite studios and technology courses through pin-ups and board crits. They will be available for design reviews on a regular basis. Each studio will unique projects/ sites to address the shared learning objectives to encourage dialogue and to maximize learning opportunities from observing multiple approaches to design.

Students will form three (3) person teams and each team will designate a person to be the project manager for the structural systems, for the enclosure systems and for the MEP systems aspects of the project.In addition, each team needs to designate one student to be the group leader for BIMcloud as a Service from Graphisoft, one to be the group leader for ClimateStudio and one to be the group leader for presentations.

The work in this studio also includes the construction of einz-zu-einz (full scale) critical details in the SHOP.

Course Objectives:

Criteria:

The following criteria will be used to evaluate student work in this studio:

• _Aesthetics: The degree to which the proposed building responds to formal issues as articulated in this and prior design studios.
• _Experience: The degree to which the design uses a thoughtful narrative and carefully articulated spaces to create meaningful experiences for the user.
• _Structure, Enclosure & Materials: The degree to which the set of selected building materials, components and systems and their proposed implementation are appropriate to the intended occupancy, articulate the desired architectural order, and satisfy the physical design requirements.
• _Environment: The degree to which the design integrates passive and active strategies to achieve enhanced performance.
• _[De-]Constructability: The degree to which the proposed building is informed and developed in response to an understanding of the processes of construction and de-construction or Design for Disassembly (DfD).
• _Presentation: The clarity, craft and completeness of the presentation(s).

Learning Objectives

Upon successful completion of this studio, you should be able to accomplish the following learning objectives:

• _translate a program into a building design that responds to user requirements
• _demonstrate the form making implications of structural systems
• _demonstrate the energetic implications of materials selection, enclosure systems and building form
• _integrate multiple systems to achieve elegance, efficiency and economy in design
• _ability to determine the best way to test and measure performance of systems
• _develop criteria for evaluating multiple design alternatives
• _draw technical documentation for the project using the conventions of architectural representation

Consultants:

As mentioned above, the 48-400 BIOS studio team has engaged studio consultants for structure, enclosure and MEP and individual studio instructors for each studio. Our consultants are:

• Structure: Juney Lee | Assistant Professor, CMU SoA
• Enclosure: Noah Burwell | Walter P. Moore, New York
• MEP: Pete Jefferson, PE | Branch Pattern, Pittsburgh

NAAB Criteria:

This studio has been developed to demonstrate NAAB Criterion SC.6:

• SC.6- Building Integration- How the program ensures that students develop the ability to make design decisions within architectural projects while demonstrating integration of building envelope systems and assemblies, structural systems, environmental control systems, life safety systems, and the measurable outcomes of building performance.

Readings & Reference

Important excerpts from the required books are here:

• Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
• The Guidebook to Zen & the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
• The Craftsman

The required books specific to this studio are:

• 48.400C Books

Courses Policies

Studio Schedule for Fall 2023

This studio will meet in MMCH 312 on Tuesday and Thursday of every week from 13:00 - 16:50. This ~four hour chunk of time is to encourage good working and learning habits. Arriving at or 13:15 or 13:30 and leaving by 16:30 is contrary to the development of effective work habits.

Speaking of good work habits, each team is required to make a weekly submission to Google Drive by 2359 every Sunday night documenting the work of that week. I will redmark these PDFs and return them to you bu close of business every Monday. NB. Check the calendar as there are a few exceptions to this rule.

My Schedule for Fall 2023

I am on phased retirement for one more year. As such, my load is one studio per semester. I will be splitting time between SoA and my practice, TAI+LEE, Architects PC. I plan to be in my campus office , MMCH 410G, before studio from 1200 to 1259 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. That being said, "my heart is in the work", so I am available just about anytime by mobile or zoom.

My preferred means of communication is email. I follow up on every message very quickly (ask former students). If you prefer, I will share my mobile phone number with you on the first day of class and then you are welcome to call or text (before midnight please!). I am a social media luddite, so I have NO presence whatsoever.

Communication

In coordination with email, we will be using Google Spaces for inter- and intra- studio communication. I will not use WhatsApp or Slack or Discord.

Software

The technical documentation for this studio MUST be prepared using ArchiCAD with BIMcloud as a Service using the architectural conventions that you have previously learned - the use of Adobe Illustrator is strictly prohibited and will result in a lowering of one's semester grade.
I will be conducting tutorials outside of class to introduce you to ArchiCAD and the BIMcloud. We are using BIMcloud so that each team will have ONE, and only ONE, shared model for their project. Multi-disciplinary team collaboration is the rule in architecture practice today. Now is a great chance to learn.

ArchiCAD supports formal design exploration and includes EcoDesigner, a resonable energy modeling tool. However, Climate Studio (CS) is a much more robust tool that goes beyond energy to include site analysis, point-in-time illuminance, daylight availability, annual glare, radiance render, thermal analysis, and radiation mapping. Given that CS is a plug-in for Rhino 7, we will explore the digital workflow from ArchiCAD to Rhino to CS and back.

Studio Miro Board

We will be using Miro to facilitate the chronological collection of design iterations and to enable effective crits and reviews, both locally and remotely. 48400C F23 Project. If you produce new work and want feedback outside of studio hours, post it to Miro and shoot me an email or text.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion:

I am committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment in the classroom. We must treat every individual with respect. We are diverse in many ways, and this diversity is fundamental to building and maintaining an equitable and inclusive campus community. Diversity can refer to multiple ways that we identify ourselves, including but not limited to race, color, national origin, language, sex, ability, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, creed, ancestry, belief, veteran status, or genetic information. Each of these diverse identities, along with many others not mentioned here, shape the perspectives our students, faculty, and staff bring to our campus. We, at CMU, will work to promote diversity, equity and inclusion not only because diversity fuels excellence and innovation, but because we want to pursue justice. We acknowledge our imperfections while we also fully commit to the work, inside and outside of our classrooms, of building and sustaining a campus community that increasingly embraces these core values.

Each of us is responsible for creating a safer, more inclusive environment.

Unfortunately, incidents of bias or discrimination do occur, whether intentional or unintentional. They contribute to creating an unwelcoming environment for individuals and groups at the university. Therefore, the university encourages anyone who experiences or observes unfair or hostile treatment on the basis of identity to speak out for justice and support, within the moment of the incident or after the incident has passed. If an incident occurs within our course or if you have ideas for creating a more inclusive culture in our course, we welcome you to share your concerns and ideas with us. You can also share these experiences using the following resources:

Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion: csdi@andrew.cmu.edu, (412) 268-2150

Report-It online anonymous reporting platform: reportit.net username: tartans password: plaid

All reports will be documented and deliberated to determine if there should be any following actions. Regardless of incident type, the university will use all shared experiences to transform our campus climate to be more equitable and just.

Student Wellness:

I am committed to supporting your learning and well being. Take care of yourself. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress. All of us benefit from support during times of struggle. There are many helpful resources available on campus and an important part of the college experience is learning how to ask for help. Asking for support sooner rather than later is almost always helpful. If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, weI strongly encourage you to seek support. Consider reaching out to a friend, faculty or family member you trust for help getting connected to the support that can help.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CaPS): 412-268-2922 or https://www.cmu.edu/counseling/Re:solve Crisis Network: 888-796-8226 If the situation is life threatening, call the police. On campus: CMU Police: x82323 Off campus: Pittsburgh Police: 911

Resources for Success:

The University provides a wide variety of resources to help you achieve the academic success for which you strive. You can view the programs here:

Student Success Programs

Google Calendar for the Course:

View and subscribe to the 48.400 (C) Google Calendar here: Calendar or using the hamburger menu above

Attendance & Deadlines:

Shared Syllabus

Absences:

Shared Syllabus

Academic Integrity:

Carnegie Mellon has established well-defined policies on this subject and it will govern this course.

• Academic Disciplinary Actions from the Word (https://www.cmu.edu/student-affairs/theword/academic-discipline/index.htmlLinks to an external site.)
• University Policy on Academic Integrity (https://www.cmu.edu/policies/student-and-student-life/academic-integrity.htmlLinks to an external site.)

...quoting the from the Policy on Academic Integrity:
"In any manner of presentation, it is the responsibility of each student to produce her/his own original academic work. Collaboration or assistance on academic work to be graded is not permitted unless explicitly authorized by the course instructor(s). Students may utilize the assistance provided by Academic Development, the Global Communication Center, and the Academic Resource Center (CMU-Q) unless specifically prohibited by the course instructor(s). Any other sources of collaboration or assistance must be specifically authorized by the course instructor(s). In all academic work to be graded, the citation of all sources is required. When collaboration or assistance is permitted by the course instructor(s) or when a student utilizes the services provided by Academic Development, the Global Communication Center, and the Academic Resource Center (CMU-Q), the acknowledgement of any collaboration or assistance is likewise required. This citation and acknowledgement must be incorporated into the work submitted and not separately or at a later point in time. Failure to do so is dishonest and is subject to disciplinary action. In this course, a single violation of this policy will result in the lowering of one's semester grade by one letter. Repeated violations will result in one failing the course. All violations will be reported to the department head."

Special Needs:

Students with any documented medical, psychological, or learning conditions that require special classroom accommodations should obtain a letter of accommodation for this studio from the Office of Disability Resources. Please submit copies of the letter to me as soon as possible, so that we may make the appropriate arrangements. In the event of any emergency or other special situations, please contact Heather Workinger Midgley - e: haw5@andrew.cmu.edu, v: (412) 268-1540 or in person in CFA212.

Conclusion:

If you have any questions, concerns or comments, please let us know. I am looking forward to a great semester.