The fourth semester of architectural studies is concerned with the detailed development and refinement of architectural design as informed by the technical and aesthetic knowledge related to the meaning and usage of materials and the act of construction. This course focuses on the principles of building construction utilizing contemporary systems. Materials and Assembly, taught in parallel with the design studio and with Structures I, allows in-depth exploration of the fundamentals of contemporary construction systems, while the studio provides a simultaneous setting for the application of this knowledge. The materials science content of the course examines construction materials with regard to their process of manufacture, their physical properties, their environmental performance and their methods of selection and specification. The assembly content of this course examines the selection, design, preliminary sizing and methodology of construction systems in wood, masonry, steel, site-cast concrete and pre-cast concrete, including the applicable fundamentals of enclosure systems.
