Courses

All courses carry 3 credits unless otherwise specified.

500 Graduate Design Studio I
Introduction to architectural design. Studio projects consist of basic architectural problems to which student must respond with designed solution. The exploration of how a project is generated through careful attention to program and site.  Prerequisites:  Admission to MArch program. Credit, 6

501 Graduate Design Studio II
Introduction to architectural design studio projects consist of basic architectural problems to which students must respond with designed solution. Studio projects emphasize the evolution of a project through careful attention to program and site. Emphasis on acquiring the skills necessary to communicate design intention. Credit, 6

510 Furniture Technology and Design
Furniture design in drafting and sketch models only. One-of-a-kind and mass produced furniture, free-standing and built-in architectural woodwork. Advanced drafting and small-scale sketch model making. Three furniture design projects in presentation drawings and/or models, plus materials and methods research, field trips and special lectures. Limited to B.F.A. Design majors, MS Design and MArch majors.

520 Building Physics I
Studio and lecture. Energy conservation in contemporary residential construction. Emphasis on: energy efficient building materials, products and construction technology; alternative energy sources; passive solar design; environmental concerns, regulatory issues and building codes.  Limited to MArch, MS Design majors.

540 Analysis and Representation I
Visual communication skills necessary and related to architectural design presentation. Various media are explored, including model making and digital media. Limited to B.F.A. Design, MArch, MS Design majors.

541 Analysis and Representation II
Visual communication skills necessary and related to architectural design presentation.

550 Tectonics I
Analysis and review of the entire light-frame construction process, from regulation and design through site preparation, project management, and ultimate delivery of a completed structure. Limited to MArch and MS Design majors

597C - ST-Building Conservation I
The intent of this course is to develop a general understanding of how to investigate historic buildings; including the analysis the existing conditions of a building's materials and systems. We will then examine the interaction between the building and the outside forces acting on it. Finally we will evaluate and develop methods for restoring buildings.  To achieve these goals, students will develop and reinforce knowledge of: buildings, building materials and systems (cladding, structural, HVAC, MEP), investigation and analysis, and repair materials and methods.  This course will focus on buildings and materials in use prior to the 20th century.

597D - ST-History & Theory of Preservation
Examines the history and theory of historic preservation, focusing on the United States, but with reference to traditions and practices in other countries. The class is designed to examine the largely untold history of the historic preservation movement in this country, and explore what laws, public policies and cultural attitudes shape how we preserve or do not preserve the built environment.

597E - ST-American Building 17th-20th Centuries
This course is a graduate survey of the American building tradition from the 17th century to 1960. Primarily a lecture course, the classes will be supplemented by site visits to historic buildings in the region. The course will go beyond standard and simple stylistic and chronological analysis to include an investigation of building methods, and the organization of the building industry over time.

597F - ST-Researching Historic Structures
Student will be introduced to methods for determining, the age, occupation, and physicals changes to historic buildings using, documents, maps, legal records, and the physical evidence provided by the building itself. Students will be introduced to the various methods of recording a building and will learn to prepare field notes and develop measured drawings. This course will teach students how to "read" a building and produce an historic structures report.

597G - ST-Building Conservation II
The intent of this course is to develop a general understanding of how to investigate historic buildings; including the analysis the existing conditions of a building's materials and systems. We will then examine the interaction between the building and the outside forces acting on it. Finally we will evaluate and develop methods for restoring buildings.  To achieve these goals, students will develop and reinforce knowledge of: buildings, building materials and systems (cladding, structural, HVAC, MEP), investigation and analysis, and repair materials and methods. This course will focus on materials and building types introduced in the 20th century.

597J - ST-Traditional Trades & Craftsmanship
Through hands-on application, students will work with historic building materials to learn traditional construction techniques and crafts. Course will involve fieldwork at Hancock Shaker Village and Eastfield Village  NY.

597Q - ST-Building Science and Environmental Control Systems
Students will be introduced to the fundamental concepts of building science in the realms of structure, enclosure, moisture management, thermal dynamics, and acoustics - as well their specific application in the context of high-performance low-impact building technologies. Through lecture, discussion, research, and design application, students will evaluate different strategies and systems supportive of a holistic approach to building performance design, particularly in regard to their application in a cold climate.

597RD - ST-Riverscaping Design/Build Workshop
Students will work in small team to construct small-scale project, the winner of the Riverscaping competition, in Hadley. Students will be introduced to various methodologies of translating design ideas into built form. Particular emphasis will be placed on the process of collaborating as a group, including a variety of perspectives and conceptual approaches, and incorporating the ongoing building process.

597RE - ST-Introduction to Sketchup and Revit
Students gain an understanding of the concepts of the industry's leading 3D architectural modeling software. Building Information Modeling (BIM) concepts and advantages will be discussed throughout the course. Students learn command concepts for creating 3D BIM models and how this model is used for automatic creation of floor plans, elevations, sections, and many other tedious drafting tasks. The course text takes you through a tutorial approach to create a model and learn the input commands of the software, yet allows the student to explore the software more fully. Instructor input is given throughout the course in order to incorporate various additional topical areas not covered within the text.

597T - ST-Ecological and Social Justice in the Built Environment
Through readings, discussion, field trips, interviews, and lectures, students will gain insight into emerging theories that address ecological concerns and social justice in the built environment. Students will be challenged to develop metrics and positions on these movements and the potentials for their integration. Additionally, students will assess the impacts of development on human health, community, and the natural environment in order to take action in the field.

597V - ST-Social and Historical Context of Northeast Built Enviroment
This course fundamentally explores the value of emphasizing the integration of the local and regional history and environment into design and build practices. Surveying building and development practices located in present-day Northeastern region of the United States and Quebec, students will practice reading the built environment for social, historical, economic, and ecological factors that influenced its development over the last 10,000 years.

597VF - ST-Voices from the Field
Construction site tours and firm visits to expose students to the nuances of the construction process-- knowledge typically attained after graduation. By examining active projects throughout the region, students will learn about the relationship between concept and technical design, develop an understanding of construction sequences, and become familiar with the architect's role in construction administration. During site visits, students will also get the chance to compare documentation to projects in construction.

597VG - ST-Voices From the Field II
Construction site tours and firm visits to expose students to the nuances of the construction process-- knowledge typically attained after graduation. By examining active projects throughout the region, students will learn about the relationship between concept and technical design, develop an understanding of construction sequences, and become familiar with the architect's role in construction administration. During site visits, students will also get the chance to compare documentation to projects in construction.

597VT - Special Topics- History of Vermont
Students will be introduced to the vernacular architecture of northern New England and the history of the design/build movement of the latter half of the 20th century.

597W - ST-Design Studio
Students will work individually, in small teams, and as a group to design a project to be built during the semester. Students will be introduced to various methodologies of translating design ideas into forms of visual representation, including drawings and models. They will hone their research, critical thinking, and presentation skills as they grapple with the various environmental and cultural influences that must be addressed when creating a design.

597X - ST-Integrative Building Systems, Materials, and Methods
Students will experience the Yestermorrow Design/Build Semester's multi-disciplinary curriculum as an integrated whole: lectures, site work, seminars, discussions and studio work are designed to reinforce and complement each other, while informing the group design/build project.

600 Graduate Design Studio III
Projects developed and presented by student with individual attention from instructor. Each project reviewed by open jury system with visiting critics. Readings from texts and journals. Design projects, sketch problems. Credit, 6

601 Graduate Design Studio IV
The studio focuses on advanced topics in architectural design, which increase in complexity from topics in 402 and may run the course of the semester. Several complex planning and design projects. Emphasis on refined planning and presentation techniques. Credit, 6

602 Graduate Design Studio V
Comprehensive projects focus on complex design issues dealing with building systems. Credit, 6

610 - Material Research & Design
Lecture. Budgeting, professional practices, portfolio and interview procedures. Resources and materials, strategies for success (marketing and financial business structure) and field trips. Emphasis on the awareness of individual professional image and role within the profession. Requires use of New York or Boston showrooms for budget problem development.  Prerequisite: Design sequence through ART 350.

620 - Building Physics II
The importance of light in shaping the physical environment. Developing a lighting plan. Lecture topics include the physics of light and color, basic electricity, the characteristics of different lamp sources and the psychological impact of lighting. Field trip to view successful lighting installations.

630 - Philosophy of Arch & Design
Lectures, discussions and practicum sessions.  This course is an intensive reading and writing course on the central theories and philosophies shaping architectural discourse in the 20th and 21st centuries, with an emphasis on the past forty years.

650 Tectonics II
Introduction to the mechanical behavior of building materials.  Basic structural concepts, including statics and strength of materials, are addressed in a practical hands-on manner.

652 Building Physics III
With studio. Introductory course in the science of energy and moisture transfer and acoustical performance of buildings. Lectures followed by drawing assignments. Limited to MArch and MS Design majors.

653 Tectonics III
Explores interrelation between building functions, loads, structural system, materials and construction methods of predominantly large-scale buildings and other structures made of steel, concrete, engineered wood and masonry.

654 - Furniture Tech Design
Furniture design with studio, lecture, and field trip components, with the intent to examine and experiment with the making of furniture in the context of decorative arts, design, technology, and industrial processes.

660 Professional Practice
Introduction to issues affecting the operation of a professional design/architecture office: managing a project, contracts, marketing, scheduling, personnel, leadership, interpersonal communication, human behavior, finance, budgeting, and ethical and legal considerations.

670 Research Forum
Design criticism, current design literature, human/environment problems, design education, sociology of design, energy conservation through design, etc. Students prepare a program for Masters Project.

697C - ST-AutoCAD
Focus on producing a range of drawings on the computer; plans, sections, elevations, details, and perspectives using Auto-CAD.

697K - ST-Green Building & Historical Preservation
The design of this course is to examine the impact that buildings have on our environment, of how a building uses energy, of how energy flows within a building are quantified, and how building science and construction techniques control those flows. With that understanding in place the course will apply that knowledge to the unique demands of the wards of Historic Preservation whose both provenance and irreplaceable contribution to our historic legacy impose specific preservation requirements concerning architectural aesthetics, fabric, texture, and usage. A grasp of these principles and applications will provide valuable and necessary tools for future caretakers of our built legacy.

697L - ST-Structure and Mechanical Systems
This course is a summary of the history of engineered buildings, including the reasons for technological developments in the context of architecture of the times. The distinctive properties of materials, methods of identification of obsolete construction, and the view of building-wide systems rather than isolated pieces are emphasized. Issues of general construction history, such as the role of scientific investigations and experimentation, are discussed using specific examples.

697M - ST-Architectural Materials Testing
Introduce students to the testing methods used to define, classify and assess of stone, concrete, architectural terra cotta, brick and mortar, paint, as it pertains to buildings, and metals. The goal is to learn how to identify materials, classify conditions and develop treatment options. The course will be a combination of short lectures and experiments.

697N - ST-Cultural Resource Management
This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of Cultural Resource Management. Cultural Resource Management (CRM) is the contemporary term for how remnants of the past are identified and preserved by an array of public history professionals. We will examine the relationship between the desire to safeguard the physical record of human history, the ethics of preservation, and legislative compliance. This course will explore questions about why we preserve some things and not others, how those resources are defined, documented and assessed, and who is involved in the process. In particular, students will gain an introduction to the legal contexts that shape the preservation of cultural resources. Topics will include the history of historic preservation, including the most significant legislation of the 20th and 21st century; and the legal and scholarly contexts that affect the management of cultural resources today in both private institutions and federal and state agencies.

697P - ST-Architectural Materials Testing II
Introduce students to the testing methods used to define, classify and assess stone, concrete, architectural terra cotta, brick and mortar, paint, as it pertains to buildings, and metals. The goal is to learn how to identify materials, classify conditions and develop treatment options. The course will be a combination of short lectures and experiments.

697R - Special Topics- Preservation Capstone
This course, for M.S. preservation students, will prepare a historic structures report and develop alternative uses for a historic building.

700 - Integration Studio
Professional design procedures consisting of complete design solutions from inception to completion of project. Course develops an understanding of the production of construction documents as a part of the whole design process.
Prerequisites: ARCH-DES 602 (Formerly ART 657)

Other courses are listed under the collaborating departments of Art, Art History, Building and Construction Technology, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning, and Mechanical Engineering.