Sample Course Descriptions
Net Zero House
Building Systems Integration
These are some of the courses offered
As a collaborative design intensive,
Students are introduced to building
within the Department of Architecture
students are invited from multiple
systems integration principles:
disciplines in design and research to
Building enclosure systems design —
Architectural Design VI—
develop preliminary schematic designs
Basic principles of building enclosure,
Design/Build Studio
for an affordable family house net-zero
how these basic principles are employed
This studio is a design/build intensive
in energy use and constructed with
in commonly used enclosure systems,
focusing on a design problem with
sustainable materials. Designed in
and how to coordinate (detail) the
a community partner to provide the
collaboration with students from the
interface between dissimilar enclosure
opportunity for students to design and
Solar Energy Engineering Department
system components.
construct a project as a full time experi-
at the University of Massachusetts,
Construction process impact on
ence in a single summer. This includes
Lowell, the course (a 5-course year-
design choices—Students examine the
developing an empathy for and sensitiv-
round sequence) is the primary vehicle
impact on design choices due to typical
ity to the requirements of a community
for students designing and building the
construction tolerances, sequencing
client through interviews, site observa-
solar house for the 2011 solar decathlon
and construction trade jurisdictions
tion and measuring, programming, and
competition in Washington DC. Taught
through case studies, monitoring and
presentation, while being exposed to
collaboratively by architects, sustainable
recording of buildings currently under
specifications, budgeting, cost control
engineers, and energy design profession-
construction in the area.
strategies, scheduling of a project
als, the course will focus on a house of
Human comfort, energy consump-
from design through construction, and
1000 square feet that produces, stores
tion and enclosure integration — Basic
developing construction documents.
and sells energy, powers its mechanical
elements of human comfort and explore
The studio is set up as a collaborative
systems, collects waste and rainwater
ways to design the building enclosure
experience in which the students direct
and has high insulation values, while
system to take advantage of natural
a design and construction process with
providing a “laboratory” framework
ventilation, day lighting, UV and solar
engineers, landscape architects and
for students to explore new concepts
radiation mitigation to minimize energy
other professionals in the community.
in sustainable design and construction.
consumption.
Students design systems of assembly in
Students develop a website to display
wood, metal and concrete, in a context
the course and competition process and
tion–Students examine how to mitigate
that encourages a thoughtful approach
outcomes, including marketing, fundrais-
various exterior loads on the building
to sustainable materials selection and
ing, design systems and fabrication of
enclosure system using techniques such
reuse. As the work progresses through
the house and its interior components
as building massing, site deployment,
construction, students develop design
and furnishings.
terrain, solar orientation, screening,
Building enclosure system integra-
and artisanry skills and are exposed to
landscape elements and fenestration
community building and leadership, with
deployment.
the hands-on experience of engineering and building systems.
“Architecture is inseparable from nature and landscape, its structural framework and the materials of its fabrication; it is enlivened by our inhabitation through path and place, and the enchantment of light. Centering around themes of craft and the environment, it is our goal to encourage our students to find a personal voice in their observations, in the building of community through collaboration, and in the construction of place.”
Pat t i S e itz
43