Athletic Complex, Madrid, Spain. Nieto Sobejano Arquitectos.
- David Hume, A Treatise on Human Nature , 1739
- William Carlos Williams, A Sort of a Song , 1944

MATERIALS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION I
Belton. ARC 2461. Section 0375. Spring 2015.
Course + Instructor Information
ARC 2461. Materials and Methods of Construction 1. Section 0375.
Credits: 3. Prerequisite: Architecture Majors Only. Coreq: ARC 2304.
“The nature of materials used in construction. Criteria for evaluation and selection related to design decision-making.”
Instructor:
Office:
Email:
Tele:
Office Hours:
Stephen Belton, Assistant Professor of Architecture, Reg. Architect
Architecture Building, Room 238 sbelton@ufl.edu
(352) 392-0205 ext. 211
By appointment
( Note: Please email to make an appointment in advance)
TA:
E-Mail:
Carla Brisotto c.brisotto@ufl.edu
Course Meeting Days/Times:
Tuesday, periods 8 - 9 (3:00p – 4:55p) in RNK 110.
Thursday, period 9 (4:05p – 4:55p) in RNK 110.
Required Textbook:
Edward Allen and Joseph Iano
Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and Methods , 5th Edition
Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009
ISBN: 978-0-470-07468-8
Fundamentals of Building Construction is an good source for holistic connections between theory, history and practical application. It is of paramount import that you read the text thoroughly. You are responsible for ALL of the content of the text. The text is used as a guide; while it frames the class, it is not the sole source, and at times the lectures diverge based on in-class discussions, current situations in your studio or the need/desire to explain in detail certain concepts. There is also the possibility that we will have guest lecturers, often with short notice.
Course Objectives:
Materials and Methods of Construction I is structured to give the student of architecture a conceptual, theoretical and technical base for the inventive, creative and responsible use of materials associated with the built environment. The course covers not only the systemic relationships between constructional aspects of conventional materials, but also the historical and theoretical underpinnings of their contemporary adaptations and the importance of a sustainable position towards their use.
Page 2 of 6
NAAB Student Performance Criteria + Learning Goals:
The course specifically addresses the following NAAB Student Performance Criteria:
 Building Envelope Systems (#21): Understanding of the basic principles and appropriate application and performance of building envelope materials and assemblies.
 Building Materials and Assemblies (#24): Understanding of the basic principles and appropriate application and performance of construction materials, products, components, and assemblies, including their environmental impact and reuse.
In the context of NAAB Criteria, “understanding” means “the assimilation and comprehension of information without necessarily being able to see its full implication.”
Lecture Format
Each class is typically presented in lecture format with images presented in parallel
PowerPoint slides. The lecture is based on the text, but content will shift based on particular questions and conversations that may arise from students during the course of the lecture. This means that you must be attentive and a meticulous note-taker. It is quite possible that the content of a particular discussion will be used to frame a pop-quiz, or, be found as a test question within a scheduled exam.
Note: Cell phones and PDA’s must be turned off during class and exams. You will be asked to leave if you send and/or receive calls or text messages.
Exams, Quizzes, and Make-up Exams
There will be three (2) scheduled exams. Each exam is worth 25%, for a total of 50%.
Unannounced quizzes will be given throughout the semester for extra credit and as a means of recording attendance. Four group assignments will be assigned, each worth
5%. A final paper/project will be worth 20%. Quizzes may at times cover materials in the readings due on a certain date that have not yet been covered in lecture, so it is to your advantage to do the readings on or before the dates they are to be discussed in class.
Make-up exams will be scheduled only for those students who miss an exam due to emergency medical issues or a death in the family. Signed notes from physicians will be required to excuse any absence and schedule a make-up exam. It is the student’s responsibility to secure these and provide them to the faculty within five days of a missed exam. Students will receive a grade of 0% (letter grade “E”) for any exams which are missed due to unexcused absences.

MATERIALS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION I
Belton. ARC 2461. Section 0375. Spring 2015.
Project + Paper
In addition to the exams and quizzes, 4 group analysis project, each accounting for 5% of your grade, and an individual final paper worth 15% of your final grade will be assigned.
The creation of groups for the analysis project will be an opportunity you to study in groups as well for the exams.
Attendance
Attendance is mandatory and will account for 10% of your total grade. Unexcused absences are non-negotiable. Unannounced quizzes will be used to record attendance, and will be used at the beginning, middle, or end of the class, at the discretion of the faculty. Arriving to class late or leaving class early will be considered as an absence.
It is the student’s responsibility to notify the faculty prior to missing class. Signed notes from physicians will be required to excuse any absences. Students will be required to secure these and provide them to the faculty prior to the date of the Exams.
Grades
The final grade will be determined by the following percentages:
Exam 1:
Exam 2:
Group Project 1
Group Project 2
25%
25%
5%
5%
Group Project 3
Group Project 4
5%
5%
Final Paper/Project 20%
Attendance 10%
Total 100%
Because the grade is distributed throughout the semester, and extra credit will not be given at the end, the structure of the class requires you to be up to date with the material throughout the semester in order to do well. Grades will follow a 100-percent scale, with a 100 percent being the highest numeric grade awarded (exclusive of any bonus points offered and/or earned). Letter grades will be issued according to the following percent scale:
A
A -
B+
93 – 100%
90 – 92%
87 – 89%
B - 80 – 82%
C+ 77 – 79%
C 73 – 76%
C - 70 – 72%
D+ 67 – 69%
D 63 – 66%
D - 60 – 62%
E 0 – 59% B 83 – 86%
The current UF grading policies for assigning grade points can be found at http://www.registrar.ufl.edu/catalog/policies/regulationgrades.html
. An incomplete
Page 3 of 6 grade may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor as an interim grade only in cases of extreme extenuating circumstances. Note that the incomplete grade must be resolved prior to enrolling in Materials and Methods of Construction II.
Academic Honesty
The University of Florida maintains a student honor code regarding cheating and use of copyrighted materials produced by others. Specific policies can be found at: http://www.dso.ufl.edu/judicial/honorcode.php
.
All students are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with the highest standards of academic integrity. Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated. Note that presentation of photo identification (UF ID, state-issued driver’s license, or passport) will be required on exam dates. Any student who submits plagiarized work will receive a failing grade for the course and be subjected to further disciplinary action as outlined in the student honor code.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
Students requesting classroom accommodation must first register with the Dean of
Students Office. The Dean of Students Office will provide documentation to the student who must then provide this documentation to the Instructor when requesting accommodation. Students must contact the professor within the first 2 weeks of the semester to discuss needed accommodations.
Counseling + Emergency Contacts
Police / Fire / Medical Emergency: 911
University Police Department (UPD): 392-1111
Student Mental Health Services: 392-1171, http://www.shcc.ufl.edu/smhs/index2.shtml
After-hours urgent mental health questions: (352) 392-1575
Alachua County Crisis Center (24 hrs/day), 264-6789
Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center (24hrs/day), 264-6760
Shands Hospital (Emergency Room), 265-0050
Dean of Students Office: 392-1261
Student Health Care Center: 392-1161
Ombudsman Office: 392-1308
Victim Services: 392-5648
Center for Sexual Assault / Abuse Recovery Education (CARE), 392-1161 x.4362
Student Nighttime Auxiliary Patrol (SNAP) free transportation, 392-SNAP
Career Resource Center, Reitz Union, 392-1601
Alcohol & Other Drug Programs: 392-1161, x4281
Housing & Residence Education: 392-2161

MATERIALS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION I
Belton. ARC 2461. Section 0375. Spring 2015.
Schedule: Topic Sequence + Required Readings
M
WEEK 01 1/5
WEEK 02 1/12 Last Day of Drop/Add
WEEK 03 1/19 HOLIDAY
Martin Luther King, Jr.
WEEK 04 1/26 `
WEEK 05 2/2
GROUP CASE STUDY 1
5:00p / Canvas Website
T
1/6 01: Introduction + Outline
Materiality as a Concept
02: Arch. Practice + Case Study
(Allen Chapter 1)
1/13 04: Site + Foundations
(Allen Chapter 2)
05: Wood 1
(Allen Chapter 3)
1/20 07: Wood: Light Frame Constr.
(Allen Chapter 5)
08: Masonry: Brick
(Allen Chapter 8)
1/27 10: Masonry Wall Construction
(Allen Chapter 10)
W
1/7
1/14
1/21
1/28
11: Steel Frame Construction
(Allen Chapter 11)
2/3 SITE VISIT/INNOVATION HUB 2/4
Th
1/8 03: Systemic Relationships,
Structure, and Tectonic Logics
F
1/9
1/15 06: Wood: Heavy Timber
(Allen Chapter 4)
1/16
1/22 09: Masonry: Stone + Concrete
(Allen Chapter 9)
1/23
Page 4 of 6
1/29 12: European Masonry and
Wood Systems / Carla Brisotto
1/30
2/5 13: Steel Frame Construction
Case Study (Allen Chapter 11)
2/6
WEEK 06
GROUP CASE STUDY 2
5:00p / Canvas Website
WEEK 07 2/16 MRP MIDTERM REVIEWS
WEEK 08
2/9
2/23
Group Project Due
5pm / ARC 238
WEEK 09 3/2 HOLIDAY
Spring Break
2/10 14: Light Gauge Steel Frames
(Allen Chapter 12)
15: Concrete Construction
(Allen Chapter 13)
2/17 17: Concrete: Precast Systems
(Allen Chapter 15)
18: Exam #1 Review
(Allen Chapters 1 - 5, 8 - 10)
2/24 EXAM #1
Materials & Methods 1
3:00p – 4:55p
2/11
2/18
2/25
3/3 HOLIDAY
Spring Break
NO CLASS
3/4 HOLIDAY
Spring Break
2/12 16: Concrete: Sitecast Systems
(Allen Chapter 14)
2/19 D6 CHARLESTON TRIP
NO CLASS
2/26 19: Guest Lecture - 2015 Solar
Decathlon Presentation
2/13
2/20
2/27
3/5 HOLIDAY
Spring Break
NO CLASS
3/6 HOLIDAY
Spring Break
* Note: Instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course schedule.

MATERIALS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION I
Walters. ARC 2461. Section 0375. Spring 2011.
Schedule + Topic Sequence (continued)
M
WEEK 10 3/9
T
3/10 SITE VISIT/REITZ UNION
WEEK 11 3/16
GROUP CASE STUDY 3
5:00p / Canvas Website
WEEK 12 3/23
WEEK 13 3/30
GROUP CASE STUDY 4
5:00p / Canvas Website
WEEK 14 4/6
WEEK 15 4/13 PIN-UP
WEEK 16 4/20 STUDIO REVIEWS
WEEK 17 4/27 Exams
No Classes
WEEK 18 5/4 Grades Due
W
3/11
3/17 21: Glass and Glazing
(Allen Chapter 17)
22: Windows and Doors
(Allen Chapter 18)
3/24 24: Masonry + Conc. Cladding
(Allen Chapter 20)
25: Metal + Glass Cladding
(Allen Chapter 21)
3/31 SITE VISIT/BRAIN INSTITUTE or
CHEMISTRY BLDG.
3/18
3/25
4/1
4/7 28: Int. Walls, Ceilings, + Floors
(Allen Chapter 24)
29: Sustainability in Practice,
LEED, and Cradle-to-Cradle
4/14 PIN-UP
NO CLASS
4/8 D4 FINAL REVIEW
4/15 PIN-UP
4/21 EXAM #2
Materials & Methods 1
3:00p – 4:55p
4/22 STUDIO REVIEWS
Last Day of Classes
4/28 Exams
No Classes
5/5
FINAL PAPER/PROJECT DUE
5:00p / Canvas Website
4/29 Exams
No Classes
5/6
Page 5 of 6
Th F
3/12 20: Building Enclosure + Roofing
(Allen Chapter 16)
3/13
3/19 23: Exterior Wall Systems
(Allen Chapter 19)
3/20
3/26 26: Exterior Finishes for WFLC
(Allen Chapter 6)
3/27
4/2 27: Intstallations
(Allen Chapter 23)
Koolhaas – “Last Apples”
4/3
4/9 30: Review for Exam #2
(Allen Chapters 1, 6, 7, 19 - 24)
4/10
Last Day to Withdraw or Drop without Failing Grade
4/16 PIN-UP
NO CLASS
PRELIM. PAPER/PROJECT DUE
5:00P / Canvas Website
4/17 PIN-UP
4/23 CURRICULUM REVIEW MTG.
END OF YEAR EXHIBITION
Reading Day
No Classes
4/24 CURRICULUM REVIEW MTG.
END OF YEAR EXHIBITION
Reading Day
No Classes
4/30 Exams
No Classes
5/1 Exams
No Classes
5/7 5/8
`
* Note: Instructor reserves the right to make changes to this syllabus and course schedule.

MATERIALS AND METHODS OF CONSTRUCTION I
Walters. ARC 2461. Section 0375. Spring 2011.
Supplemental Resources + References
Allen, Edward and Joseph Iano. Fundamentals of Building Construction: Materials and
Methods. 5th Edition. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2009.
Allen, Edward, and Joseph Iano. The Architect's Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for
Preliminary Design. New York: Wiley, 2002. <AFA NA2750 .A556 2002>
Allen, Edward, and Patrick Rand. Architectural Detailing: Function, Constructibility,
Aesthetics. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, 2007. <AFA NA2840 .A38 2007>
Allen, Stan. Practice: Architecture, Technique + Representation. London ; New York:
Routledge, 2009. <AFA NA2500 .A454 2009>
Aranda, Benjamin, and Chris Lasch. Tooling. New York: Princeton Architectural Press,
2006. <AFA NA2728 .A58 2006>
Auer, Thomas et. al. Facades: Principles of Construction. Basel: Birkhauser, 2007.
Balmond, Cecil, Jannuzzi Smith, and Christian Brensing. Informal. Munich: Prestel, 2002.
Bergdoll, Barry, Peter Christensen, and Ron Broadhurst. Home Delivery: Fabricating the
Modern Dwelling. New York: Museum of Modern Art, 2008.
Botond Bognar. Kengo Kuma : Selected Works. New York : Princeton Architectural Press, c2005. <AFA NA1559.K77 A4 2005>
Brownell, Blaine Erickson. Transmaterial: A Catalog of Materials That Redefine Our
Physical Environment. New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2006. <AFA TA403.6
.T15 2006
Ching, Francis D.K. Building Construction Illustrated. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons,
2008. <AFA TH146 .C52 2008>
Ching, Francis D.K., and Steven R. Winkel. Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to
Understanding the 2009 International Building Code. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley &
Sons, 2009. <AFA TH420 .C49 2009>
Construction Specifications Institute. The Project Resource Manual: CSI Manual of
Practice. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2005. <AFA TH420 .P76 2005>
Deplazes, Andrea. Constructing Architecture: Materials, Processes, Structures, a
Handbook. Basel: Birkha user, 2005. <AFA TA403.6 .C659 2005>
Ford, Edward R. The Details of Modern Architecture. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1990.
<AFA NA2840 .F67 1990>
Frampton, Kenneth, and John Cava. Studies in Tectonic Culture: The Poetics of
Construction in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Architecture. Cambridge, Mass: MIT
Press, 1995. <AFA NA642 .F72 1995>
Page 6 of 6
Grunenberg, Christoph, and Sheila Kennedy. KVA: Material Misuse. Architecture landscape urbanism, 4. London: Architectural Association, 2001. <AFA NA737.K45 A4
2001>
Holl, Steven. Anchoring: Selected Projects, 1975-1991. New York, NY: Princeton
Architectural Press, 1991. <AFA NA737.H56 A4 1991>
Jackson, Neil. The Modern Steel House. London: E & FN Spon, 1996. <AFA NA7180
.J331 1996>
Kieran, Stephen, and James Timberlake. Refabricating Architecture: How Manufacturing
Methodologies Are Poised to Transform Building Construction. New York: McGraw-Hill,
2004. <AFA TH213.5 .K54 2004>
Kieran, Stephen, and James Timberlake. Manual, the Architecture of KieranTimberlake.
New York: Princeton Architectural Press, 2002. <AFA NA737.K49 K53 2002>
Leatherbarrow, David and Moshen Mostafavi. On Weathering: The Life of Buildings in
Time. Cambridge, MA: The MIT Press, 1997.
Pallasmaa, Juhani. The Eyes of the Skin: Architecture and the Senses. Chichester: Wiley-
Academy, 2005. <AFA NA2500 .P35 2005>
Porphyrios, Demetri. Sources of Modern Eclecticism: Studies on Alvar Aalto. London:
Academy Editions, St. Martin’s Press, 1982.
Pressman, Andy. Architectural Graphic Standards. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons,
2007. <AFA TH2031 .A84 2007>
Reiser, Jesse, and Nanako Umemoto. Atlas of Novel Tectonics. New York: Princeton
Architectural Press, 2006. <AFA NA2760 .R45 2006>
Ruskin, John, and J. G. Links. The Stones of Venice. New York: Da Capo Press, 2003. <AFA
NA1121.V4 R7 2003>
Semper, Gottfried. The Four Elements of Architecture and Other Writings. RES monographs in anthropology and aesthetics. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge
University Press, 1989. <AFA NA2500 .S46 1989>
Simmons, H. Leslie. Olin’s Construction: Principles, Materials, and Methods. Eighth
Edition. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons Inc., 2007.
Spuybroek, Lars. Research & Design: The Architecture of Variation. New York: Thames &
Hudson, 2009. <AFA NA2750 .R43 2009>
Ursprung, Philip. Herzog & De Meuron: Natural History. Montre al: Canadian Centre for
Architecture, 2002. < NA1353.H47 A4x 2002b>