Arch334
Spring 2015
Arch334 Computer Applications in Architecture
Spring 2015, 3 credits, Section 1
Instructor:
Office:
Email address:
WWW course page:
Meeting time & place:
Office hours:
Chiu-Shui Chan, Ph.D., Professor of Architecture/VRAC/HCI
482, College of Design (4-8326)
cschan@iastate.edu
http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cschan/334/334.html.
Tu. & Th: 12:40:-2 pm, Rm. #440 DC, PC Lab
Tu. & Th: 2:00-3:00 pm
Students with Disabilities:
Iowa State University is committed to assuring that all educational activities are free from
discrimination and harassment based on disability status. All students requesting accommodations are
required to meet with staff in Student Disability Resources (SDR) to establish eligibility. A Student
Academic Accommodation Request (SAAR) form will be provided to eligible students. The provision of
reasonable accommodations in this course will be arranged after timely delivery of the SAAR form to the
instructor. Students are encouraged to deliver completed SAAR forms as early in the semester as
possible. SDR, a unit in the Dean of Students Office, is located in room 1076, Student Services Building
or online at www.dso.iastate.edu/dr/. Contact SDR by e-mail at disabilityresources@iastate.edu or by
phone at 515-294-7220 for additional information.
1. Background:
The application of digital technology in architecture is necessary and unavoidable, given its
ubiquity and widespread effects on architectural practice, teaching, and research. Along with the rapid
development in computer software and hardware, digital technology has rapidly advanced from the early
concept of computer-aided design (CAD) to the current operation of digital architecture, and from the use
of AutoCAD in 1982 to the use of Building Information Modeling (BIM) in 1997 by ArchiCAD.
Gradually, Autodesk Company has devoted and promoted the Revit system to allow the usage of BIM,
which currently dominates the design profession.
In the 21st century, furthermore, the Internet will also provide many different mechanisms for
everyday life, such as online shopping (e-Bay), banking (ATMs and online banking), communication (email), education (online teaching), library use (e-library, Amazon), search (Google), and recreation
(games, music, YouTube). Consequently, the Internet significantly influences the areas of finance,
business, stock operation, industrial management, and research. Therefore, the use of the Internet and the
development of information technology will ultimately shape a new information culture for this new
century.
2. Objectives:
This course will cover several concepts of computational media as used in design, and based on the
significance of digital architecture in BIM as well as its utility in Internet applications. The concepts are
organized as a series of exercises to be carried out directly in the computers. Each exercise will
progressively introduce both more advanced issues in design and their corresponding computing
applications. Objectives of this course are fivefold: (1) to explore methods of constructing Web pages;
(2) to explore major concepts of human computer interfaces; (3) to learn concepts of BIM through Revit
(Architecture) 2015; (4) to exercise methods of modeling, lighting, and rendering in the Revit system;
and (5) to understand the methods of developing construction schedules or documents.
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The goal of this course is to learn skills sufficient to operate BIM in design representation, to use
the Internet for displaying design thoughts and models on the Web, and to develop some concepts
regarding the manipulation of computers as design tools.
3. Assignments:
There are four homework assignments, which are designed to familiarize you with software
applications. Since you will learn design methods in other courses, the assignments focus on
computational aspects of computer-aided design (CAD). The following assignments, depending upon the
level of difficulty and time consumed, will have different weights.
*Assignment #1:
*Assignment #2-1:
*Assignment #2-2:
*Assignment #3:
*Assignment #4:
*Lab exercises:
15 points – Web page design & research on digital model
10 points – ACAD 2D drawing for site plan
20 points – Apply ACAD 2D for Revit site modeling
30 points – Revit modeling and rendering
15 points – Documentation and scheduling
10 points – In class hands-on exercises
4. Class attendance
Class attendance is critical for the final grade. More than three unexcused absences during the
course of the semester may either result in the reduction of the semester grade, or fail the course.
Please turn off your cell phone in the class. It is not respectful to answer cell phone calls or send text
message in class.
5. Final Grade:
All assignments will be due on the date shown in the class schedule on page 4. It is recommended
to place all the required materials in a folder, put your name on the folder and hand it in. Late
submissions will not be accepted, and no incomplete will be given. Please do assignments by carefully
following the criteria and accomplishing the requirements listed on handouts. Any missing part will lose
points. The final grade is in proportion to the effort spent on the assignments and the participation in the
class. It is totaled from the assignment scores, and determined roughly by the combination of the
following scale and the score distribution:
90 and up:
80 and up:
70 and up:
60 and up:
Below 60:
A
B
C
D
F
Note: Submitting plagiarized work is a violation of personal and academic integrity. The issue I am
addressing here is an issue of basic integrity and academic honor that needs to be respected in an
academic community.
6. Technical Information:
Software and Hardware: We shall use publicly available software throughout the term. All
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Arch334
Spring 2015
assignments can be completed on machines located in the Design Center or at home if you
have your own machine and software. There are on-line helps and references available in
each system, which provide detailed explanations on each commands and functions.
Classroom and Lab: The class will meet every Tuesday and Thursday for 90 minutes. The
PC-CAD Lab will open most of the time throughout the semester. Please check with the lab
monitors to find out schedule details.
Student Responsibilities: Please handle the equipment with care and report all problems to the
monitor in charge. Always keep two copies of your work -- one is used as a working copy, the other
one is for a backup. Also save and backup your work every 30 minutes. This will avoid problems
that may arise in a software error, machine crash, or power failure. Otherwise, you might
accidentally have a bad dream.
Computer Ethics:
1. Please delete your personal files from the desktop each time before you leave or logout the
machine. This will protect the privacy/copyright of your own models.
2. If you changed or redefined the environment setting of the software system, please change it back
to its original value after you finished your work before you leave. This will avoid confusing
other users' work – because the environmental settings will be kept in the system per machine.
7. General Guidelines:
1. A cardinal rule of computing is, "If you don't know how to do something, find it out from
manuals, textbooks, or some trials." Usually, manuals and textbooks provide detailed step-bystep guides and procedures. Trials with thoughts may enhance problem solving ability, although
wild guessing may sometimes cause problems.
2. All assignments shall be due on the dates noted on this handout. Extensions will not be given
primarily because that extension will affect your work and participation in other parts of the
course.
3. Back up your work and save your files every 30 minutes.
4. Each lab exercise is required to be loaded to K drive / 334 folder, which will be used as a part of
final grade evaluation.
8. Textbook and Suggested Reading:
The text book is "Mastering Autodesk Revit Architecture 2015" by Eddy Krygiel and James
Vandezande, Sybex Publishing, ISBN-13: 978-1118862858
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Revit page: http://www.autodesk.com/products/revit-family/overview. This page provides various
information on hardware and software relating to the application of Revit.
Online help and user guides: http://help.autodesk.com/view/RVT/2015/ENU/ - a WikiHelp
window with tips & video for versions 2015.
Information about Revit family/objects: http://revit.autodesk.com/library/html/index.html. All the
library items could be found through the Autodesk Seek search engine. Its Web address is:
http://seek.autodesk.com/.
Another resourceful place that could download Revit families, ask questions and share ideas is
Revit city, its Web address is: http://www.revitcity.com/index.php, or
http://www.revitcity.com/gallery.php. Use Google search to find more related families.
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Video tutorial clips, which are useful for beginners and some are free, could be found on the Web
at: http://www.lynda.com/.
Some good ACAD/Revit models and examples of homework assignments done previously are
provided on the Web at: http://www.public.iastate.edu/~cschan/334/334.html.
9. Tentative Class Schedule (will be changed as necessary)
January 13
Lect 1:
Course introduction
--Web page setup
--HTML example
January 15
Lect 2:
Intro to Web
-- Web page set up
-- Dreamweaver
Assignment 1 issued
January 20
Lect 3:
-- Dreamweaver
-- Upload files
January 22
Work session
January 27
Assignment 1 due
January 29
Lect 4:
--Concept of Layer
-- Block and drawing
February 3
Lect 5:
-- ACAD Interface
February 5
Lect 6:
-- Concept of BIM
February 10
Lect 7:
Revit Modeling
--Setup
February 12
Lect 8:
-- Revit grid pattern
Assignment 2 issued
February 17
Lect 9:
-- Revit site studies
February 19
Lect 10:
-- Revit site modeling
March 5
Lect 14:
-- Door family
March 10
Lect 15:
--Wall & Stair
March 24
Assignment 2 due
March 26
Lect 17:
--Roof
February 24
Lect 11:
-- Modeling edit
-- Project site due.
March 12
Lect 16:
--Railing & structure
February 26
Lect 12:
-- Revit massing
March 3
Lect 13:
--System Family
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March 17
Spring break
March 19
Spring break
March 31
Lect 18:
-- Revit material
April 2
Lect 19:
--Sun & Shadow
April 16
Lect 21:
-- Room Tag
-- Schedules
April 21
Lect 22:
--Door Tag
--Schedule
April 7
Lect 20:
--Background image
Assignment 3 issued
April 9
--Work session
April 14
Assignment 3 due
April 23
Lect 23:
--Cost estimate
Final project issued
April 28
Lect 24:
--Summaries
April 30
Jury week.
May 4
Final presentation
2:15-4:15pm.
Work session
Tutoring
Work session
Tutoring
Final project due.
Assignment 1: Internet Design (15)
Assignment 3: Revit modeling and rendering (30)
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Assignment 2: Revit site and ground floor level modeling (35)
Assignment 4: Revit scheduling, document & presentation (20)