CME 342 - Light Construction
3 Credits (3 Lecture Hours)
Lecture – Meets in 212 Marshall Hall, Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:00-9:20AM
Instructor – Paul Crovella
219 Baker Laboratory
Phone X-6839 (470-6839)
E-mail plcrovella@esf.edu
Webpage – http://www.esf.edu/scme/crovella/default.htm
Office hours – M,W,F 10:30-11:30, T,R 11:00 – 12:00
Graduate Assistant – Neal Kohan
Text –Fundamentals of Residential Construction by Edward Allen and Rob Thallon, 2nd edition,
published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Description - This course is designed to help the student to understand the construction process
in general and appreciate the unique aspects of light construction. The course will provide a
foundation for the students’ understanding of material properties, building science, structural
design, estimating, scheduling, and overall project management in light construction.
The student will be expected to develop skills which help them succeed in construction
management: Effective communication, Efficient problem solving, and Exemplary cooperation
Relation to Learning Objectives: This course directly supports the following departmental
learning objectives:
3. An ability to read and interpret construction documents thereby having the
ability to communicate with all project participants in professional manner to deliver a
successful construction project
6. An ability to understand and apply the proper use of construction materials in
construction projects
This course also meets the ACCE learning objectives in the area of Construction Science
Student outcomes:
1. The student will demonstrate the ability to meet the regulatory demands for construction
permitting, and work with construction documents.
2. The student will differentiate between different solid and engineered wood products and select
appropriate materials for light construction applications.
3. The student will estimate the materials needed for various aspects of the construction process.
4. The student will develop partial schedules for the pre-construction process.
5. The student will determine code required methods for designing floor, wall and roof
assemblies.
6. The student will evaluate various light construction systems on the basis of building science
principles.
7. The student will work cooperatively to meet expectations for managing construction projects.
Attendance - Students are expected to attend all scheduled classes and laboratories. If special
circumstances such as illness, travel difficulties, family emergencies or active participation in
college-sponsored events make absence unavoidable you must see me to make up the work. For
these cases, no student will be allowed to complete graded work after that work has been returned
to others in the class. In the case of absence due to religious observance, students will be provided
an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed
provided you notify me by e-mail before the end of the second week of classes. Further
information about the SU policy that this is based on can be found at
http://supolicies.syr.edu/emp_ben/religious_observance.htm
While in class, please keep cell phones turned off, this includes during tests (no cell phone
calculators).
To maintain the proper classroom environment, computers may not be used during lecture
without permission of the instructor. When in use, it should be strictly for class-related activity.
Academic Accommodations - Students wishing to utilize academic accommodations due to a
diagnosed disability of any kind must present an Academic Accommodations Authorization
Letter generated by Syracuse University’s Office of Disability Services. If you currently have an
Authorization Letter, please present this to me as soon as possible so that I may assist with the
establishment of your accommodations. Students who do not have a current Academic
Accommodations Authorization Letter from Syracuse University’s Office of Disability Services
cannot receive accommodations. If you do not currently have an Authorization Letter and feel
you are eligible for accommodations, please contact Heather Rice in the Office of Counseling
and Disabilities Services, 110 Bray Hall, (315) 470-6660 or counseling@esf.edu as soon as
possible.
Academic Honesty – Honesty and integrity are the foundation of professional behavior and are
expected of each student. Any assignment (including those in electronic media) submitted by a
student must be of the student's original authorship. Representation of another's work as the
student’s own shall constitute plagiarism. Cheating, in any form, is an unacceptable behavior
within all college courses, and the Code of Student Conduct (as outlined in the ESF student
handbook http://www.esf.edu/students/handbook/0910StHandbk.pdf ) will be strictly adhered to.
Grading – The course grading will be a combination of grades earned on homework, quizzes,
tests, group project work, class presentation, and the final exam.
The final grade will be based on these percentages
Homework + Labs
25%
Quizzes
25%
Group project
20% (Model, documents, self evaluation)
Class Participation
10%
Class presentation
10%
Final Exam
10%
Graded work will be returned on a timely basis. This typically means:
Short homework assignments:
1 week to 10 days
Quizzes
Up to 10 days
Laboratory assignments
Up to 2 weeks
Major Exams
Up to 2 weeks
Major projects or papers
Up to 2-3 weeks
Homework - All written work must be word-processed and spell checked. Any calculations may
be hand-written neatly with the answer labeled with units and boxed. Any homework not turned in
on-time needs to be discussed with me to determine if credit will be given. Work that is not turned
in and not discussed with me will not receive credit. No late homework will be accepted after the
assignment has been graded and returned to the rest of the class.
Quizzes – Will be both announced and unannounced.
Course Outline:
Course Introduction: Housing in America- August 31st class survey
Homework for September 2nd – Personal Introduction
Week 1
Aug 28
Aug 30
Design process Comparison of class survey results
Homework for September 9th – Census data work
Text reading - Chapter 1
Financial planning, Site Development, Permitting, Plan reading
Week 2
Sept 4
Sept 6
Homework - Print Reading
Group Project Part I
Text reading - Chapter 2,3
Week 3
Sept 11
Sept 13
Week 4
Sept 18
Sept 20
Wood Construction Materials – Solid Wood Properties
Homework - Board Foot Calculations
Text reading - Chapter 4
Wood Construction Materials-Engineered Wood & Structural Composite
Lumber
Group Project Part II
Text reading - Chapter 4
Structural Design Load paths, Tributary loads, uniform and point loads
Week 5
Sept 25
Sept 27
Homework - Load Calculation
http://www.apawood.org/pdfs/managed/Z416.pdf?CFID=659346&CFTOKEN=949270
92 – Built up beam design shows calculations of tributary areas.
Week 6
Oct 2
Oct 4
Foundations
Text reading - Chapters 7,8
Floor framing
Week 7
Oct 9
Oct 11
Floor framing group project – Model Making
Homework - Floor frame estimating, Floor frame code
Text reading - Chapter 9
Week 8
Oct 16
Oct 18
Wall Structure
Homework - Wall code , Model Floor Estimate due
Text reading - Chapter 9
Wall Structure
Week 9
Oct 23
Oct 25
Week 10
Oct 30
Nov 1
Homework - Wall Frame estimating
Text reading – Chapter 9
Ceiling & Roof Structure –
Homework – Sectional view of house, Model Wall Estimate due
Text reading - Chapter 10
Week 11
Nov 6
Nov 8
Building Science
Week 12
Building Science
Nov 13
Nov 15
Homework - Building Science
Text Reading– Chapter 17
Homework – Proper Detailing
House Models due
Week 13
Nov 22
Nov 29
Alternative Construction Methods
Week 14
Dec 5
Dec 7
Alternative Construction Methods
Class presentations
Class presentations
Notes for Group Project Success!
Follow the six aspects TWQ for effective team performance (Hackman & Wageman,
2005):
1. Communication is frequent unencumbered two way communication.
2. Coordination of project work that is distributed across team members based on
individual member’s area of expertise.
3. Balance of contributions such that all team members bring in task-relevant
experiences and apply them in a way that seeks to avoid mistakes
4. Mutual support exists within the team so team members cooperate with each
instead of compete with each other
5. Level of effort to complete the tasks is continuous
6. Cohesion demonstrated in the team’s commitment to the task as a unit
Class 1 – Form groups, take survey, don’t let students leave until they know the names of
everyone in their group.