Architectural Design
Syllabus
2014-2015
Instructor Information:
Teacher:
Emily Ellis
Room:
Belle Vernon Area High School, Room AUD 5
Contact:
Phone:
Email:
Website:
http://www.bellevernonarea.net/bvahs
Required Text:
NONE
Extra Help Time:
Before school every day starting at 6:30 and after school by
appointment only
724-808-2500; ext. 2155
emily.ellis@bellevernonarea.net
Course Description:
This course is an introductory level class that introduces the student to the ins and outs of architectural
design. Progressing through the engineering design process, students will work with all aspects of
designing and building a structure. A mixture of hand drafting and computer aided drafting will be
explored as the students design the necessary plans for a structure. Using Google Sketchup, students
will be able to create a set of plans for their dream house that can be used in industry today. From the
plans, students will construction scale models of their house and have a physical representation in
addition to industry ready plans. As you learn about various aspects of engineering and engineering
design, such as how engineers communicate through drawing, you will apply what you learn through
various activities, projects, and problems. Skills gained from this class include but not limited to free
hand sketching, house construction, use of various scales, and computer aided drafting. This class
provides a look into the life of an architectural engineer.
Course Objectives:
By the end of this course, the successful student will be able to:
1. Develop skills in problem solving and analytical thinking as they apply to architectural
drawing.
2. Know the basic history of architecture
3. List and identify various architectural styles.
4. Apply various design and environmental factors to architectural plans in a practical,
efficient, and correct manner.
5. Understand and apply the various room planning principles to architectural plans in a
practical, efficient, and correct manner.
6. Apply the various CAD techniques to architectural plans in a practical, efficient, and
correct manner.
7. Understand and apply the various types of walls, symbols, dimensioning and notes to
variety of plans related to house construction in a practical, efficient, and correct manner.
8. Understand the relationship between the foundation/basement plan and the floor plan.
9. Identify and apply the various types of roofs to elevation plans.
10. Identify and complete the necessary schedules for a set of architectural plans.
11. Gain knowledge of various drafting, engineering, architectural, and related careers and
opportunities.
12. Think through the design process and apply knowledge of current technology software
and manufacturing machines to produce their finished designs in a safe and ethical
manner.
Academic Honesty:
Any work submitted by the student shall be his/her own. Work taken from others shall be
deemed as unacceptable. Any doubts will initiate the completion of an alternative assignment
or a zero on the required effort, depending on the severity of the infraction.
Class Policies and Expectations:
Students will:
1. Attend class daily, arriving on time. Tardiness, without a pass,
will be reported to the office
2. Complete tasks in an honest fashion.
3. Expend effort, show enthusiasm, and participate
4. Be personally responsible
5. Bring needed materials to class daily and immediately take
you assigned seat
6. Personally keep track of all grades
7. Regularly inform parents of academic standing
8. Be respectful to all substitutes
9. Protect/respect all computerized equipment. Students must follow internet usage
policy. (see student handbook) Students caught using computer for reasons other than
associated with classroom assignment (during assignment) will fail that assignment.
Example: Playing games or on Craigslist during instructional or work time. Students who
change settings on computer will not receive help until settings are set back
10. Perform work in an orderly and neat manor
11. No Food or drink – Food and drink don’t mix well with computers.
12. No Electronic devices - Prohibited. Unless required in lesson. Ex. Use cell or digital
camera to capture videos or photos when requested.
13. Follow all lab policies and procedures – Lab policies and procedures are posted
throughout the lab. They are then discussed, reviewed and tested in great detail within
each course. This includes (but is not limited to) machine/material/tool use, clean up
procedures, behavior, lab dress code, and the safety of the individual students and
class. Violation of any of these policies/ procedures will not be tolerated. Any violations
will be reported to the office and will result in an immediate and permanent removal from
class. All students will be closely supervised in classroom and lab situations. It is
extremely important that the parent/guardian emphasize, to their child, the importance of
appropriate behavior in all lab situations to support classroom instruction. Approved
safety glasses
14. Follow rules and regulations stated in BVA handbook
Course Grading Criteria:
All quizzes, tests, and projects will be graded according to the Belle Vernon Area School District
grading policy. Total points will be accumulated for all evaluated efforts in this class rather than
having letter grades per each effort. The grading scale is as follows:
A
B
C
D
F
-
90-100
80-89
70-79
60-69
0-59
Emphasis will be on formal assessments. Therefore grades will be weighted.
Formal Assessments will account for 90% of a student’s grade (quizzes, tests, projects,
performance-based rubrics, essays, graded homework, etc.)
Informal Assessments will account for 10% of a student’s grade (homework for completion,
class participation, exit tickets, etc.)
Assignments per Quarter:
Quizzes (Key Terms) = 25 pts each
Practice Worksheets= 5-10 pts each
Plans (Floor, Foundation, Elevation, Section, and etc.) = 10 -15 pts each
Physical Model = 50 pts **
Presentation = 50 pts **
Final Portfolio=100 pts
TOTAL POINTS = 450 Points (approximate)*
*Assignments or assessments may vary due to pace of class and individualized
instruction.
**Quantity and type of activities change each year.
Academic Standards:
Students will be reacquainted with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards that have been
adopted by the Department of Education, along with the Common Core Standards that are in
the process of being implemented nationwide. Students will be made aware of the importance
of the standards and the efforts to meet them.
Edline:
If
Grades will be updated every Friday on Edline. If you lost or cannot remember log in
information, please contact our Child Accounting Department at 724-808-2500 ext. 1108.
Schoolwires (Website):
My website will be updated every Friday. Course Topics, Assignments, and Quizzes and Tests
are also posted weekly.
The following signatures state that all parties are aware of the preceding syllabus.
Student Signature____________________Date_______________
Parent Signature_____________________Date_______________
Teacher Signature____________________Date_______________
Course Outline:
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
I.
Architecture
a. History
b. House
designs
c. Primary
Considera
tions
d. Design
Process
I.
Construction
systems
a. Framing
b. Construction
Technique
s
I.
Alternative
building
technique
a. Green
building
b. Smart
Technolog
y
I.
Presentation
Models
a. Prespective
Drawing
b. Architectu
re Models
II.
Architectural
Drafting
a. Hand
drawing
b. Symbols
c. CAD
Function
II.
Formulating a
Design
a. Floor
plans
b. Elevations
c. Roofing
II.
Specifications
and
Estimating
a. Building
Cost
b. Time
III.
Final Portfolio
II.
Room and
Space
Planning
a. Layout of
rooms
b. Room
Planning
III.
Electrical,
Plumbing and
Climate
Control
a. Electrical
b. Plumbing
c. HVAC
III.
Additions,
Safety, and
Careers
a. Remodeling and
Additions
b. Safety
during
construction
c. Career
Opportunites
IV.
Plot plans and
Foundations
a. Plot and
Foundation
plans
b. Foundations
*Order and topics may vary due to pace of class and individualized instruction.