i. institutional support and commitment to continuous improvement

Course Number & Title:
ARCH & INARC 6214 Cycle Ecologies (3)
Course Description:
This technical practice course introduces the concep-
tual and practical basis for sustainable approaches to
design at all scales.
Course Goals & Objectives:
1) Design practice: The course serves as a founda-
tion class in the cultural and practical knowledge
of sustainability necessary to develop one’s own
approach to a sustainable architecture practice. The
course will introduce students to issues relevant to
LEED certification and will include a critical ex-
amination of the LEED approach of the US Green
Building Council.
2) Building science skills: Focuses on developing
investigative skills allowing students to effectively
choose and incorporate sustainable approaches
and systems during pre and schematic design.
3) Building science knowledge: The class examines
various active, passive and material assembly strat-
egies for the creation of ecologically stable build-
ings that are energy, water and resource efficient.
Student Performance Criterion:
1) Best exemplifies the following criteria:
a) B.3. Sustainable Design (ability)
2) Additional criteria
a) B.7. Financial Issues (understanding)
b) B.8. Environmental Systems (understanding)
c) B.12. Building Materials & Systems (understanding)
d) C.2. Human Behavior (understanding)
Topical Outline:
1) Design practice: The course focuses exten-
sively on methods of professional practice that
reorder traditional interaction of the architectural
collaborators in order to incorporate ecological ap-
proaches thoroughly into the design and delivery
processes. Subjects include integrated project
delivery, life cycle costing methods, establishment
of performance criteria and methods for meeting
criteria. 30% of class.
2) Building science skills: Historical examples and
contemporary case studies placing the building
as an expression of performance over form, are
reviewed. The class is paced by workbook scale
exercises examining and recording building system
performance. Exercises include investigations of
energy production and conservation methods,
building envelope, heating and cooling systems
and lighting systems; 35% of class.
181 | Spring 2011
IV. Supplemental Information
3) Building science knowledge: Theories of biologi-
cal ecologies, material production ecologies, and
population dynamics, emphasizing the impact of
human culture and patterns of consumption on
underlying environmental quality. Practical systems
studied include natural ventilation, evaporative
cooling, photovoltaic’s, heat exchangers, wind tur-
bines and fuel cells. 35% of class.
Prerequisites:
All required fourth semester courses.
Textbooks/Learning Resources:
Various sources including:
• U.S. Green Building Council LEED Resources
and Tools.
Offered (semester and year):
• Semester: FALL
• Year: THREE
Faculty assigned:
• 2010-2011 academic year:
Coleman, Cynthia (F/T), Ahleman, Thomas
(P/T),
Supplemental Information
SECTION IV