An introduction to environmental justice, including stakeholders and community engagement. A survey of how human comfort metrics intersect with site and climate. Introduces systemic issues associated with equity issues in the built environment and indigenous approaches.

Goals

• Learn about experiential and research-based theories that support passive design practices.
• Develop a more nuanced understanding of human-centric architectural design to motivate students and promote inquiry-based learning.

Objectives 

• Bias Awareness. Students will learn about implicit and explicit bias and practice situating their own identities and biases.
• Social Equity. Students will be able to describe how policy and the built environment can affect individuals and groups of people over time.
• Human Comfort, Thermodynamics. Students will be able to explain the metrics of human comfort, and thermodynamics.

An introduction to topics in building physics including indoor and outdoor climate, passive technologies, daylighting, water issues, psychrometrics, and heat transfer. Explores the scientific method and application with building performance analysis, simple software-based calculations used to evaluate designs and construction against codes and standards. Explores connections between site and sustainable building metrics, Zero Tool, and AIA Framework for Design Excellence. 

Objectives 

• Passive Design. Students will be able to apply passive design strategies for environmental control and explain how they differ from place to place according to geography, climate, available materials, and culture. Students will understand human impacts on climate change. 
• Building Systems. Students will be able to explain basic mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, conveyance, and electrical systems, the ways in which they are integrated into building design and construction, and the ways in which they are communicated and represented. 

An introduction to metrics for evaluating building performance and tools for evaluation. Explores performance targets such as the Architecture 2030 Challenge. Examines pre- and post-occupancy performance analysis tools, equipment, and methods. Introduces software such as Cove Tools, Autodesk Insight, and Sefaira.

Objectives 

• Building Performance Analysis. Students will be able to use building performance analysis tools to inform design decisions. Potential collaborations with OU Engineering and Health Center.  Consider links to Building Commissioning, Building Information Modeling, and FM.
• Building Simulation. Students will use advanced analytical tools such as simulation tools, calculators, parametric models, and energy modeling applications, to conduct research on and refine their designs.
• Tool evaluation. Students will demonstrate an understanding of when to use different software applications, tools, and techniques.

An introduction to design research methods.  Examines the application of quantitative and qualitative research methods to research questions in architecture and urban design from pre-design to post-occupancy evaluation. Explores the practice of evidence-based design.

Objectives 

• Finding Sources. Students will be able to find research through the library including key online tools and databases such as EPA, United Nations, DOE, etc. 
• Classify Sources. Students will be able to classify research resources as peer-reviewed research, criticism, news, opinion/editorial, and sources as primary, secondary, and tertiary. Students will understand the various forms of evidence, peer review, and citations associated with each. 
• Recent Research. Students will understand that research resources are constantly evolving and thus there is a need to regularly update library search practices and re-evaluate sources. 
• Basic Research Methods. Students will comprehend what research is, the various processes of creating new knowledge, and how different types of research can inform the design process. 
• Understanding Peer review. Students will be able to explain the peer review process and describe why it matters. 
• Evaluating Evidence. Students will be able to analyze and evaluate different types of evidence, narratives, and motivations, and distinguish reliable sources from less reliable or unreliable sources. 
• Evaluating Arguments. Students will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of evidence-based arguments, by analyzing sources, motivations, and research methods. 

An introduction to Building Information Modeling (BIM) sustainable design workflows. Explores how designers, engineers, and contractors collaborate through BIM to reach sustainable design goals.  Examines how BIM can be used to drive sustainable design and decision-making in theory and practice.

Objectives 

• Building Information Modeling. Students will develop an understanding of how BIM is used in industry as well as basic BIM software skills.  
• Building Envelopes. Students will be able to identify the key components, metrics, and design of building envelopes and wall assemblies. 
• Systems and Technology Evaluation and Integration. Students will be able to research, analyze and evaluate established and emerging systems, technologies, and assemblies of building construction and assess those technologies against the design, economic, and performance objectives of projects. 

An introduction to sustainable urban design principles and practices. Explores Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and EPA databases such as the TRI Explorer as they relate to sustainable urbanism, real estate, and equity. Introduces the Ecodistrict Accredited Professional program.

Objectives 

• Social Equity. Students will be able to describe how policy and the built environment can affect individuals and groups of people over time.  
• Urban Design. Students will be able to analyze urban environments in terms of physical form, typologies, use patterns, traffic, streetscape, and historical context. transect theory, and urban air quality and its relationship with air quality. 

An introduction to the US Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program. Examines how buildings can be designed and operated to reduce energy consumption, protect resources and promote health through the LEED program. Prepares students for taking the LEED Green Associate Exam.

Objectives 

• To critically contribute to the development of environmentally responsible architecture.
• To learn, understand, and apply the LEED system as well as prepare to take the LEED GA Exam.

Textbook

• LEED Green Associate Exam Preparation Guide LEED v4 Edition ATP.

An introduction to the theory and practices associated with WELL Building Standard. Explores the research on human health and the design of the built environment that forms the foundation for the WELL building program. Prepares students for taking the WELL Accredited Professional exam.

Objectives 

• To critically contribute to the development of environmentally responsible interior architecture. 
• To learn, understand, and apply the WELL AP system as well as prepare to take the WELL AP Exam. 

Textbook

• WELL AP Exam Preparation Guide ATP.

Introduction to Life Cycle Cost Accounting (LCCA) and the Circular Economy. Explores the economic history, basic theory, and practices associated with LCCA. Examines connections between performative building design evaluations and sustainability’s three “E’s”: Environment, Equity, and Economic, factors. Considers the role of the architect in a global context and their interdisciplinary impact on sustainability.

Objectives 

• To gain knowledge about sustainable technologies and alternate systems, both traditional and contemporary, that reduce adverse environmental and health impacts. 
• To understand global factors (economic and societal) that contribute to the resistance to implementing alternate systems and sustainable technologies. 
• To identify and develop a set of resources for the design integration of alternate sustainable technologies. 
• Students will be able to research materials and building systems with regard to cost, lifespan, lifecycle cost, waste, production, transportation costs, embodied energy, and an ethic of resourcefulness. 

This course will explore the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) “NZE Leasing Best Practice Guide” and ULI’s “Blueprint for Green Real Estate” including the steps of how to write and negotiate an NZE lease with elements that include energy budgets, building dashboards, recommissioning, green building financing models, and BIM-enabled digital twins.

Objectives 

• Understand energy budgets and cost-recovery language.
• Identify cost-benefit and payback analyses for green building initiatives. 
• Financing for integrating sustainability into overall development strategies.

Explores the realities of building impacts on the environment through sustainable design case studies. Introduces the case study method of analysis using the AIA Framework for Design Excellence. Introduces tools and methods for undertaking case study analysis of built works.

Objectives 

• Evaluating Evidence. Students will be able to analyze and evaluate different types of evidence, narratives, and motivations, and distinguish reliable sources from less reliable or unreliable sources. 
• Evaluating Arguments. Students will be able to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of evidence-based arguments, by analyzing sources, motivations, and research methods. 
• Analyzing Research. Students will be able to analyze the correlations between different types of research methods and different types of research questions, evidence, and outcomes. 

Introduces literature reviews in the context of architectural research questions. Explores design research methods and process through a review of existing literature on a topic. Develops an understanding of how to identify gaps in existing knowledge.

Objectives 

• Design Research Methods. Students will be able to use the design process as a means to create new knowledge and innovate.  
• Information Graphics. Students will be able to create and use diagrams and infographics to convey ideas and information.
• Research Process. Students will be able to articulate research questions, select appropriate research methods, connect them with types of evidence, and develop evidence-based arguments. 
• Analyzing Research. Students will be able to analyze the correlations between different types of research methods and different types of research questions, evidence, and outcomes. 

Explores examples of sustainable building design and construction through case study analysis following the American Institute of Architects case study format. Provides an opportunity for individual research project development. Includes consideration of sustainable design standards such as LEED and/or WELL.

Objectives 

• Bias Awareness. Students will learn about implicit and explicit bias and practice situating their own identities and biases in the case study. 
• Research to inform design. Students will identify the appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods used in the project including historical, social, scientific, and geographic contexts, and gather data that informed the design decisions. 

1. their experience in secondary research in their area of program concentration;
2. their knowledge of the areas and subareas of the discipline, and their position relative to these areas;
3. and their pedagogical knowledge, techniques, and literature.
 

• Course Objectives not required for Comprehensive Exam

Building on ARCH 5942, case studies are developed through peer reviews and presentations. Publication venues are investigated.

Objectives 

• Bias Awareness. Students will learn about implicit and explicit bias and practice situating their own identities and biases in the case study. 
• Research to inform design. Students will identify the appropriate qualitative or quantitative methods used in the project including historical, social, scientific, and geographic contexts, and gather data that informed the design decisions.