Architectural Design

This course is a visual exploration of civilization with a focus on culture in the built environment. This course analyzes the rules of representational conventions in the context of their rich cultural history, and contrasts them with non-western traditions. Introduction to several of 20th century’s schools of thought that have been critical of the hegemonic visual regime of modernity, and its role in colonial expansion and domination of non-western cultures. Opportunities to discuss the readings and to conduct drawing exercises that will illustrate these readings.

This course introduces students to the process of architectural design, exploring the built environment through lectures, readings, film and activities that address different design approaches. It includes studies of historical precedents; an exposition of various design philosophies; and an introduction to the tools, techniques, and methods relevant in the design process.

Formerly ARCHT 252. This entry-level SketchUp course is aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in engineering, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of Computer Aided Modeling (CAM). CAM training will utilize a recent version SketchUp in the Windows environment. The purpose of the class is to prepare students to use SketchUp to model and present architectural ideas in a timely manner, use V-Ray for SketchUp to create renderings with proper lighting and photo realism.

Formerly ARCHT 253. This intermediate SketchUp course is aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in engineering, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of Computer Aided Modeling (CAM). CAM training will utilize a recent version SketchUp in the Windows environment. The purpose of the class is to prepare students to use SketchUp to perform advanced modeling and learn to use SketchUp layouts to create presentations including the renders, floor plans, sections and elevations in an organized manner.

Formerly ARCHT 254. This course is an architectural documentation class for Computer Aided Drafting (CAD). This introductory CAD training will utilize a recent version AutoCAD in the Windows environment. This course introduces CAD fundamentals: user interface, basic draw and edit commands, and other architectural industry standards.

Formerly ARCHT 251. This entry-level Rhinoceros course is aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in engineering, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of Computer Aided Modeling (CAM). CAM training will utilize a recent version Rhinoceros in the Windows environment. This course introduces Rhinoceros fundamentals: user interface, basic draw and edit commands, basic modeling commands, geometry development, geometry modification, and visualization strategies. Exercises cover drawings for industrial and architectural applications.

Formerly ARCHT 255. A study of advanced individual student architectural design projects for portfolio preparation. Exploration and analysis of portfolio presentation principles and techniques. Development of digital portfolios using computer illustration, photo imaging and page layout programs. Evaluation of printing and binding techniques.

This course introduces advanced techniques and teaches students to be proficient in the use of AutoCAD. Students learn how to recognize the best tool for the task, the best way to use that tool, and how to create new tools to accomplish tasks more efficiently. Students construct a variety of 2D and 3D drawings and 3D models and learn how to incorporate their models into a variety of printable layouts.

This course is an introductory architectural class utilizing a range of software to document design solutions both graphically and through model building techniques. The class prepares students for careers in the field of architecture and related fields such as interior and environmental design. Students apply elements of design and characteristics of style to create a small structure and develop a corresponding graphic presentation consisting of architectural drawings and precedent studies.

This course is an architectural class that uses CAM/BIM software to document design solutions both graphically and through model building techniques. The class prepares students for careers in the field of architecture and related fields such as interior and environmental design. Students apply elements of design and characteristics of style to create a partial set of preliminary architectural drawings for a prefabricated housing project, engaging socio and cultural conditions as an impetus for design.

This project based design course focuses on urban planning and architecture, providing an overview of conceptual and methodological frameworks employed in surveying and designing the built environment. Additionally, the course explores diverse approaches to analyzing and evaluating urban form and public space, emphasizing professional terminology, visual analysis, representation, aesthetic considerations, and the influence of symbolic and cultural factors.

This is an intermediate level architecture courses for the transfer, occupational or returning student. It is a design course focused on institutional scale project with an introduction to ADA code. Students will create 2D and 3D architectural designs, 2D construction drawings and build digital models utilizing sketches and the latest 2D & 3D software.

Formerly ARCHT 71A and ARCHT 71AD. This is an intermediate level architecture course for transfer, occupational or continuing student. It is a design/build course that utilizes computation, freehand sketching and various fabrication techniques. Students will create complex 2D and 3D architectural designs, complete 2D building plans and build physical and digital models. Students will engage basic construction techniques for hands on experience, cumulating in an installed design/build project.

This course presents an overview of the history of architecture from the Prehistoric period through the 16th century from a global perspective. The survey covers 5 distinct regions - Africa, Asia, Europe, The Americas and West Asia - proving a wide cross section of global cultural traditions through materials, practice and idea dissemination. Discusses pre-modern western and non-western architectural ideas and practices in their social, cultural, and representational contexts.The course is appropriate for art majors and non-art majors.

This course will examine the architectural history of the Italian Renaissance from its origins in the 14th Century. Students will be guided through the political, economic and social issues that determined the rupture between two main historical eras: the Middle Ages and Modern times.

This course delves into the historical context of the American city, focusing on its growth and development over time. Through an in-depth analysis, students will examine the political, built, and natural environments that have shaped American cities. By studying the historical trajectory, students will gain essential tools to critically explore and comprehend the complexities of contemporary cities. This course aims to foster a deeper understanding of urban dynamics, enabling students to analyze and interpret the urban landscape through a critical lens.

This course explores the intersection of race, ethnicity, and urban development, examining their impact on American cities. It also considers global influences on urban planning in the United States, emphasizing topics like segregation, ethnic enclaves, and economic disparities. Students will study the role of policies, politics, and community actions in shaping inequality and community identities. Course content emphasizes housing and environmental justice to enhance understanding of these urban dynamics.

This course explores the core methodologies essential for rigorous research in the built environment. It offers a comprehensive exploration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, equipping students with the tools and knowledge to navigate, critique, and implement research projects effectively. Understand the strengths, challenges, and contexts in which each method thrives, from ethnographic studies and case analyses to statistical modeling and GIS techniques. Through hands-on projects, case studies, and collaborative discussions, students will be poised to design holistic research endeavors that inform, influence, and innovate in the realm of urban planning, architecture, and other design professions.

This course will discuss Climate Change and the critical role architects play in the discussion in the context of understanding and designing for the thermal environment of buildings. Through the semester, students will discuss and review basic concepts of sustainability, gaining an understanding of climate-appropriate design, passive heating and cooling, and renewable energy systems. At the same time, through weekly readings and assignments, students will use tools to help them understand, measure and design better buildings. They will be exposed to and will learn the international language of sustainability.

Students will learn about various building systems, and how these systems assist in the expression of a design concept, through an examination of precedent projects whose design concepts were generated by material logics and systems. Students will work hands-on with building materials (concrete, wood, metal, etc.) to get an understanding of each material’s properties.

This course previews the historic evolution of structures, considering the influence of cultural, economic, and resource factors.The four S’s for required for architectural structures: Synergy, Strength, Stiffness and Stability. This class studies existing structures determining synergy and load paths, load on buildings (dead- and live load) dynamic and thermal loads, as well as structural responses to loads. With static equilibrium as basis of analysis students calculate the strength of materials and mechanics, examining stress, strain, and stress-strain relations.

Formerly ARCHT 230AD. This is a beginning class in a series of five, aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design and other related fields, who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will emphasize the fundamentals of developing a BIM architectural modeling project and extracting formatted working drawings and a rendered presentation from the 3D model.

Formerly ARCHT 231AD. This is an intermediate class second in a series of five aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will emphasize collaboration tools, advanced design development tools, and advanced construction document tools through the development of a high-rise commercial structure project.

Formerly ARCHT 232AD. This is an advanced class the third in a series of five aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will enable students who have worked with BIM to expand their knowledge in the areas of Dynamo, a parametric plugin, virtual reality, and cross platform integration.

This is an advanced class the fourth in a series of five aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Students will learn about other disciplines and their BIM tools, and develop best practices for worksharing.

This is an advanced class, the fifth in a series of five, aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design and other related fields. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will enable students who have worked with BIM to expand their knowledge in the areas of Historical Building Information Modeling (HBIM) and point cloud management from 3D scanned sites.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the Practice Management division exam, such as the business of architecture and the intricacies of managing an architectural practice. Topics common to this exam include employee allocation per project, asset allocation and business development, various contracts and fee structures, responsibilities, and regulations.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the Project Management division exam, such as the processes and procedures for managing architectural projects. This includes understanding the role of contracts and how they fit into project management regarding the organization and managing personnel and consultants. This division also examines strategies for improving the delivery of services through quality control, scheduling, and project teams.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the Programming and Analysis division exam, such as the opportunities, constraints, and requirements for projects. This division examines the multitude of aspects in developing a project, including establishing the criteria (qualitative and quantitative) affecting projects and subsequent analysis of project type, site, and associated context and economics.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the Project Planning and Design division exam, such as the preliminary design of buildings and sites through conceptual design, design associated with sustainability and the environment, and with codes and regulations such as universal design.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the Project Development and Documentation division exams, such as building system integration, materials and assemblies, and their selection in a project. Additionally, this division evaluates the integration of systems such as structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and civil—as well as specialty systems—into design and documentation.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the Construction and Evaluation division exam, such as the process of construction administration including contract administration, execution, and services such as submittal reviews, construction observation, and payment requests, project close-out, and post-occupancy activities.

This course introduces students to key concepts on the California Supplemental Examination exam, such as the architectural implications of California’s large physical size, large and diverse population, varied landscape and climate, high seismicity, and other regulations and entitlements.

This course introduces Design to students interested in careers in Architecture, Construction Management, and Interior Design. Students will engage in key design strategies, critical thinking, and problem assessing by completing a short design project. Students will gain knowledge about each profession and will understand what to expect in the educational setting.

This course introduces physical and digital modeling to students interested in careers in Architecture, Construction Management, and Interior Design. Students will learn how to build architectural models out of a range of materials as well as the role computers play in design. Students will gain knowledge about each profession and will understand what to expect in the educational setting.

This entry-level SketchUp course is aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in engineering, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of Computer Aided Modeling (CAM). CAM training will utilize a recent version SketchUp in the Windows environment. The purpose of the class is to prepare students to use SketchUp to model and present architectural ideas in a timely manner, use V-Ray for SketchUp to create renderings with proper lighting and photo realism.

This intermediate SketchUp course is aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in engineering, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of Computer Aided Modeling (CAM). CAM training will utilize a recent version of SketchUp in the Windows environment. The purpose of the class is to prepare students to use SketchUp to perform advanced modeling and learn to use SketchUp layouts to create presentations including the renders, floor plans, sections and elevations in an organized manner.

This course is an architectural documentation class for Computer Aided Drafting (CAD). This introductory CAD training will utilize a recent version AutoCAD in the Windows environment. This course introduces CAD fundamentals: user interface, basic draw and edit commands, and other architectural industry standards.

This entry-level Rhinoceros course is aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in engineering, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of Computer Aided Modeling (CAM). CAM training will utilize a recent version Rhinoceros in the Windows environment. This course introduces Rhinoceros fundamentals: user interface, basic draw and edit commands, basic modeling commands, geometry development, geometry modification, and visualization strategies. Exercises cover drawings for industrial and architectural applications.

This course introduces advanced techniques and teaches students to be proficient in the use of AutoCAD. Students learn how to recognize the best tool for the task, the best way to use that tool, and how to create new tools to accomplish tasks more efficiently. Students construct a variety of 2D and 3D drawings and 3D models and learn how to incorporate their models into a variety of printable layouts.

This is a beginning class in a series of three, aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design and other related fields, who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will emphasize the fundamentals of developing a BIM architectural modeling project and extracting formatted working drawings and a rendered presentation from the 3D model.

This is an intermediate class second in a series of three aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will emphasize collaboration tools, advanced design development tools, and advanced construction document tools through developing a high-rise commercial structure project.

This is an advanced class, the third in a series of three aimed at individuals with a drafting background employed in architecture, interior design, and other related fields who wish to upgrade their skills in the area of parametric Building Information Modeling, BIM. Students will be instructed in the essentials of REVIT Architecture or an equivalent BIM software. Instruction will enable students who have worked with BIM to expand their knowledge in the areas of Dynamo, a parametric plugin, virtual reality, and cross-platform integration.

This course is an introductory architectural class utilizing a range of software to document design solutions both graphically and through model building techniques. The class prepares students for careers in the field of architecture and related fields such as interior and environmental design. Students apply elements of design and characteristics of style to create a small structure and develop a corresponding graphic presentation consisting of architectural drawings and precedent studies.

Formerly ARCHT 71A and ARCHT 71AD. This is an intermediate level architecture course for transfer, occupational or continuing student. It is a design/build course that utilizes computation, freehand sketching and various fabrication techniques. Students will create complex 2D and 3D architectural designs, complete 2D building plans and build physical and digital models. Students will engage basic construction techniques for hands on experience, cumulating in an installed design/build project.