A 301
Visionary Creativity
3 units
Learn visionary creativity and its sources, from those who do it without compromise.
Textbook: Evolutionary Architecture: Nature as a Basis for Design, by Eugene Tsui
A 302
History of Nature-Based Architecture
3 units
Nature-based, organic architecture has always been part of architectural history and culture. This course reviews the fundamentals of designing with nature and the architects who are the leaders in the field.
Textbook: New Organic Architecture: The Breaking Wave, by David Pearson
A 303
Advanced Architectural Media and Composition
3 units
Computers are used to input and display building designs that are first drawn by hand. Hand drawing and rendering skills are as highly prized as ever, and this course demonstrates the best professional graphic techniques.
Textbook: Marker Magic: The Rendering Problem Solver for Designers, by Richard M. McGarry
A 304
Modeling and Model Building
3 units
Although much architectural presentation drawing is now done on computer, many architects and clients prefer to see realistic, small-scale physical models, to better visualize how final building projects will actually look. This course shows the latest and best techniques of model building.
Textbook: Architectural Models: Construction Techniques, by Wolfgang Knoll and Martin Hechinger
A 305
Construction Documents: Coordinated Drawings & Specifications
3 units
Old systems of creating construction documents are highly disorganized and inefficient. This course shows the latest and best techniques for planning, organizing, and creating working drawings and specifications.
Textbook: Working Drawing Format Handbook, by Fred Stitt
A 306
Urban Ecology, Bioremediation & Plantscaping
3 units
Cities are like very big buildings with very big problems to solve. This course reviews the ecological approach to urban design.
Textbook: Sustainable Urban Design: An Environmental Approach, by Randall Thomas
A 307
Building Design and Planning
Advanced Level, Part I
3 units
Poorly trained designers try to design buildings before they fully understand the needs of the people they’re designing for, and they sometimes present solutions before understanding the problems. This course reviews the essential points of design problem seeking, analysis, and solution.
Textbook: Problem Seeking: An Architectural Programming Primer, by William Pena and Steven Parshall
A 308
Building Design and Planning
Advanced Level, Part II
3 units
To design a building means to meet the need of building users, owner, and administrator. This course shows how to identify and document all such needs as the prelude to successful building design. Includes a building design assignment as provided by SFIA.
Textbook: Architectural Programming: Creative Techniques for Design Professionals, by Robert R. Kumlin
A 309
Alternative Materials and Construction
3 units
The palette of standard building materials is now being vastly enriched with the addition of materials used for green building. This course shows how to use the many new choices.
Textbook: Alternative Construction: Contemporary Natural Building Methods, by Lynne Elizabeth
A 310
Alternative Structural Systems
3 units
There will be radical changes in building construction and engineering in the years to come. Here’s how to understand the thinking behind these changes.
Textbook: Buckminster Fuller’s Universe: His Life and Work, by Lloyd Steven Sieden
A 311
Environmental & Ecological Design: Regional Planning
3 units
Ecological issues didn’t used to be a part of regional planning education. They are now, however, and this course reviews the best systems for landscape and ecological regional analysis.
Textbook: Ecological Planning: A Comparative and Historical Synthesis, by Forster Ndubisi
A 312
Real Estate Development & Finance
3 units
“Form follows Finance.” Architecture is largely shaped by the requirements of real estate development. This course explains how development works, what’s most on clients’ minds, and why.
Textbooks: Architect as Developer, by John Portman, Green Development: Integrating Ecology and Real Estate, by Rocky Mountain Institute
A 320
Student Independent Study & Thesis Project
3 units
A design or research project created by the student, to study any specialized area of architecture of personal interest. This may be a building design, a documented construction project, or an extensive report on any development in any aspect of architectural design or practice.
