Architectural Engineering Technology: Architectural Focus

This is an introductory course in computer-aided design (CAD) for beginning students. Topics include drawing setup, line drawing, text placement, orthographic drawing, basic editing, and dimensions. This hands-on course focuses on the most common basic functions necessary to complete 2-D drawings including move, mirror, copy, offset, trace, OSNAP, and distance. Projects incorporate basic techniques of drawing and CAD. This course is part of the CAD Certificate program. Students are expected to be able to read and interpret architectural/engineering graphics.

This course introduces students to architectural 3-D CAD applications, 3-D manipulation of entities, and the creation and control of views in 3-D space through isometric and perspective projections. Topics include 3-D drawing, coordinate systems, viewing, rendering, modeling, and output options. On completion, students will be able to prepare basic architectural 3-D drawings and renderings. This course is part of the CAD Certificate program.

The first semester is devoted to the basic ways of representing architectural ideas graphically through the development of sketching and computer-aided-drawing (CAD) skills. Architectural line techniques, lettering styles, geometric construction, principles of projection, and drawing expression are the areas of early concentration. Architectural design issues are studied regarding residential planning and siting. The student produces floor plans, foundation plans, site plans, elevations, building sections, wall sections, and details. An introductory structural analysis for foundation loading is explored. Production of drawings by sketching and CAD demonstrates the student’s ability to perform.

The student studies the architectural design for an institutional building designated for public use. The terrain is sloping and provides for a two-story sloped roof structure that employs current construction methods. The student begins study through the use of sketch-to-scale drawings. With an outline of design criteria and project guidelines, the student develops preliminary presentation drawings for floor plans, elevations, and 3-D views. As the student comes to know and appreciate the design, the emphasis shifts to a more in-depth understanding of the technology of construction. The student prepares construction documents for floor plans, elevations, building sections, wall sections, and details. The preparation of preliminary drawings and construction documents include sketching to scale and drawings produced by CAD software. The student demonstrates competency by studying, discussing, and producing these drawings and presenting them to the class as a way of working on relevant soft skills.

A survey of the materials used in building construction, the methods used in assembling these materials into structures, and the forces acting on structures. Included are the characteristics and properties of each material and their relative cost. Materials and methods studied include site work, concrete, masonry, metals, wood and plastics, thermal and moisture protection, doors and windows, and finishes.

A study of forces and the effect of forces on structural members in a state of equilibrium. It is the study of internal stresses and deformations that result when structural members are subjected to external forces through loading. While lectures and some labs deal mainly with the theory of force analysis and force systems solutions, lab projects involve the application of various stress and strain measuring instruments on many materials used in construction.

An introduction to geographic information systems (GIS), global positioning systems (GPS), and ESRI’s ArcGIS. Topics will include basic GIS concepts; the structure and availability of GIS data; the N.H. GIS database; creation of maps; editing and creation of GIS data; the use of GPS to collect information for use in GIS; and GIS processing and analysis. The course will combine lectures, hands-on exercises, and an individual student project over the course of the semester.

Revit®, a CAD building modeler based on parametric technology, automatically updates edits and changes made in one place across the project parameters. The course focuses on building a foundation for the basic elements in the software.

This is an introductory course in Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD) for beginning students using Microstation V8 software. Topics include drawing set-up, line drawing, text placement, basic editing and dimensions. The course structure focuses on the most common basic functions necessary to complete drawings including move, mirror, copy, offset, distance and more. Projects incorporate basic techniques of drawing and computer-aiding drafting. Note: students are expected to be able to read and interpret architectural/engineering graphics to register for this course.

Building Information Modeling (BIM) is a workflow for designing, evaluating, constructing, fabricating, and operating buildings. As BIM technology is developing this workflow is beginning to touch all aspects of the building industry. Understanding the role of BIM is critical to working in the building industry. The BIM model gives a building project a rich asset the entire team can use to deliver a better product to the building owners. Learn how BIM and BIM-related tools are used (and will be used in the future) in all phases of the building process from initial conceptual design to facilities management.

Students will learn how to use BIM models in multiple phases through the construction process, including performing energy and lighting analysis, construction simulations and interference reporting, quantity take- offs for construction cost estimating, and connection to an external database for building maintenance.

Emphasis is placed on an architectural design solution for a multi-story addition to existing buildings and preparation of construction documents for an institutional building. The student will study a multistory steel- or concrete-framed and masonry-enclosed structure. Floor plans, elevations, sections, and details using materials typically used in construction today are sketched to scale and produced by computer-aided  design (CAD) AutoDesk software. Lectures relating to the basics of circulation, egress requirements, structural steel framing, masonry, codes, metal pan stairs, barrier-free design, handicap code requirements, fire protection, acoustics, glazing, curtain-wall systems, roofing and building energy conservation, and sustainable strategies supplement studio work. Students will study sustainable strategies and energy utilization through the use of energy-modeling software.

A survey of the environmental control methods and support systems used in contemporary buildings. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of each system and design of simple systems, and how they relate to energy utilization and conservation in building design. Students use an energy-modeling software to study the design of a building. Economic comparisons and cost/benefit ratios are also studied. This course is not required of students in Architectural Engineering Technology: Civil Focus program.

Deals with the business phase of a construction project, from working drawings and specifications to final completion of the structure. The architect/engineer’s role and contractor’s role in coordinating project activities are discussed. Also covered are cost control (estimating) and contractual arrangements, including recent innovations of the industry. The impacts of green, sustainability, and energy conservation issues on construction management are studied. Guest lectures and a field trip to an ongoing construction project will supplement classroom lectures. 

The student chooses a project for the term to design from a collection of instructor-approved projects requiring real site considerations. By discussing the relevant design criteria with the instructor and selection of a hypothetical client outside of class, the student develops and refines the program of space requirements and acquires an appreciation of the in-depth functionality of architecture, especially space adjacency requirements. The study includes an analysis of a site, structure, codes, circulation, material usage, and sustainability and energy considerations. Schematic and preliminary designs, with an emphasis on sketching for study purposes, presentations drawings and construction documents are produced by CAD AutoDesk software. Students build a study and final model and are required to submit a progress report. An emphasis is placed on a thorough coordination of the work, application of current technology, and application of the knowledge gained in the ARET program.