ARCH - Architecture and Design

This course, offered in the final year, provides the students with practical application of skills developed in their specific major. This directed study provides valuable real-life experience while extending the skills and good-will of the students towards the college and/or local community. The student will be responsible for all aspects of the project for a college or community organization while under the guidance of the curriculum faculty. Internships outside the Alfred community are also an option and will be discussed prior to the student registering for the course.

This course is the capstone of the eight semester sequence of architectural design studios. Building upon the thesis research completed during the previous semester in Design Studio 7 – Studio Definition, students will finalize a design program for their chosen thesis project. They will carry out a comprehensive design development study, present their design solution to a jury of faculty and visiting professionals, and defend the decision making process that gave rise to their design.

This course addresses advanced architectural structures, exterior building envelopes and production technologies. It explores structural elements and expands to include more complex determinate, indeterminate, long-span, thin shells and tensile systems. Materials covered are; reinforced concrete, steel and contemporary composites. Material performance and detailing of the exterior envelope are emphasized.

This seminar introduces the student to theories and criticisms of contemporary architecture from the beginnings of the Bauhaus to the issues of contemporary practice. The course is designed to be interactive and will consist of discussion, writing assignments, in class exercises and presentations. Students, singularly and in groups of two, will have the responsibility of initiating weekly discussion of the assigned readings. In class discourse includes discussion and analysis of the central arguments and conclusions of the theoretical constructs presented in the piece.

This course will consist of lectures and associated projects intended to provide the student with a framework that will support and guide them through the beginning stage of their Bachelor of Architecture thesis project exploration. Emphasis will be placed on developing research and writing skills that will enhance the student's ability to define an acceptable thesis project, develop a program based on a given set of requirements, and select an appropriate project site. The student will complete the Schematic Design of the thesis project for review and approval by the department faculty.

Architectural Photography is a course taught in conjunction with the Junior Year Study Abroad Program in Sorrento, Italy. It is designed for the novice photographer and is intended to give the students the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively document the architecture seen while traveling throughout the semester. The course will introduce the student to the fundamentals of digital photography and digital imaging. Students enrolled in the course will need a reasonably good digital camera, a laptop computer and image-editing software.

This course covers the municipal code review process and definition of model building and zoning codes. The course emphasizes use and occupancy, special use and occupancy, building heights and areas, types of construction, fire-resistive construction, interior finishes, fire-protection systems, means of egress, accessibility, interior environment, energy efficiency, exterior walls, roof assemblies, structural provisions, building materials and systems and existing structures as described in the Building Code of New York State.

Urban sketching and Journaling is offered to students enrolled at Sant' Anna Institute as part of the study abroad program in Sorrento, Italy. The course is designed to augment the architecture students' experience of their semester abroad, but is also intended for students of the arts, and for any student wishing to develop drawing skills and observational acuity. Emphasis is placed on the fundamentals of drawing as an invaluable tool for seeing, learning, thinking, and communicating.

This design course focuses on the development of complex interior space planning for large commercial/public facilities. Problem solving for both individual and collaborative projects are accomplished through various research methods and programming of client needs. Students will refine both manual and computer generated drawing and rendering techniques. An integrative approach to the design process will include technical issues, budgetary concerns, and code compliance. There is a final project in this course.

This course is a survey of major historical design periods in interior design from prehistoric to the present. Emphasis is placed on styles and furniture and their relationship to social and political settings, and technological evolvement.