Course Number: ARC 227
Year: 2nd Year
Track: Theory
Credit Hours: 2
Semester(s): Spring
Prerequisites: concurrent enrollment in ARC 202
Instructor(s): Dennis Doxtater
Course Description:
The course introduces programming or pre-design methodologies that seek to define or simulate a comprehensive range of human experience in natural and built settings as a foundation to architectural design processes.
Objectives
The course will foster the following:
1. Awareness of the various approaches to architectural programming.
2. Understanding of the important design values and issues that should impact architectural programming.
3. Awareness of research in the area of human/environment relations.
4. Awareness of the environmental needs of special user groups: elderly, handicapped, and young.
5. Ability to develop program information through literature search, interviews, observation, and site analysis.
6. Ability to lead client/user work sessions.
7. Ability to organize and present program information in written and graphic form.
8. Awareness of how a plan for post-occupancy evaluation can be developed and utilized.
Course Structure & Topics
The class is conducted both as a lecture course where theoretical issues and methodological concepts are presented and as a laboratory in which these ideas are discussed and applied to practical programming problems. The primary topical structure for the course rests on the experiential categories of way-finding, visual and non-visual aesthetics, task performance, social territoriality and cultural expression. The course includes reading assignments, audio-visual presentations, classroom discussions, individual demonstrations, and exercises. The first two-thirds of the course integrates readings, guest speakers, slides and film with graphic evaluation exercises according to the five experiential categories. The final portion of the course uses these same resources and methods to understand and develop aspects of an actual architectural program.
Course Requirements
Class Participation: Students should attend and participate fully in all class sessions (attendance records will be kept); notes should be kept on class lectures, films and presentations; students may be called upon to make short verbal and graphic presentations to the class.
Percentage of semester grade for class participation = 10%
Two multiple-choice fill-in quizzes:
Percentage of semester grade for the two quizzes (15% each) = 30%
Six Preliminary segments of Programming Project:
Percentage of semester grade for the six segments = 30%
Final Program Document:
Percentage of semester grade for the program = 30%
