Overview
Designers have an enormous impact on the environment. The architect’s design decisions and selection of materials affect every aspect of a building, from its presence in the urban fabric to the operation of its ventilation system. Members of the architecture profession must understand the impact of their art and craft so they can become stewards of a sustainable future.
APST 230 introduces characteristics of construction materials and discusses the appropriate applications of these materials. You will examine building systems, assemblies, components, and material characteristics, and you will learn to identify and analyze materials, the impact of environmental factors on materials, and the impact that materials have on the environment, occupant health, and the sustainability of resources.
Outline
Part 1: The Context of Building—Site and Substructure
- Unit 1: Concepts in Sustainable Design
- Unit 2: Site Analysis, Evaluation, and Design
- Unit 3: Building Substructures—Part of the Building Envelope
Part 2: Structural Systems and Materials
- Unit 4: Wood Structural Systems
- Unit 5: Masonry Systems—Brick, Block, and Stone
- Unit 6: Steel Frame Construction
- Unit 7: Concrete
Part 3: Envelope Systems and Materials
- Unit 8: Building Envelope—Cladding Systems
- Unit 9: Building Envelope—Glazing, Windows, and Doors
- Unit 10: Building Envelope—Roofing Systems
Part 4: Interior Materials and Finishing; Environmental Systems
- Unit 11: Interior Materials and Finishing
- Unit 12: Building Services
Learning outcomes
After completing this course, you should be able to
- describe the functions and characteristics of common building systems and assemblies, including building envelope, structure, environmental management systems, and building services systems.
- discuss the characteristics of building components and materials, including function, physical properties, grades, life cycle economics, embodied energy, availability, and the impact that materials’ production, use, and disposal have on the environment.
Evaluation
To receive credit for APST 230, you must achieve a cumulative grade of 67% or greater. Your work will be evaluated based on eight assignments. There is no final examination for this course.
The grading weights for the assignments are summarized in the table below.
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 (Units 1–3) | 5% |
| Assignment 2 (Units 1–3) | 20% |
| Assignment 3 (Units 4–7) | 5% |
| Assignment 4 (Units 4–7) | 20% |
| Assignment 5 (Units 8–10) | 5% |
| Assignment 6 (Units 8–10) | 20% |
| Assignment 7 (Units 11–12) | 5% |
| Assignment 8 (Units 11–12) | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Allen, E., & Iano, J. (2019). Fundamentals of building construction: Materials and methods (7th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Lechner, N., & Andrasik, P. (2022). Heating, cooling, lighting: Sustainable design strategies towards net zero architecture (5th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.