Overview
APST 350: Applied Architectural Sciences introduces the scientific basis underlying the design, analysis, and evaluation of the building envelope as a separator of different environments. The purpose of this course is to link theoretical knowledge to applications in practice. This approach will support an increase in evidence-based practice.
The building envelope, or the skin of the building, performs many functions and is a critical element in the design of a beautiful, sustainable building. Like a person’s skin, the building envelope is the critical interface between inside and outside, both technically and metaphorically. The envelope has an enormous impact on the building’s appearance, its energy performance, the design of its mechanical and electrical systems, and the comfort of its occupants.
This course relates building assemblies, components, and materials to different thermal, hydrostatic, and hygrometric conditions. A building’s impact on its own microclimatic conditions and the interactions of building form, orientation, and envelope with building energy consumption are discussed.
Outline
Part 1 Factors in the Environment
- Unit 1: Principles in Sustainable Design
- Unit 2: Climate
- Unit 3: Water
Part 2 Concepts and Principles
- Unit 4: Envelope Design for Air and Water
- Unit 5: Thermal Comfort: A Qualitative Approach
- Unit 6: Heat and Thermal Transfer
Part 3 Managing Environmental Factors in Design
- Unit 7: Design for Heating and Cooling
- Unit 8: Passive Solar Energy Systems
- Unit 9: Solar Geometry and Shading
- Unit 10: Active Solar Heating and Photovoltaics
- Unit 11: Passive Cooling
- Unit 12: Site Design Strategies
Learning outcomes
This course presents both qualitative and quantitative techniques to relate the principles of equilibrium in building design to the climatic factors and principles that influence building performance, including solar radiation, wind, precipitation, temperature, thermal dynamics, and vapour migration.
After completing this course, you should be able to
- discuss the relationships between building performance and environmental and climatic factors.
- discuss the concepts of heat transfer, thermal gradients, thermal bridges, air leakage, convection, and stack effect.
- predict the responses of common building assemblies and materials to climatic cycles through a systematic analysis of environmental factors including radiation, precipitation, heating, and cooling.
- discuss the impact that buildings have on the microclimate of their environment, including such factors as snow drifting, shading and reflection.
- relate the performance of windows and mechanical systems in passive and active building systems.
Evaluation
To receive credit for APST 350, you must achieve a cumulative grade of at least 67 percent.
Your work will be evaluated based on four assignments and a final examination. The final exam covers the entire course. The weightings for each course component are as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 15% |
| Assignment 2 | 15% |
| Assignment 3 | 30% |
| Assignment 4 | 20% |
| Final Exam | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
The final examination for this course must be requested in advance and written under the supervision of an AU-approved exam invigilator. Invigilators include either ProctorU or an approved in-person invigilation centre that can accommodate online exams. Students are responsible for payment of any invigilation fees. Information on exam request deadlines, invigilators, and other exam-related questions, can be found at the Exams and grades section of the Calendar.
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:
Grondzik, W. T., & Kwok, A. G. (2019). Mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings (13th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.