This is a vertical elective combining students in their fourth and fifth year of the BArch program with students from the architecture graduate programs. The content of the elective options varies from year to year, and covers advanced topics that invite critical thinking and innovation in the area of building technology.Section Description:What’s all the hype? Everyone is talking about the benefits of designing buildings for mass timber construction, so why are so few actually getting built? With the addition of CCA’s new building, there are now only two projects in San Francisco that make substantial use of mass timber in new construction. Neither of these are adding housing units to the city, which is arguably the most urgent current need for urban development.It is through this lens that this 3-credit building technology elective seminar will explore mass timber construction, and propose it as the most logical choice for future development of housing in the city of San Francisco. chjariThe course is organized around four major components and objectives.1:Mass Timber 101: The early classes will introduce the systems of mass timber design and construction, along with potential benefits and rationales for selecting these systems2:Precedent studies with viability analyses: Students will develop and present case studies of other successful urban mass timber residential developments worldwide, with emphasis on structural systems, and identification of market viability strategies that are translatable to the local situation.3:San Francisco market and project viability: This section will use field trips and guest lectures combined with group research to understand and analyze the specific situations and opportunities in San Francisco for timber-based residential development.4:Final Report: Group development of samples and guidelines to support development proposals.An overall goal of the course is to prepare students to enter career development opportunities armed with a solid understanding of the hows and whys of mass timber, and a research-based set of data guidelines and tools they can offer to prospective employers and development partners.The course format will include both synchronous and asynchronous components, with instructor lectures, guest speaker presentations, field trips, readings and viewings, case study analyses and hands-on making. Each seminar participant will participate in a semester-long group research project that culminates in a shared document and final presentation at the end of the semester.A complementary Integrated Studio offered this semester by the same instructor will focus on mass timber construction, students are welcome to take either or both courses.

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