Assigned: Aug. 29, 2003; due: Dec. 12, 2003 - 11:30 am

Bring final projects to RAND 121, or hallway in front of RAND 121.

Groups: Project may be done in groups of no more than 4 students.

General Requirements: Select a fragment of a space within a work of architecture with the following characteristics:

1. The spacial fragment contains some sort of window opening in an exterior wall;
2. The overall dimensions of the building fragment are as follows:
   • width: 5' - 15'
   • length: 5' - 15'
   • height: 15' - 25'
3. Both floor and ceiling (or roof) construction defining the spatial fragment must fall within the height limitation;
4. Documentation of all visible interior and exterior surfaces/finishes within the interior space and on the exterior wall surface of the building fragment must be obtainable either by inspecting actual space, or through published material or construction documents;
5. The fragment must contain horizontal (beam/slab) and vertical (column/wall) structural elements;
6. The materials and methods of construction must be at least partially obscured, so that some research or speculation is required -- thus, buildings with exposed structure, all-glass walls, or monolithic construction systems may not be good choices (for example, Pei's Johnson Museum on campus or his Pyramide du Louvre in Paris would not be good choices for this project).

Objectives:

1. Gain experience reading and interpreting construction details;
2. Understand tendency in modern construction to construct interior finishes and exterior cladding independently of structural frame;
3. Understand function of all construction elements shown on model and in section;
4. Learn to communicate ideas graphically and through models.

• (Preferred) Build an historically-accurate reconstruction based on actual construction details; or
• Build a speculative reconstruction based on historically-appropriate construction technologies; or
• Build a model based on modern construction principles that may or may not correspond to the actual construction methods.

Report: Write a report bound in an 8-1/2" x 11" format that includes the following:

1. Description of the project parameters, containing the following information:
   • Building and group data (same as on base of model);
   • Short description of building construction and structural systems;
   • Model strategy (i.e., historically-accurate; speculative; etc.)
2. One Axon, elevation, perspective, or photograph identifying location of model fragment in the context of the whole building;
3. Plans and vertical sections drawn through selected building fragment at three scales:
   1. 1. building scale (approx. 1/16"=1'-0" or 1/8"=1'-0")
   2. 2. wall section or plan at fragment (approx. 1/2"=1'-0" to 1-1/2"=1'-0")
   3. 3. detail section or plan at fragment (approx. 3"=1'-0" to full scale)

4. Documentation of sources used: photocopies or sketches taken from magazines, books, working drawings, or actual building.

• Review #1. Bring documentation. Discussion questions: does proposed case study building meet project requirements? is documentation adequate, including building structure? which part of the building (which fragment) offers the most interest?
• Review #2. Follow up on documentation (based on comments from meeting #1).
• Review #3. Plans and sections at various scales (see final report for details).
• Review #4. Study model OR drawings showing final model strategies

Note: at least the first 3 reviews must be scheduled before Thanksgiving break. Do not expect to make appointments at the last minute; work out meeting times with TAs well in advance. These 4 reviews will be graded and will count as 1/2 final project grade.

References: Consult course text and course reserve for information on various construction technologies that may apply to your case-study building. In addition, refer to Architectural Graphic Standards (permanent reserve, FAL) for general information about construction details, and Sweet's Catalog (reference section, FAL) for specific information on manufactured products and systems.

Campus construction documents are available at considerable cost for a limited number of buildings. For details, see the Cornell "facilities" web site at: http://www.pdc.cornell.edu/sections/UE/subsections/fi/fi.php

Numerous books are on reserve at the Fine Arts Library containing documentation of contemporary buildings. See for example the El Croquis Index. Examples of typical documentation: A | B | C | D. Use the back button to return here.