PETERS TOWNSHIP HIGH SCHOOL

COURSE SYLLABUS: ARCHITECTURAL PROCES SES

Course Overview and Essential Skills

This course will enable students to learn the fundamental skills and Concepts necessary for architectural
planning, design and drawing. Students will prepare a full set of residential architectural drawings, including
floor plans, elevations and pictorial drawings. A portfolio will be developed that may aid the student when
pursuing careers in related fields. Computer aided design and drawing programs will also be offered to enhance
the students drawing skills.
Course Textbook and Required Materials

 TEXTBOOK: Architecture residential drawing and design; Goodheart-Willcox, Kicklighter; 2000

 ArchiCAD 16
 Computer Lab

Course Outline of Material Covered:

Unit or Topic Concepts/Skills/Resources Timeframe
THE WORLD OF ARCHITECTURE • identify the historical Three Weeks
influences that helped shape
today's home designs
• recognize and describe the
elements of contemporary
dwellings
• discuss current trends in
architecture

BASIC HOUSE DESIGN • recognize the four basic FOUR WEEKS

house designs and list the
chief advantages of each
• map the traffic circulation for
maximum efficiency
• compare the relative costs for
heating and cooling for each
design

ROOM PLANNING / SLEEPING • discuss factors that are TWO WEEKS

AREAS PLAN important on the design of
bedrooms
• plan the size and location of
closets for a typical residence
• apply the furniture cutout
method in planning a room
arrangement
• implement important design
considerations for bathrooms

LIVING AREAS • identify the rooms and areas TWO WEEKS

that comprise the living area
 • apply the design principles to
planning a living room
• integrate the furniture in a
living room plan
• analyze a dining room using
good design principles
• design a functional entryway
and foyer

SERVICE AREAS • apply good design principles TWO WEEKS

to planning the service area
of a home
• design a functional kitchen to
meet a family's needs
• select appliances for a
modern kitchen
• plan a modern, efficient,
clothes care center
• describe appropriate
dimensions for garage space
PLOT PLANS • identify the various features THREE WEEKS
shown on a typical plot plan
• visualize land elevations from
contour lines
• properly locate a building on
site
• draw a plot plan using
correct symbols
FOOTINGS, FOUNDATIONS AND • describe the procedure for TWO WEEKS
CONCRETE PLANS staking out a house location
• list the major considerations
when designing a footing for
a residential foundation
• analyze a typical floor plan to
determine the appropriate
foundation
• calculate the load to be
supported by a beam
THE FOUNDATION PLAN • identify the primary features TWO WEEKS
included in a foundation plan
• discuss the differences
between a foundation plan
and a basement plan
• design and draw a foundation
plan for a typical residential
structure

STAIRS • define common stair THREE WEEKS

terminology
• perform stairway
calculations for a residential
stairway
• design a stairway for a
residential structure
 THE FLOOR PLAN • list the information required NINE WEEKS
on a typical floor plan
• represent typical materials
using standard architectural
symbols
• design and draw a residential
floor plan in a clear and
precise manner

PRESENTATION DRAWINGS • list methods commonly used TWO WEEKS

to increase the degree of
realism in a presentation plan
• render common materials
using a variety of techniques
• demonstrate the ability to ink
a rendering
• devise a typical presentation
for floor plan

ARCHITECTURAL MODELS • explain the various types of ONE WEEK

architectural models used to
represent residential
structures ·
• list the features commonly
included in a presentation
model ·
• summarize the steps for
constructing a paper and
wood model

COMPUTER APPLICATIONS • explore computers ONE WEEK

applications within
architecture and construction
• recognize the advantages of
computer analyses for the
contractor or designer
• define terms related to
computer applications in
architecture

*Depending on the needs of the class or changes in the school year, the course outline is subject to change.