BEC-Charleston Poll #1: Why is Building Science Important?
I've had a running e-dialogue going on with building science educators throughout North America. We all agree that Architects do not get enough building science education. But, we are looking for a reason to convince educational institutions that they should provide this type of education to their architectural students. So, I thought it would be good to get input from you all.
If you could tell AIA, your school, your supervisor, etc. your reason for the importance of building science education, what would it be? Feel free to make your post as long as you want. All ideas are welcome.
posted by Building Science Geek @ 11:26 AM
3 Comments:
John Straube and Eric Burnett, in their recent book, "Building Science for Building Enclosures", defince building science as "a unique mix of physics, material science, meteorology, construction technology, physiology, engineering analysis, and design". Using that definition, building science allows us to build the right kind of building, with the appropriate materials, assembled in the correct manner, for any given use and climate.
Just read the BTES blog and the BS from the colleague at MIT, BG.
This is a long-standing issue that will probably not be resolved in our lifetimes. In the first century BC, Vitruvius talked about Firmness and Delight. Centuries later, Louis Sullivan said, “Form Ever Follows Function”.
The question is this -- is the Architect an Artist or Master Builder?
The current answer is Artist. And Frank Gehry and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao are Exhibit A. Not since the architects of the International Style (those Damned Modernists that make the Charleston SOBs spit) has the function of the building been emphasized over the form.
Integration of proper building envelope design into academia will be difficult because of several factors:
1. Proper detailing has always been considered to be part of the architectural internship program, not the responsibility of the universities. This is a remnant of the Master Builder / Apprenticeship days.
2. ARCHITECTURE professors in academia rarely have the experience that is required to teach proper building envelope design well. They are not hired for their Real World credentials, but for their Academic credentials.
3. Sustainable Design as promoted by the USGBC and architectural community has little to do with Maintainability and Usability. It has more to do with Being Green.
4. Architects have largely abrogated their responsibilities as Master Builder. Look at the evidence: The majority of forensics firms investigating building envelope failure are composed of Engineers. The majority of roofing and building envelope consultants composed of Engineers. The majority of indoor environmental consultants are Engineers (or Industrial Hygienists). And I dare say that the majority of the members of BTES and BETEC discussing this are Engineers and not Architects.
What's the answer? Changes in architectural education will only come if there is a sense within the architectural community that the current internship methodology is failing. We can push for universities to provide a higher level of building envelope education, but that will be limited due to the reasons I previously discussed.
In my humble opinion, the key to improved building envelope education will be to incorporate written and visual examination questions into the ARE. Then and only then will we see a push for improved education at the universities and in the practicing community.
Building science is important for architects because this stuff is not intuitive. Maybe it was back in the day of drafty, uninsulated, non-air-conditioned buildings, but now it is complicated. We need to really understand the physics of what's happening in a wall system to be able to develop appropriate enclosure designs.
Building science is critical for the missing link of LEED sustainability... durability. In order to design truly sustainable buildings, we need to ensure that the enclosure system will last and will not compromise the indoor air quality, energy efficiency and other green aspects of building interior.
Building science is important because the consequences of ignorance can be devastating to a building, its occupants, it designer and its cost.
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