Course Information: ARCH 4621
Department of Architecture, Cornell University

Course outline

(Always under construction: schedule based on Cornell's "final" academic calendar.)

PART I: Introduction and history

week 1 Feb. 9, 2021
Introduction to sustainability, science, politics, and their interrelationships

week 2 Feb. 16, 2021 [assignment due]
History of sustainability: Vitruvius, Eitel, Diamond, Markham

week 3 Feb. 23, 2021 [assignment due]
History of sustainability: Leopold, Carson, Brundtland, McDonough

week 4 March 2, 2021 [assignment due]
Sustainability in relation to politics and economics (Part I): Shapiro, Held & Hill; Janda et al.

week 5 March 9, 2021: No class

week 6 March 16, 2021 [assignment due] [in-class presentation assignment issued]
Sustainability in relation to politics and economics (Part II): Huber; Wainwright and Mann

PART II: LEED and its categories

week 7 March 23, 2021 [assignment due] [final paper issued]
LEED Intro: USGBC v3.0 and v4 Intro and Preface, Murphy

week 8 March 30, 2021 [assignment due]
LEED in relation to (a) location-transportation: DiLorenzo, Jacobs, LEED Reference Guide; and (b) site: Weisman, Wilson, LEED Reference Guide

week 9 April 6, 2021 [assignment due]
LEED in relation to energy: Crosby, Weissenbacher, Energy Codes 101, LEED Reference Guide

week 10: April 13, 2021 [assignment due]
LEED in relation to atmosphere: "Ruthless criticism" of climate change, Green New Deal, geoengineering, and LEED Reference Guide

week 11 April 20, 2021 [assignment due]
LEED in relation to water: Gross and Dodge; Outwater; Howe; LEED Reference Guide

week 12 April 27, 2021 [assignment due]
LEED in relation to materials: Misc. articles on mass timber, LEED Reference Guide

week 13 May 4, 2021 [assignment due] [in-class presentation assignment due]
LEED in relation to indoor environmental quality: Holladay; Laquatra; LEED Reference Guide. Course evaluations.

PART III: Case studies and conclusions

week 14 May 11, 2021
Case studies (student presentations of sustainable buildings)

Final paper due May 20, 2021 at 9:00 AM (Ithaca time). See Cornell schedule.