Contemporary building materials and components are introduced through an investigation of construction assemblies and details. Design concepts and their translation into construction will be examined in two parts. Part I addresses wood framing strategies, principles of cladding, detailing philosophy, material properties of various roofs, windows, doors, and interior finishes. Part II explores small-scale steel framing, concrete and glass block masonry, brick cavity wall, stone veneer, glass and metal cladding assemblies. This course emphasizes the study of the materials and methods of construction. The building assemblies are examined with corresponding analysis of exemplary buildings, focusing on the relationship between design ideas and their detail, production, and construction. Fabrication of the building elements is discussed in class, complemented by visits to the fabricators\' shops and construction sites. Lectures will also elucidate the structure of the building industry and the framework for collaboration between architects, fabricators, and builders. Building construction is analyzed as the translation of design intents into built realities, its process informing the design concepts and constructs. Pedagogic Objectives:This course introduces a framework to investigate the materials and methods of building construction, and formulates design strategies responsive to fabrication and construction concerns. \”Hands-on\” understanding of materials and methods are developed via analysis and/or construction of building details. Visits to fabrication plants and building sites challenge the students to envision designs\' translation into the realities of fabrication and construction. Both the design and construction detail projects demand that the students access and comprehend the format and methodology of the working drawings, and interpret the building details in full-scale constructions. Subsystems of building components and assemblies are explored through section drawings, exploded axons, and eroded perspectives. Completion Requirements:In addition to the two lectures per week, four field trips are scheduled. These trips include visits to steel and stone fabricators, as well as construction site visits. Each student is expected to spend 3-6 hours per week on the analysis, design projects, and required readings. Basis of Final Grade:Exam 1: 25%; Exam 2: 25%; Construction analysis project: 25%; Construction framing and detail design: 25%.