ARCH 380Building Environmental Systems I

3 credits · Architecture · Penn State

ARCH 380 Building Environmental Systems I (3) introduces Architecture students to the topics of building thermal environment, and passive and mechanical heating/cooling systems. Thermal environment topics include thermal comfort, natural environmental impacts, heat transfer through the building envelope, heating and cooling design, mechanical systems, and building energy consumption. Building mechanical system topics include heating, ventilating, and airconditioning systems. Emphasis is placed on building design in response to the technical, environmental, and societal challenges, with a focus on sustainable design principles and guidelines applied to achieving thermal comfort in buildings. The course utilizes lectures, practicums, examinations, projects, and presentations to deliver and reinforce the technical content. The course offers students the opportunity to work in a team setting and to present their work orally to their peers. The broad coverage of the technical and social issues and professional skills challenges the architecture students to incorporate technical issues as an integral part of the overall building design. The course is required for students enrolled in the bachelor of architecture program.