ENVIRONMENTAL SITE PLANNING

ARCH 3373  (3:3:1)

COURSE NUMBER & CATALOG DESCRIPTION

        A basic course to develop a working knowledge of the techniques and principles involved in site planning to provide optimum living and working environments. 

INTRODUCTION

Goals and Objectives:

        The course is structured to provide the student with an understanding of how environmental site planning is the basis of all design and how an understanding of the site can be of value in the success or failure of a project.  The course is for architecture majors only, or consent of the instructor.

        Site Planning is an art and science of arranging uses of parcels of land.  It should be a major part of the field of architecture, since it is almost inconceivable that structures can be designed upon the landscape without affecting that landscape.  It is but one phase of the planning and design process.

        Man alone, of all creatures, is able to, or has the ability to weigh the factors of a problem and reason out a course of action.  Man's essential strength, his very reason for survival and the key to all future achievement, is his unique power of perception and deduction.  Perception is making oneself aware of all conditions and applicable factors, and deduction is deriving, through reason, an appropriate course of action.  Both of these things are the very essence of planning.

        This course is directed to opening a door to understanding how important site planning indeed is, and that architects, planners, designers and landscape architects understand the need for coordinated teamwork in the vast area of environmental design; structuring urban growth through building and landscape design is necessary if architecture is to provide optimum living and working environments.  A regional design that supports human needs can best be achieved by developing our man-made environment in harmony with the natural environment.  Studies show that an integrated approach to site and building design can greatly increase the effectiveness of human performance in both exterior and interior environments.  Our goals toward comprehensive land planning and building design can increase our potential for developing environments in accordance with the limits of man and nature.

        Proficiency cannot be achieved entirely from this one course.  Only a continuing process of education and practice will bring understanding.

        The principal goals of environmental site planning are:

1. To develop a respect for the broad significance of the environment and special human and physical characteristics of the site in all planning problems; the simple to the complex and the general to the specific.

2. To indoctrinate a degree of sensitive understanding and comprehension of the topography and land forms as a beginning phase in the planning and design process.

3. To acquaint the student with some fundamental methods and procedures for site analysis, site-structure expression and site-structure plan development.

4. To acquaint the student with some fundamental and technical aspects of site engineering, and methods and procedures in the study of three dimensional character of land and outdoor spaces and forms.

5. To acquaint the student with the fundamental of using landscapes for energy conservation and sustainability.

COURSE OBJECTIVES

1. To expose the student to the site planning process, and to develop a working knowledge of this process as a comprehiensive element of the total planning and design approach.

Performance Requirements:

A. Understanding and use of the planning and design process.

B. Know and understand how to use the elements of research, analysis, and synthesis as they relate to the comprehensive design process

2. To provide the student with a knowledge of environmental and sustainability considerations necessary for the planning and design process.

Performance Requirements:

Utilizing the following in determining the optimum planning and design solution:

A. Topography and orientation.

B. Specific site considerations.

C. Effects of geography, geology, hydrology, topography, sunlight, and wind.

D. Effects of design and orientation on micro-climates.

E. Control of elements of weather (wind, rain, snow, breeze, etc.) through design.

F. Design aspects of site orientation to views, forms, and spaces.

3. To provide the student with orientation, and knowledge of maps and surveys to enable him/her to develop basic skills in their selection and use.

Performance Requirements:

A. Knowledge and understanding of the architectural use of various maps and surveys (presented in class).

B. Knowledge and ability to use various types of maps and surveys.

C. Know and understand the definitions related to maps and surveys presented.

D. Knowledge and ability to use topographic symbols.

4. To expose the student to, and provide a basic understanding of the three-dimensional character of land.

Performance Requirements:

A. Knowledge and understanding of characteristics of contour manipulation.

B. Understanding and ability to perform basic grading requirements associated with contour manipulation.

C. Knowledge and the understanding of the relationship of new and existing topographic grades to vegetation, utilities, and architectural structures.

D. Knowledge and ability to use the comparative factors of earthwork associated with slope and balancing cutting and filling.

5. To expose the student to, and provide him/her a basic understanding of the design and planning of outdoor circulation.

Performance Requirements:

A. Know and understand basic requirements for street and intersection planning and design.

B. Knowledge and ability to use basic principles of road alignment and design.

C. Know and be able to use various basic planning guidelines concerning vehicular parking and maneuvering requirements.

D. Know and be able to use various basic planning and design guidelines concerning pedestrian circulation.

E. Know and be able to apply basic planning criteria for barrier-free site design.

6. To provide the student with an orientation and a basic knowledge of drainage, utilities, and underground structures.

Performance Requirements:

A. Knowledge and understanding of the techniques and methods for determining the best ways to handle surface and subsurface water as a design and planning factor.

B. Knowledge and understanding of drainage systems and the effects of erosion and minimizing same through proper planning and design.

C. Knowledge and understanding of the requirements of other utility systems such as water, electricity, gas, etc.

7. To expose the student to and provide a basic knowledge of the use of natural elements in the planning and design process.

Performance Requirements:

A. Understanding and the ability to apply relationships of sun, soil, and water to a design and planning problem.

B. Knowledge and understanding of the significance of existing vegetation in evaluating a site as a part of the planning and design process.

C. Knowledge and understanding of the basic planning and design considerations related to the selection and location of new plant material.

8. To expose the student to and provide a basic knowledge of the legal and political constraints in the planning process.

Performance Requirements:

A. Knowledge and understanding of zoning codes and property description

B. Knowledge and understanding of legal documents and restrictions on real property.

C. Knowledge and understanding of floor areas and catchments as fundamental requirements.

9. To expose the student and provide a basic knowledge of the sociological and economic influences of planning.

Performance Requirements:

A. Knowledge and understanding of biological, psychological and demographic considerations.

B. Knowledge and understanding of spatial aspects and effects of density.

10. To expose the student to and provide a background understanding of the history of development of site planning.

Performance Requirements:

A. Knowledge and understanding of the history and theory of the site planning process.

B. Knowledge and understanding of site planning development.

NOTE: Overall Course Requirements: In the course of the semester of study, no student can become proficient in all of the material presented above. Students will, however, be expected to have knowledge and understanding of all topic areas to the extent that their application may be used in the remainder of the professional curriculum course work.

NAAB CRITERIA:  This course meets NAAB Criteria 14, 15, 17, 33

CLASS ORGANIZATION

1. This class will meet one and one-half hours, two times a week, utilizing references, slides and overhead transparencies.

2. Required reading and homework will be prepared outside of class.

3. Class notes on lectures, hand-out material, etc. will be kept in a notebook, compiled and indexed in a manner to be beneficial to the student following the completion of the course.

4. Late homework will be accepted (within the realm of reasonable and justifiable excuses) with a reduction of one letter grade (10 points). No homework will be accepted more than one week late.

5. Four class-period exams will be given during the semester with an assigned value of ten (10%) each for a total of forty (40%) of the final course grade.

6. Homework for the course will be sixty (60%) of the final course grade.

Since much material will be presented in a short time span, students are encouraged to further explore a topic of interest.

All of the natural elements of the landscape will be included in the lectures of the semester as part of the comprehensive approach to the planning and design process. The first series of lectures will be dealing with the elements in a general aspect, such as history, and later lectures will introduce more complex and specific factors. The following elements will become a part of the increasingly restrictive and involved problems as the course progresses.

· Effects of climate, general topography, civic, economic, and social trends on the region and the environment.

· Orientation effects of sun, wind, views, vegetation, etc.

· Subterranean features, such as geological, hydrological, etc.

· The use of plant materials (existing or planned) as ecological and design factors.

· The aesthetic relationship of indoor-outdoor forms and spaces, and their contribution to the comprehensive approach to environmental planning and design.

The students heed to be sensitive to proper functional and aesthetic integration of all environmental features in the planning and design process. Each lecture will, therefore, emphasize some of the following technical factors, on an increasingly complex scale, to reach that goal. These factors will be presented in lectures and slides or overhead transparencies.

· Techniques of large scale planning. The simplification of complex elements and ideas.

· Basic Criteria for making site analyses, and making decisions on comparable design solutions and ideas.

· Evaluation and application of principles of orientation (sun, wind, noise, view, etc.).

· The use of maps, contour characteristics and manipulation; application of contour lines and spot elevations.

· An introduction to drainage problems; application of basic techniques of handling surface water run-off and the use of storm sewers.

· An introduction to efficient and graceful pedestrian circulation into, out of, and between structures.

· A brief analysis of, and introduction to, vehicular planning and design of parking areas, intersections, streets, and turn-a-rounds.

· Introduction of principles and minimum requirement for making site development barrier-free.

· The use and layout of structures, such as walls, fences, steps, and ramps, emphasizing limitations and functional design attributes as they relate to outdoor movements of people and vehicles around and through landscape spaces, forms, and structures.

· An introduction to the general use of plants (trees, shrubs, and ground cover) for energy conservation, as an integral part of design, as barriers, as design forms, and other related functions.

· The less tangible and psychological factors of animal life, the effects of water, shade and shadow, and seasonal changes in landscape design.

· An introduction to legal and political constraints as an integral part of design.

· An introduction to sociological and economic influences as an integral part of site planning.

· The history of planning.

REQUIRED TEXT BOOKS AND EQUIPMENT

TEXT: SITE PLANNING: SITE DESIGN I. H. Paul Woods, AIA. Architectural License Seminars, Los Angeles, CA .1997. This text is available at The Copy Outlet, 2402 Broadway.

EQUIPMENT:  Architect’s Scale; Engineer’s Scale; Straight Edge or Triangle, Pencils and/or pens, paper, eraser, and calculator.

REFERENCES/RECOMMENDED READING

Brambilla, R., and Longo, G.  For Pedestrians Only.  New York: Whitney Library of Design, 1977.

Brooks, R. Gene. Site Planning; Environment, Process and Development. Upper Saddle, NJ. Prentice Hall, 1988

Davern, J. M., ed., Places for People.  An Architectural Record Book.  New York: McGraw Hill, 1976.

DeChiara, J., and Koppleman, L. E. Site Planning Standards.  New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1978.

DeChira, J. and Koppleman, L. E. Urban Planning and Design Criteria, 2nd ed.  New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, 1975.

Gallion, A. B.  The Urban Pattern, 3rd ed.  New York: D. Van Nostrand Company, 1975.

Kemper, A. M.  Architectural Handbook.  New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1979.

LaGro, Jr., James A.  Site Analysis: Linking Program and Process in Land Planning and Design. New York.  John Wiley and Sons, Inc.

Laurie, M.  An Introduction to Landscape Architecture.  New York: American Elsevier Publishing Company,

Inc., 1975.

Lynch, K.  Site Planning, 3rd ed.  Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Press, 1984.

McHarg, I. L.  Design With Nature, paperback ed.  New York: Doubleday/Natural History    Press, 1971.

Olgyay, V.  Design With Climate.  Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1963.

Robinette, G. O.  Landscape Planning and Energy Conservation. Reston, Va.: Environmental Design Press, 1977.

Robinette, G. O.  Plants, People and Environmental Quality.  Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Interior,

National Park Service, 1972.

Ruebenstein, H. M.  A Guide to Site and Environmental Planning.  New York: John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 1969.

Rutledge, A. J.  Anatomy of a Park.  New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1971.

Simonds, J. O.  Earthscape.  New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1978.

Simonds, J. O.  Landscape Architecture Shaping Man's Environment.  New York: McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1961.

Todd, K. W. Site, Space and Structure. New York. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, Inc. 1985.

Untermann, R. K. Grade Easy. Washington, D.C.: Landscape Architecture Foundation, Inc., 1973.

White, E. T.  Site Analysis.  Tucson, Ariz.: Architectural Media, Inc., 1983.

ATTENDANCE/CLASS PARTICIPATION/CONDUCT

1. Class begins promptly each day. No newspaper reading during class, and no talking to each other or playing computer games.

2. Any unexcused absence over three (3) will result in two (2) points per absence being deducted from the final course grade average. The College supports the definition of four absences being excessive and constitutes cause for having the student drop the course or receive a grade of “F”.

3. There will be no smoking or dipping allowed in the classroom, and no drinks will be allowed in the classroom. (See Building Policy of the Syllabus).

4. Lecture classes with illustrations and class discussion of case studies and lecture material.

5. NO CELL PHONES ALLOWED IN CLASS, AND NO TEXT MESSAGING DURING CLASS OR EXAMS. If you have a cell phone, please turn it off during class time and exams.

ASSESSMENT:

Each student will be assessed on the above performance requirements through graphic homework assignments and through written and graphic exams.

· Four exams valued at 10% each (40%).

· Ten Homework assignments (60%).

· The grading is based on 100 points and all grades during the course of the semester will be number grades. The final average will be converted to letter grades for the course grade.

· 90-100=A; 80-89=B; 70-79=C; 60-69=D; below 60=F.

Semester's Class Schedule

        Introduction of Course and semester schedule

         Review of Syllabus 2^nd day 

Sequence of lectures

Historical background, Chapter 6, pages 6-3 to 6-9

Site Planning Process, Chapter 6, pages 6-9 to 6-24

Natural Elements, Chapter 2,

Exam No. 1 (covers above Chapters and lecture material)

Topographic Elements Chapter 3

Exam No. 2 (covers above Chapter 3 and lecture material on topographic elements)

Circulation Chapter 4

Vehicular roads, and parking,

Pedestrian,

Utilities and services

Climate considerations and Climatic Zones, Chapter 1

Exam No. 3 (covers above Chapters 4 & 1 and lecture material on circulation and climatic considerations)

Legal and Economic Factors, Chapter 5

Exam No. 4 Chapter 5 (Legal and economic Factors)

There will be in-class homework exercises during the class periods after Exam No. 4.

Homework will be interspersed in the semester schedule.

Each student must keep up with all assignments. There will be NO EXTRA CREDIT assignments.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND ACCESS TO FACILITIES

The University is committed to the principle that in no aspect of its programs shall there be differences in the treatment of persons because of race, creed, national origin, age, sex, or disability and that equal opportunity and access to facilities shall be available to all. If you require special accommodations in order to participate, please contact the instructor.  Students should present appropriate verification from AccessTECH in the Office of the Dean of Students.  No requirement exists that accommodations be made prior to completion of this approved University process.

BUILDING POLICY

The studios and classrooms are a tobacco and gun-free environment.  Sound devices (TV and radios) require headphones at all hours in studios, and are not permitted in the lecture classrooms.

For more information on the Building Policy, go to the College Home page, click on Resources, and go to Building Policies

Smoking or other uses of tobacco, the use of spray paint or aerosol products of any kind are not permitted anywhere in the Architecture Building.  There is a designated smoking area outside in the courtyard near the bridge. The stairwells are not to be used for smoking or spray painting.

PROJECT/HOMEWORK REQUIREMENTS

“The College of Architecture reserves the right to retain, exhibit, and reproduce work submitted by students.  Work submitted for grade is the property of the college and will remain such until it is returned to the student”.