Terri Meyer Boake, BES, BArch, MArch, LEED AP
Professor School of Architecture University of Waterloo
email: tboake@uwaterloo.ca

Gardens by the Bay, Singapore

Arch 173:
Building Construction 2

Winter 2024:
Final Project

The term’s knowledge will focus on a major design project that requires the students to design and detail a small building. This term’s project will focus on the design of a steel structure for the "BRIDGE" competition sponsored by the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction Student Design Competition.

The bridge must be located in Canada and must span over a waterway. It needs to also think about the view from the bridge.

You must follow the CISC requirements quite specifically. This is a legitimage competition and you can be disqualified for not following format, not submitting on time and leaving your name on the boards. Competitions are meant to be judged anonymously.

The link to the CISC requirements page is found at:
https://www.cisc-icca.ca/architectural-student-design-competition/

The actual entry form is a pdf file whose link is on that page.

Submissions will consist of (minimum requirements):
a plan @ 1:50, (or whatever works for your particular project - use your judgment so that the board layout is legible!)
a detailed sectional view @ approximately 1:10 (FULLY LABELLED)
and a structural axonometric @ 1:25.
Rhino perspective(s) .

YOU SHOULD LIKELY DO THE ENTIRE PROJECT ON THE COMPUTER, but in any case you must create a submission that satisfies both the requirements of Arch 173 and Arch 113. READ THE CISC REQUIREMENTS! (link to be updated this term.)

CISC likes to see details and some labelling that lets them know that YOU know what kinds of steel sections you are using (HSS, wide flange, channels, etc.) Otherwise, borrow a steel manual from a 3A student... or the library. You do not have to numerically size the members! Just make sure that they LOOK right. It is the architect's sense of scale and balance that is to kick in at this point... Structurally speaking, please be sure that your building will not fall down.

The project should focus on the steel and the connections/materiality of the structure. You can use some other materials as needed (like concrete for the foundations) but steel should be the primary focus.

If you are interested in winning (rather than just finishing my course), have a look at the recent SSEF Competition winners' entries. Many of the successful Waterloo projects have been from the 1B class. Please note that the eligibility for the competition has been broadened this year. It used to be limited to just the 12 Schools of Architecture in Canada but now includes all of the technical colleges. Expect more competition.

To view the past winners' projects (so you know what is expected...) link

Final Project due at 11:59pm April 26, 2024. Late submissions will be deducted 5% per day, day meaning the 24 period starting after the due time. Note that the LEARN Dropbox datestamps submissions.

ARCH 173 AND ARCH 113 REQUIRE SEPARATE SUBMISSIONS.

CLARIFICATION OF SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS!!
For the April 26 deadline, please submit digital files of your boards to LEARN. The digital boards are 24 x 36 (LANDSCAPE ORIENTATION as per the CISC spec). No more than 3 boards.

You need NOT have the competition boards complete on the due date. As this is a digital upload, you can fine tune, tweak, etc prior to submission to CISC. Please note that grade changes will not be entertained for extra work after the deadline.

WATCH FOR LAPTOP OVERHEATING DUE TO LONG RENDERING TIMES. KEEP YOUR LAPTOP ELEVATED AND WELL VENTILATED, OR USE THE LAB MACHINES.

RESOURCES

Some additional resources to assist you:

 
THIS IS A PLAYLIST OF SOME EDUCATIONAL VIDEOS THAT I RECENTLY CREATED FOR ACSA/AISC TO ASSIST WITH THIS COMPETITION

The CISC AESS Guide

A powerpoint explaining the CISC AESS System.