BSCE - Building Science

• How would you use solar heating and natural light for residential housing?
  
• What type of foundation would you use to support a high-rise building on sandy soil?
• How would you design a chemical plant to minimize the danger of spills during an earthquake?
• How can computers be used to produce more efficient building systems?
  
• How would you develop a prefabricated, industrialized building system for low-cost housing for low income families in third-world countries?
• How would you recycle an old waterfront warehouse into a complex of small shops?
• What features would you incorporate to encourage low energy consumption?
• How would you preserve valuable architectural features of the original structure yet adapt it to contemporary construction standards?

Interesting problems, aren't they? Perhaps you have your own ideas about the solutions. Perhaps in high school you were interested not only in your math and science courses, but also in art, design, and drawing. You know that you have excellent career prospects with a degree in Civil Engineering - the building business is one of the nation's largest industries. Yet you hesitate to put aside your other interests. You should consider an educational program that offers work suited to the range of your interests and skills.

The Building Science Program

• The Viterbi School of Engineering and the School of Architecture offer an interdisciplinary four-year program in Building Science leading to a B.S. in Civil Engineering — Building Science. This program, which combines architecture and structural engineering, was developed in response to the demand for professionals trained in both disciplines.

• Building Science involves all stages of designing a building, from formulating the original conceptualization to creating drawings for construction. Many factors are to be considered, such as the basic structural integrity in relation to the qualities of the environment it will create, social ramifications, cost efficiency, environmental impact, special safety problems, availability of materials, energy conservation, earthquake stability soil structure, etc.

• The introduction of new materials, fresh approaches to building design, digital computer techniques, earthquake loadings, new construction methods and management techniques, improved noise control and need for thermal comfort and conservation of energy all serve to escalate the demand. In response, this program prepares graduates to fulfill the needs of this industry—one of the largest in the nation.

• This amalgam of engineering and architectural skills is achieved by a curriculum combining courses selected from both schools. This degree program covers the general area known as architectural engineering with an emphasis in the following technical areas:

• Graphic construction and communication
• Architecture history and theory
• Environment and society
• Architectural design studio
• Architectural design of buildings
• Computer-aided building design
• Site preparation and foundation design
• Soil mechanics and geotechnical engineering
• Structural mechanics and structural analysis
• Structural design of steel buildings
• Structural design of reinforced concrete buildings
• Timber and masonry design
• Earthquake engineering and design for dynamic loads
• Construction technology and management

• During the first two years, student takes a core curriculum involving basic courses that are necessary to deal with the architectural and engineering aspects of building technology.
  
• In the junior and senior years, students specialize and take electives which are appropriate building technology type courses.
• The architectural portion of the program is taught in a standard studio type environment and emphasizes graphic communication, rendering and design through models.
  
• The civil engineering part of the program is taught in a normal lecture style with an emphasis on the development of basic physical principles and design procedures based on these principles.

The Building Design and Construction Profession

• To see the importance of this program, consider the way in which a typical building design project might proceed. Suppose the project involves the design and construction of a high-rise building.
  
  • Initially the building owner or developer makes the decision to begin the building project. He commissions an architect to work on the project.
    
  • The architect serves in at least two roles. He prepares an architectural design for the building. This may include an exterior design, an interior design, and space planning for the project. His designs are normally communicated through models and graphical renderings of the building.
    
  • In addition to the artistic design responsibilities, the architect normally takes on project management duties for the overall building design project.In this role the architect contracts with a structural engineering firm, as well as with other engineering specialists.
    
  • The structural engineer prepares a structural design for the superstructure of the building. The resulting structure should be capable of carrying the loadings applied to the structure. These loadings may be lateral loadings caused, for example, by wind or earthquake ground motion, or they may be vertical loadings induced by the weight of the buildings and its contents.
• At least two types of individuals are employed by the structural engineering firm.
  
  • The first is a creative design person. This individual has an intuitive design aptitude as well as abundant experience to draw on. He can start with nothing but a blank sheet of paper and can, through his intuitive nature, develop an effective design solution. This design person must completely understand the behavior and economics of steel and reinforced concrete construction and must be familiar with the design experiences of others.
    
  • The second individual is the structural analyst. He must be well-versed in the principles of physics, mathematics and the theory of structures. He must be able to use computers in the design process. His role is to predict the performance of the structure in terms of the displacements, stresses and strains which are caused by the loads applied to the building. The results of the work of the structural engineer are engineering drawings of the superstructure of the building and detailed engineering drawings of all structural. components.
• Once the structure has been designed, the weight of the structure can be established. However, one question remains. That is, can the site support a structure of this weight?
  
  • This question is answered by another civil engineer - the geotechnical engineer. He is a specialist who deals with soil mechanics and foundations. His work is largely experimental. He goes to the building site and takes soil samples. He takes the soil samples to his lab where they are tested to determine the mechanical properties of the soil. Given these mechanical properties, the geotechnical engineer designs the foundation for the building.
• Once the design phase, including the architectural, structural, and geotechnical aspects, is completed, the project moves on to the construction phase. The construction company employs at least two types of civil engineers.
  
  • The first type of engineer is a specialist in construction management - the business side of construction. This person is well-versed in estimating, scheduling, accounting and he must have good interpersonal relationship skills He must direct the subcontractors and interact with suppliers. He must deal with the construction staff from the building trades, as well as the building developer, architect, and structural engineer.
    
  • The second type of engineer is the construction engineering specialist. This position requires a expert on construction equipment and methods. They define the least cost construction procedures and equipment, required to turn the drawing of the architect, structural engineer, and geotechnical engineer into the final building. It should be noted that the construction activity occurs at the job site. This is an ideal activity for those who like to work outside.
• As you can see the building design and construction project requires a variety of individuals with differing skills. The Building Science Program is designed to deal with all of the specification which are a part or the typical building project.

How Does Building Science Compare to Standard Civil Engineering

• As can be seen from the above description, the work of the architect and civil engineer are closely linked. One cannot exist without the other.The Building Science program keeps this in mind. It attempts to educate the student in all aspects of the building process, from the architectural phase to the construction phase.
  
• But, how does this program compare to a traditional civil engineering program? The building science students take all of the normal civil engineering courses which involve structures and geotechnical engineering. They skip those courses which involve water resources, environmental engineering, and transportation.
  
• The degree is a true civil engineering degree. Students receiving this degree can even work in the nonstructural areas of civil engineering, as long as they make up the requisite courses in the chosen area.

Are Well Suited for this Program?

• How might you know if the Building Science program is appropriate for you?
  
  • The typical building science student has both an interest in science and a artistic inclination.
    
  • They must have a good academic background in math and physics, in addition to a reasonable amount of talent in the artistic area.
    
  • This individual probably pictures himself as becoming the master builder - the person who builds the structures which are symbols of our civilization.

What About After Graduation?

• Graduates of the program in Building Science will receive the Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering with the special designation Building Science.
  
• They will find many options open to them.
  
  • If the student decides that a main area of interest lies in structural engineering, further study toward a Master's degree in civil engineering is a possibility.
    
  • If the student has a preference for architecture, qualified students may apply to graduate schools in architecture and, if accepted, may complete a master's in Architecture or Building Science.
• Alternatively, the graduate may wish to obtain some practical experience.
  • Graduates of the Building Science Program will find that their education has qualified them assume challenging positions in engineering and architectural companies, in the building and construction industries, in consulting firms, in government, in building materials research and development, or in architectural planning or real estate firms.
    
  • The variety in size and scope of employment opportunities gives the Building Science major a significant amount of freedom in seeking a work environment suited to their individual interests.

Student Views of the Building Science Program