Course syllabus for Buildings functions and design

Course syllabus adopted 2023-02-17 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameByggnaders funktioner och utformning
  • CodeBOM205
  • Credits9 Credits
  • OwnerTISAM
  • Education cycleFirst-cycle
  • Main field of studyCivil and Environmental Engineering
  • ThemeEnvironment 1 c,MTS 1 c
  • DepartmentARCHITECTURE AND CIVIL ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language Swedish
  • Application code 61129
  • Open for exchange studentsNo
  • Only students with the course round in the programme overview.

Credit distribution

0115 Project 2 c
Grading: UG
2 c
0215 Design exercise 2.5 c
Grading: UG
2.5 c
0315 Written and oral assignments 3 c
Grading: UG
3 c
0415 Examination 1.5 c
Grading: TH
1.5 c
  • 28 Okt 2024 pm J
  • 07 Jan 2025 am J
  • 19 Aug 2025 pm J

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for bachelor's level (first cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

The same as for the programme that owns the course.
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Aim

The course will introduce the student to the building sector and its actors and deal with issues concerning the design, function, and technical solutions of buildings. The course contributes to a holistic view and systems thinking. The course will introduce the building's load-bearing system, climate shell, as well as various installations in buildings required for heating, ventilation, electricity and water.
The learning sequences information and communication, engineering methodology, and sustainable development are introduced in the course, which among other things will give students good foundations in interpreting and producing drawings / BIM models, technical documents and descriptions, and provide a basic understanding of factors that contribute to a sustainable society.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

  1. Describe the construction sector's institutional structure, common forms of collaboration and planning, building and management processes
  2. Describe the extent of society's regulations, industry standards, environmental labeling and user requirements for buildings
  3. Define and explain the concept of property from both a technical and legal point of view
  4. Describe a building's life cycle, from conceptual design through design, production and management (including inspection, maintenance, evaluation and strengthening) to the demolition and recycling, and its impact on the environment (sustainable development)
  5. Use and explain documents needed for construction (digital and physical)
  6. Describe common building materials in both bearing and non load bearing structures of the building envelope, in technical installations and the material's overall properties
  7. Specify a building's functional requirements with respect to:
    • a. load carrying capacity and stability
    • b. the indoor environment (air quality, sound quality, thermal environment)
    • c. durability (includes maintenance, evacuation and fire protection, sustainable development)
  8. View a holistic approach between functional requirements regarding load-bearing structure, building envelope, sound and vibrations, and technical systems such as the building of heating and ventilation systems and be able to explain the overall demands
  9. Identify the building functional requirements with respect to :
    • a. shells, load carrying systems and foundations
    • b. climate cover
    • c. indoor climate and technical installation systems
  10. Calculate in a simplified way:
    • a. load carrying structural elements
    • b. energy balance for a house
  11. Communicate the design of the building with common used terminology
  12. Describe the social, economical and ecological aspects of sustainable buildings and neighborhoods (MTS)
  13. Describe how Building Information Models (BIM) and its information can be used by building lifecycle, from conceptual design through design, production and management
  14. Interpret and explain drawings (digital and physical). Be able to apply BIM tools to build digital models and drawings for a building in design stage
  15. Distinguishing between what and how different actors working with BIM/CAD and the way in which these supplies various representations of the building
  16. Give examples of how different demands are put up on the process (the project planning as well as the production process) and on the various stakeholders to enable collaboration on a project
  17. Work in a group with different people, analyse and reflect on the interaction with focus on equality, inclusion and diversity.

Content

The actors on the construction are introduced in the course, where issues as the construction of buildings, functional and technical solutions are treated as its structural systems, building envelope and installations. The construction process is introduced and exemplified  due to the building's various phases from conceptional design, planning and production, use and dismantling. Engineers' and business developers' contributions and responsibilities are highlighted as well as society's rules and requirements.

Requirements with respect to sustainable development are treated, the issues of energy and energy efficiency are of special interest. The course will illustrate how knowledge can be used to solve and deal with real problems in applications, as well as explain the building's climate husbandry and sufficient systems in relation to the external supply.

"Engineering Skills CAD " is a part of the course. In this course the student should be able to identify, describe and apply various types of computer-based drawing and modeling programs used as tools in the construction sector. The course will provide knowledge of how to read, understand and produce standardized drawings and have knowledge of instructions and rules which are praxis in this area.

Further, in the course there is a communication element that support the project work well as an introduction to writing at university. Leadership is introduced in the form of group dynamics/group exercises. The course will help to meet "MTS" requirements.

The course will illustrate how knowledge can be used to solve and deal with real problems in applications. Thereby, the course will provide foundation and motivation for further studies. Different types of buildings are studied to get an overview of common building types with functional requirements and solutions. Examples are selected from existing, old and new buildings.

Later applications:

-Urban function and design - Installations in buildings (BI) - Building Design of Building Services Engineering - Engineering Skills VR - Engineering Skills BIM.

Organisation

An essential part of the course consists of project work that goes like a theam through the course to continuously provide motivation for studying and learning. During the course seminars are given aiming to learn to describe, explain and inform. In support of the project work lectures and exercises are given to naturally connect theory and applications. The project work is reported continuously and computer labs are given that are integrated into the project work. Finally, the course ends with a written exam.

Literature

Tillämpad byggnadsfysik, Petersson, Lund, Studentlitteratur, 2013 (or later edition). (In Swedish)

Bygga hus, Strandberg, Stockholm, Byggenskap, 2014 (or later edition). (In Swedish)

Complementary material will be handed out during the course. (In Swedish)

Examination including compulsory elements

Project: Implemented and approved project. Project work is presented in the form of a report to be submitted during the course. Grading Pass/Fail.

Design task: Completed and approved design task. The task will be done during the course. Grading Pass/Fail.

Examination : Written examination at the end of the course consisting of both theoretical questions, descriptive tasks and a problem solving part. Grading Five, Four, Three, Fail.

Assignment: Completed and passed assignment in engineering methodoly CAD. Grading Pass/Fail.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.