Revised 08/2024

ARC 138 - Structures for Architects (3 CR.)

Course Description

Analyzes the various forces acting on a building and surveys the structural elements used to resist them. Uses case studies of ordinary and unusual structures to illustrate concepts of structural design. Provides a conceptual overview of structural systems for students interested in the design and construction of buildings. Requires some elementary algebra. Includes exercises in reading structural drawings and tables. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose

ARC 138 is a required course in the AAS Architectural Technology curriculum and provides architecture students with an overview of structural concepts and systems.

Course Prerequisites/Corequisites

Prerequisite: ARC 133

Course Objectives

Upon completing the course, the student will be able to:

  • Describe the forces and reactions acting upon a building structure
  • Describe how the loads created by these forces are distributed
  • Define engineering terms that describe the structural characteristics of a material
  • Describe how the forces acting on a structure are transmitted to the ground
  • Define and describe a bearing wall structure
  • Define and describe a skeletal structure
  • Read and interpret structural drawings

Major Topics to Be Included

  • Forces acting upon a building structure (i.e., live, dead, and lateral loads)
  • Load reactions and distribution (i.e., compression, tension, shear, and torsion)
  • Structural characteristics of materials (i.e., tensile, compressive and shear strength, section modulus, and fiber strength)
  • Foundation design
  • Bearing wall structures
  • Skeletal structures
  • Column design
  • Floor structure design
  • Roof design
  • Structural drawings