Course Syllabus

TECHNOLOGY: HEALTHIER BUILDING MATERIALS (A4849)                              

Meet: Wednesday 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Office Hours: Mondays 9:00-11:00 AM By Appointment

Instructor: Catherine Murphy

 IMAGE: RAQUEL MARTINEZ VIA UNSPLASH

COURSE DESCRIPTION

 

Healthy Building Materials introduces students to issues of toxicity in common building products and their impact on human and environmental health. Central to this exploration is identifying the populations who are most at risk, what those vulnerabilities are, and at what stage in the life cycle of a material or product is risk most prevalent. The course will be divided into four modules which will include the chemistry of building products, designing with healthier materials, and strategies to ensure the installation of healthier materials.

 

Over the course of the semester the students will develop a methodology to evaluate materials for human and environmental health. This methodology of material analysis and assessment can be carried into their studio projects and future practice. The goal of this course is to empower designers to transform architectural practice with the knowledge that healthier buildings lead to healthier lives.

 

Students will explore the relationships between building materials, chemical toxicity, carbon impact, and environmental exposures that directly impact human health and the communities which are most adversely affected. We will establish healthier material literacy and explore materials and products that are used in buildings. We will understand why chemicals in common building products can be harmful to human health and explore healthier alternatives. We will investigate current practice to see how leading firms are executing healthier buildings which will inform and develop methodologies that can be applied in current studio projects. In addition to lectures there will be video presentations from leaders in the fields of material health, architecture, public health, sustainability, and science.

 

This course is taught through research and discussion in a seminar style format. Each week, students will read, watch video content, and conduct research in a specific material product category. All students are expected to participate in class discourse. The research will culminate in a review. Class time will be divided into lectures, workshopping of ideas, class presentations, guest lectures. Students are strongly encouraged to apply what they learn in this class and their material analysis explorations to their studio projects

 

The goal is to empower students to transform architectural practice with the knowledge that healthier buildings lead to healthier lives.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

• Understand the relationships between human health, building materials, chemical toxicity, and environmental exposures
• Understand the health and environmental impacts that materials and products can have throughout their life cycle
• Identify where and why chemicals of concern are used in building products
• Apply strategies for avoiding toxic hazards and address the issues around materials and health in design practice
• Be able to set health goals and define outcomes specific to the user population and program
• Understand materials in context and their life-cycle implications.
• Develop a working knowledge of assessment tools and create a methodology for material analysis
• Create a framework that will engage all stakeholders and secure their commitment to material health
• Understand construction and maintenance practices that affect long term health conditions and establish methodologies to negate them

WORKLOAD AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

20% Assignment 1: Sketchbook

10% Assignment 2: Material Assessment

30% Assignment 3A: Material Analysis Research

30% Assignment 3B: Material Analysis Presentation

10% Class Participation

 

REFERENCE TEXTS

This class does not have a textbook, however, the following texts are recommended as part 

Of the student’s greater understanding of the issues discussed in this class and they are valuable additions to the students' architectural library. 

 These texts can be accessed via the Library Reserve tab on our Courseworks page.

 

Allen, Joseph G., & Macomber, John D., Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, MA (2020)

 

Petrovic, Emina Kristina. Materials for a Healthy, Ecological and Sustainable Built Environment : Principles for Evaluation, Woodhead Publishing. Cambridge MA (2017)

 

Swan, Shanna H. Count Down: How our Modern World is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race, Scribner New York, (2020)

 

Woolley, Tom, Building Materials, Health and Indoor Air Quality, Routledge, New York, (2017)

 

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY & PLAGIARISM

 

Plagiarism is defined as the use of work or concepts developed by other individuals without proper attribution or citation. Unique ideas or materials taken from another source for either written or oral use must be fully acknowledged in academic work to be graded. Examples of sources expected to be referenced include but are not limited to:

1. Text, either written or spoken, quoted directly or paraphrased.
2. Graphic elements (figures, charts, graphs, images).
3. Mathematical proofs and/or scientific data.
4. Concepts or material derived from the work, published or unpublished, of another person.

Students should take advantage of plagiarism checkers available on the library website, and for editing and writing assistance they should contact the Columbia Writing Center https://www.college.columbia.edu/core/uwp/writing-center. 

 

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

If you have a disability and are registered with the Columbia Disability Services, please use their online system to notify me of your accommodations and discuss your needs with me as early in the semester as possible. I will work with you to ensure that accommodations are provided as appropriate. If you suspect you may have a disability and would benefit from accommodations but are not yet registered with Disability Services, I encourage you to contact them at disability@columbia.edu

 

STATEMENT OF SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS’ HEALTH & WELL-BEING

 

I encourage you to take care of your health and wellbeing. Do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle this semester by eating well, exercising, applying the recommended COVID-19 precautions, avoiding drugs and alcohol, getting enough sleep, and taking some time to relax. This will help you achieve your goals and cope with stress.

 

If you or anyone you know experiences any academic stress, difficult life events, or feelings like anxiety or depression, we strongly encourage you to seek support. Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) is here to help 24/7: call 212-854-2878 and visit https://health.columbia.edu/content/counseling-and-psychological-services

 

SYNCHRONOUS ONLINE CLASS RECORDING

 

In the event of returning to online classes the sessions will be audio-visually. Students who participate with their camera engaged or who utilize a profile image are agreeing to have their audio/video or image recorded. Likewise, students who unmute during class and participate orally are agreeing to have their voices recorded.