Building Construction Principles, Materials, and Systems

For one- or two-semester courses in Construction Methods and Materials and Design in Architecture.

Promoting comprehensive understanding in general and complex concepts in construction

Exceptionally well-received and one of the most acclaimed university-level books on construction, Building Construction, Principles, Materials and Systems is a comprehensive and fully illustrated introduction to construction methods and materials. It’s informed by a core philosophy that sufficient grounding in the principles and science of construction is the best way to equip today’s designers and constructors to respond successfully to rapid changes in the built environment. By ensuring students are well-versed in the science and technology of materials and systems, the text aims to better prepare architects, engineers, and constructors to produce a resilient and sustainable built environment—a need that will grow with increasing urbanization across the globe. 

The science of building construction and design is evolving more quickly than ever before. The Third Edition of this outstanding text builds on the previous versions. It incorporates the latest updates available, features over one thousand new end-of-chapter problems, and now addresses common errors related to the topic. The organization of the text fosters a definitive understanding of general concepts before moving on to more complex concepts. Emphasizing a visual approach to learning, it includes original illustrations.

Madan Mehta, B.Arch., M.Bdg.Sc., Ph.D., P.E., is a faculty member at the School of Architecture, University of Texas at Arlington, and teaches courses in construction and structures. He was previously the Director of the Architectural Engineering Program at King Fahd University, Saudi Arabia. A licensed professional engineer (Texas), Fellow of the Institute of Architects (India), and Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers, he has worked in India, Australia, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. With academic credentials in both architecture and engineering, he ran a comprehensive architecture/engineering practice while working as a faculty member at the Delhi School of Architecture, and he worked for a large general contractor in the United States during a leave of absence. He is the author of several full-length books and monographs on building construction, architectural structures, and architectural engineering.

Walter R. Scarborough, FCSI, SCIP, is Vice President and Regional Manager for Hall Building Information Group, LLC. He is a specifications consultant and registered architect (Texas) with over 35 years of comprehensive technical architectural experience in specifications, document production, and construction contract administration. Previously the Director of Specifications for 10 years for one of the largest architectural firms in the world, he was responsible for building sciences research, manager of a department of speciers, and master specification development and maintenance, in addition to being the specier for major healthcare, sports, detention, municipal, and commercial projects, some valued in the hundreds of millions of dollars. He is active in the Construction Specification Institute (CSI) at the local level (past president, secretary, and technical director) and national level (Education Committee and Practice Guide Task team), holds several CSI certifications, was awarded CSI’s prestigious J. Norman Hunter Memorial Award for advancing building sciences and specifications, and is the revision author for the first and second editions of CSI’s Project Delivery Practice Guide.

Diane Armpriest, M.L.A., M. Arch., is Associate Professor of Architecture, College of Art and Architecture, University of Idaho. Before joining the faculty in 2001, she worked as an architectural project manager, and as a project developer and construction manager for neighborhood nonprofit housing providers. Her teaching and research interests include the pedagogy of architectural building construction technology, the expression of structure and materials in Northwest regional architecture, and the relationship between building and site. Previously, she was Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at the University of Cincinnati. Highlights of her work there include research in resource-efficient design and construction and working with students on design-build projects.

PART I: Principles of Construction

An Overview of the Building Delivery Process (How Buildings Come Into Being)

Design and Constructions Regulations

Loads on Buildings

Load Resistance (The Structural Properties of Materials)

Properties of the Envelope-I (Thermal Properties

Properties of the Envelope-II (Air and Water Vapor Control)

Fire and Smoke-Related Properties

Acoustical Properties of Materials

Principles of Joints And Sealants (Expansion and Contraction Control)

Principles of Sustainable Construction

Soils and Excavations

Below-Grade Construction (Foundation Systems and Basements)

PART II: Material and Systems of Constructions

Materials for Wood Construction-I (Lumber)

Materials for Wood Construction-II (Engineered Wood Products, Fasteners, and Connectors)

Wood Light-Frame Construction-I

Wood Light-Frame Construction-II

Structural Insulated Panel Construction

Material Steel and Steel Components

Structural Steel Construction

Cold-Formed Steel construction

Lime, Portland Cement, And Concrete

Concrete Construction-I (Formwork, Reinforcement, and Slabs-On-Ground)

Concrete Construction-II (Site-Cast And Precast Concrete Framing Systems)

Masonry Materials-I (Mortar and Brick)

Masonry Materials-II (Concrete Masonry Units, Natural Stone, and Glass Masonry Units)

Masonry and Concrete Bearing Wall Construction

Exterior Wall Cladding-I (Principles of Rainwater Infiltration Control)

Exterior Wall Cladding-II (Masonry, Precast Concrete, and GFRC)

Exterior Wall Cladding-III (Stucco, Adhered Veneer, Eifs, Natural Stone, and Insulated Metal Panels)

Glass, Glazing, and Light-Transmitting Plastics

Windows and Doors

Exterior Wall Cladding-IV (Wall System in Glass)

Roofing-I (Low-Slope Roofs)

Roofing-I (Steep Roofs)

Stairs

Floor Coverings

Ceilings

Appendix A: SI System and U.S. System of Units

Appendix B: Preliminary Sizing of Structural Members

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