Building Systems Archives | Building and Construction Technology

Enroll Now in Our Summer 2026 Online Courses

April 6, 2026April 4, 2026 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

Our BCT Summer 2026 online courses are now available on UMass University+. These are open to you whether you are a matriculated student or not and can provide valuable skills as well as credits towards your major or minor. Want to complete a BCT Minor? You can use these courses for that. Available Courses: Energy Efficient Housing (BCT 211) Energy conservation in contemporary residential construction. Emphasis on: energy efficient building materials, products and construction technology; alternative energy sources; passive solar design; environmental concerns, regulatory issues and building codes. Construction Estimating (BCT 314) Any successful building construction project relies on accurate and consistent cost estimates. This course provides students with the skills and background to perform construction estimating, bidding, and cost management. Lectures will cover quantity take-off from construction documents and estimate costs for material, labor, equipment, overhead, and profit. Students are required to prepare and submit a formal bid which details an estimate for a building construction project. Furthermore, students will also be introduced to leading construction estimating software utilized in...

Sign up now for our Summer 2026 Pre-College Program: BCT’s Sustainable Building Lab

February 17, 2026February 13, 2026 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

BCT is this year again offering a summer pre-college program for high-schoolers that are interested in construction and in finding out how to make buildings sustainable! Rising 10th–12th graders get a feel for what college is like while earning two (2) college credits that can be applied towards the Building and Construction Technology Program (BCT) at UMass, or others. Enroll NOW to save your child’s spot in these exciting programs! BCT's Sustainable Building Lab Discover how buildings shape the world – and how to make them better! Join us for two action-packed weeks at UMass Amherst where high school students will dive into the world of building design, construction, and sustainability. This isn’t just sitting in a classroom – it’s about designing, building, and exploring the future of the built environment. This pre-college course is dedicated to investigating sustainability in the Built Environment with a series of hands-on activities that will explore: Digital design using the computer-aided design (CAD) software Sketchup Energy efficiency in residential and commercial...

Enroll Now in Our Summer 2025 Online Courses

March 5, 2025May 13, 2025 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

Our BCT Summer 2025 online courses are now available on UMass University+. These are open to you whether you are a matriculated student or not and can provide valuable skills as well as credits towards your major or minor. Want to complete a BCT Minor? You can use these courses for that. Available Courses: Sustainability in the Built Environment (BCT 150) We will explore the issues of sustainability from the perspective of the built environment, our history of construction and expansion, and buildings and how they interact with the natural environment. Students will be exposed to issues of human impacts on natural systems through the built environment and the variety of disciplines that are working to create a more sustainable future. (Gen.Ed. I) Construction Estimating (BCT 314) Any successful building construction project relies on accurate and consistent cost estimates. This course provides students with the skills and background to perform construction estimating, bidding, and cost management. Lectures will cover quantity take-off from construction documents and estimate costs for...

Spring 2025 BCT Lecture Series Announced

February 3, 2025January 31, 2025 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

The start of a new semester brings with it a new series of public lectures. We are happy to announce the four speakers mentioned below, who will present on various current topics in the built environment as part of our Spring 2025 BCT Lecture Series. All lectures are open to the public and are held on Mondays from 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm in the Olver Design Building Room 170. Attendees can get continuing education credits (AIA/USGBC). Zoom options will be available, too. Want to get notified when these are? Sign up for our email list. Speakers Residential Construction: It’s Not Like Other JobsPatrick McCombe, Senior Editor, Fine Homebuilding Magazine02.10.25 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 (or Zoom) The Pretty Good House: Simplifying High Performance HomesDan Kolbert, General Contractor03.03.25 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 (or Zoom) Manage Energy & Moisture with Equal IntensityPeter Yost, Building-Wright03.31.25 | 4:00-5:15pm | John W. Olver Design Building Room 170 (or Zoom) Locally Grown Homes: Buildings As A Climate SolutionGreg...

Sign up now for our Summer 2025 Pre-College Programs: BCT’s Building Lab & BCT’s Sustainability Lab

January 29, 2025February 7, 2025 by Alexander Schreyer Comment Closed

BCT is this year again offering summer pre-college programs for high-schoolers that are interested in construction and in finding out how to make buildings sustainable! Rising 10th–12th graders get a feel for what college is like while earning two (2) college credits that can be applied towards the Building Construction Technology Program (BCT) at UMass, or others. Enroll NOW to save your child’s spot in these exciting programs! NEW this year: We are now offering TWO PROGRAMS. Both are two-week courses that can be taken as residential (including housing) or commuter options. The BCT BuildingLab is a two-week immersive pre-college program for high school students interested in exploring construction, building science, sustainability, engineering, building design, technology, and discovering related career paths. This program includes build projects, use of emergent technologies (drones, infrared cameras, air quality testing, AR/VR), and construction site tours.This program is offered July 13 – 26, 2025. The BCT SustainabilityLab is a two-week program on the UMass Amherst campus dedicated to investigating sustainability...