Concentration in Built Environment (BE)

The Concentration in Built Environment (BE) allows the study of the living environment from a variety of perspectives, ranging from building techniques and architecture to the larger context of social and ecological landscapes. Architecture is a social art, thus, this concentration is as much about design theory and practice as it is about people and how their needs and ambitions can be expressed in spaces and structures. You will study the sustainability, functionality, and beauty inherent in a well-designed building as well as the physical fabric of the city. This field involves knowledge of the following areas:

• Aesthetics: Exploring the nature of space and building materials, looking at basic design theory, the design of simple structures or landscapes, the relationships between buildings and their context, and the study of urban form.
• Human Experience: Relating spatial experience to the needs of human beings, the cultural and psychological aspects of space, and human relationships with the natural and built environments.
• History of Architecture: Introducing the history of building, its relationship to the aspirations and practical needs of various societies, and an overview of the evolution of architectural styles and urban form.
• Design Technology and Technique: Designing environmentally sound spaces and structures that meet functional standards and aesthetic goals, introducing basic construction techniques of structures and landscape elements, understanding the physical and aesthetic properties of materials used, and gaining familiarity with building codes, zoning regulations, graphic communications, and computer skills.

Classes for the BE concentration emphasize studio art, architectural history, building technology, and human use of space. This concentration develops technical skills for understanding design and planning at the building scale within the framework of creating sustainable communities.

Career Paths

The Built Environment concentration prepares students for careers in a wide range of design and construction fields that deal with the social aspects of the built environment with an emphasis on sustainability. They will also be prepared to pursue a graduate-level professional design degree in building technology, architecture, or landscape.

The BE concentration works well for students interested in the accelerated 2-year Master of Landscape Architecture (the 4+2 MLA program), with the addition of 500-level LandArch studios in the senior year.

BE Concentration Requirements

Take four concentration required courses and two electives from the approved courses list. No more than two 100-level courses can count toward concentration requirements.

Required Courses

Take four of the following courses.

Typical terms and times are listed. Please check the current departmental course offerings for up-to-date information.

Certain Landscape Architecture courses can also count as concentration required courses. However, availability of these courses to SCD students is limited. Check with instructor.

Electives

Take two concentration electives. The following classes are approved electives; students interested in counting a relevant course (3 or 4 credits) not listed may request a substitution from the Program Director. Many classes in Architecture (ARCH) and Building and Construction Technology (BCT) can count towards this concentration.

Availability of the following classes varies. In addition, some classes may have prerequisites or be limited to certain majors. Check Spire for current offerings and restrictions.