Building Construction
Head: Y.J. Beliveau
William E. Jamerson Professor: W.Y. Thabet
Professors: Y.J. Beliveau and W.Y. Thabet
Associate Professors: A.P. McCoy, T. H. Mills, A.R. Pearce, and G. Reichard
Assistant Professor: T. Bulbul
Web: www.bc.vt.edu
Overview
The Building Construction curriculum focuses on the business and process of making buildings and is designed to better equip construction industry professionals with the necessary tools for excellence in all phases of the built environment. The building construction degree incorporates business, management, science and efficiency at all levels; from planning, finance, design, estimating, procurement, and scheduling. The curriculum additionally includes integrative elements of leadership, non-technical social and presentation skills, entrepreneurship, and best principles.
The Building Construction program develops within the student a solid foundation in construction knowledge.
The Building Construction major is accredited by the American Council for Construction Education. Upon successful completion of the four-year program of 134 credit hours of study, a Bachelor of Science in Building Construction is awarded.
Degree Requirements
The graduation requirements in effect at the time of graduation apply. When choosing the degree requirements information, always choose the year of your expected date of graduation. Requirements for graduation are referred to via university publications as "Checksheets". The number of credit hours required for degree completion varies among curricula. Students must satisfactorily complete all requirements and university obligations for degree completion.
The university reserves the right to modify requirements in a degree program. However, the university will not alter degree requirements less than two years from the expected graduation year unless there is a transition plan for students already in the degree program.
Please visit the University Registrar website at http://www.registrar.vt.edu/graduation/checksheets/index.html for degree requirements.
Undergraduate Course Descriptions (BC)
1214: INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION I
This is an introduction to the world of construction with an
overview of the important areas of contracting and the
inter-workings of the construction industry. Emphasis is
placed on the theory and terminology of the construction
industry supplemented with the graphical representation of
construction documents and laboratory building experiments.
(2H,3L,3C)
1224: INTRODUCTION TO BUILDING CONSTRUCTION II
Continuation of introduction to the world of construction
with an overview of the important areas of contracting and
the workings of the construction industry. Emphasis is
placed on the application of theory, processes and
vocabulary of the construction industry supplemented with
computer aided graphical representation of construction
documents. Grade of C- or better required in prerequisite.
Pre: 1214.
(2H,3L,3C)
2014: CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES I
This course covers the fundamentals of construction
technology and processes emphasizing materials, methods,
techniques and sequences for the construction of buildings
(CSI Divisions 1-6). Planning, scheduling and quantity
surveying for the management of construction resources are
among the topics studied.
Pre: 1224.
Co: MATH 1225.
(2H,3L,3C)
2024: CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES II
This is a continuation of the fundamentals of construction
technology and processes emphasizing materials, methods,
techniques and sequences for the construction of buildings
in CSI divisions 7-16. Planning, scheduling, quantity
surveying and control systems for the management of these
construction resources are among the topics studied.
Pre: 1224, 1214, 2014.
Co: 2064.
(3H,3C)
2034 (REAL 2034): REAL ESTATE DATA ANALYSIS
Real estate market data and the statistical tools for
analyzing data to support decision making. Descriptive
statistics and hypothesis testing. Form insights to inform
management and investment decisions.
Pre: UAP 2004 or REAL 2004.
(2H,2C)
2044: BUILDINGS & MATERIALS
Introduction to the theory and applications of building
materials. Properties, composition, and characteristics of
building materials with particular focus on ferrous and non
ferrous metals, concrete, bricks and blocks, timber, glass
and plastics. Emphasis on physical behavior of materials
under load, including thermal loads, compatibility
deformations and material behavior requirements,
interaction among different materials, non-
destructive/destructive methods for evaluation and
testing of construction materials, basic analysis and
design applications of major structural components.
Pre: 2214 or CNST 2104.
(2H,3L,3C)
2064: CONSTRUCTION PRINCIPLES INTEGRATED LAB
Develop a competency in applying construction means and
methods as they relate to quantity take-off, cost
management, scheduling and resource management in support
of a senior capstone project.
Co: ARCH 3045, 2024, CEE 3014.
(1H,2L,2C)
2094: BUILDING CONSTRUCTION SEMINAR
Exploration of current and relevant topics of inquiry within
the construction domain, through engagement, service, and
research. Articulates the complex interactions of
stakeholders in construction by means of reflection
on case studies, panel discussions, and seminars to
establish the context, breadth, and impact that
construction education shares within larger academic,
professional, and societal communities. Can be repeated
for a maximum of 3 credit hours.
Pass/Fail only.
(1H,1C)
2104: BUILDING EFFECTIVE CONSTRUCTION TEAMS
Introduction to tools and techniques to help build effective
construction teams including building trust, managing
conflict, communicating clear expectations and
priorities, accountability, attention to results and
commitment towards construction management team
mission, embracing innovative change and ethics.
Other topics include networking skills, time management
tools and effective construction team-based
negotiations.
Pre: 1224, (COMM 1016 or ENGL 1106).
(3H,3C)
2114: INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Building delivery and project management improvements
through the use of computer applications are explored,
including scheduling software, building information modeling
(BIM) tools, and virtual design and construction (VDC)
simulation software and their corresponding theories and
concepts the integrate design and construction.
Pre: 1224 or CNST 2104.
Co: 2014.
(2H,3L,3C)
2214: WHY BUILDINGS STAND UP
Addresses why structures remain stable under various loading
conditions. Explores different types of structures and
applied loads and analyzes both determinate and
indeterminately supported structures. Explores different
types of soils and their strength properties.
Pre: MATH 1225 or MATH 1025.
(3H,3C)
2974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
2984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
3014: BUILDING PHYSICS & ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS
Theory and analysis methods relative to performance of
envelope systems and the design and integration of
mechanical and electrical building systems. Topics covered
include: envelope systems and performance metrics,
conceptual and technical design theory, operational
principles, and maintenance issues, all necessary for
determining the selection of passive and active
environmental control systems within a building including:
envelope system, heathing, active environmental control
systems within a building including: envelope system,
heating, ventilation, air conditioning, lighting, and
acoustical systems.
Pre: PHYS 2305.
(2H,3L,3C)
3064: BUILDING SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY LAB
Develop a competency in the application of Building
Environmental Systems, through modeling, scheduling,
estimating, and experiments in support of a senior capstone
project. Co: BC 4004 or CEE 3014.
Pre: (2064, PHYS 2305) or (CNST 2104, PHYS 2305).
Co: 3114.
(1H,2L,2C)
3114: BUILDING SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY
Emphasis is placed on the integration and physical
installation of passive and active environmental control
systems including: heating, ventilation, air conditioning,
lighting, acoustics, plumbing, and fundamentals of thermal
loads.
Pre: (2024 or CNST 2104), PHYS 2305.
Co: 3064.
(2H,3L,3C)
3134 (CNST 3134): TEMPORARY STRUCTURES IN CONSTRUCTION
Introduction to temporary structure systems used to support
construction operations. Concrete formwork, scaffolding
systems, excavation shoring systems, dewatering techniques,
and hoisting operations. Assessment of systems, cost,
quality, safety, sustainability, and schedule impacts.
Pre: (2044 or CEE 3684), (BC 2024 or CEE 3014).
(3H,3C)
3954: STUDY ABROAD
Study abroad in Spain.
Variable credit course.
4024 (CEE 4014): ESTIMATING, PRODUCTION, AND COST ENGINEERING
Interpretation of plans and specifications, preparation
of construction estimates, and cost control. Methods
analysis, resource requirements, and resource costs in
building systems, including system components, and in
large-scale civil engineering works such as highways,
bridges, and hydraulic structures.
Pre: 2024, 2064.
(3H,3C)
4064: CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE LAB
Application of the business and construction practices
related to operation of a construction company to the
execution of a senior capstone project. All project
management concepts learned in prior courses are
applied in the capstone lab experience. Written and oral
work is formally presented and critiqued among construction
faculty, students, and industry professionals.
Pre: 3064.
Co: 4434.
(1H,2L,2C)
4114: BUILDING INFORMATION MODELING IN DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION
Introduction to means and methods to enrich the geometric
information of a building model with semantic data such as,
material, structural and performance values. Concept of
interoperability in architecture, engineering and
construction industry. Overview of approaches to information
modeling such as Standard for the Exchange of Product model
data (STEP), Industry Foundation Classes (ifc),
Construction Operations Building Information Exchange
(COBie) and Green Building XML (gbXML). Key concepts of
object-oriented modeling and programming.
Pre: 2114.
(3H,3C)
4124: DIGITAL CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING
Explore and experiment with construction from the
perspective of digital information, computer numerical
control (CNC), and computer aided manufacturing (CAM)
processes. Tools like 3D scanners, 3D printers, CNC
manufacturing techniques and others will be used in a lab
setting intended to provide familiarity with these
technologies and a sense of their benefits and limitations.
Pre: 2114.
(2H,3L,3C)
4164: PRODUCTION PLANNING AND PROCESS DESIGN FOR CONSTRUCTION
The course deals with the planning and design of
construction processes. Course topics include production
systems, behavior of construction systems and workers, the
relationships between subsystems in the construction
process, queuing systems, process modeling and simulation.
The major emphasis is on production and productivity.
Production problems that typically occur in construction
systems are discussed. The course also explores recent
innovations in construction system design such as lean
construction and agile construction.
Pre: 3114, 3064.
(3H,3C)
4314: BUILDING PERFORMANCE & ENERGY MANAGEMENT
Fundamentals of building performance mandates for the built
environment, practical means and methods for evaluating
building performance metrics. Specific focus on energy
resources consumed by thermal, hygrothermal, lighting, and
other environmental building systems. Assessment of building
energy consumption and analysis of retrofit scenarios
through performance evaluation over the entire building life
cycle.
Pre: 3014.
(2H,3L,3C)
4334: SUSTAINABLE BUILDING PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Introduction to means and methods for managing the
sustainability of buildings and their performance over the
life cycle. Best practices for sustainable projects in the
areas of planning/development, site design, project
management, energy and water conservation and green
building assessment tools and methods; Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system;
economic analysis of green building alternatives; and
implementation planning.
Pre: 3064.
(3H,3C)
4434: CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE I
Business and construction practices related to operation of
a construction company are studied. Construction
operation is examined as it relates construction, financial
and personnel management. Project management topics
studied in this course include permitting, site evaluations,
design development and design phase considerations
such as preliminary estimates and project
constructability. Writing Intensive (WI) course.
Pre: (2044 or CEE 3014).
Co: 4064.
(3H,3C)
4444: CONSTRUCTION PRACTICE II
This course explores and applies the business and
construction practices related to operation of a
construction company to a capstone experience. Construction
operation is examined as it relates to construction,
financial and personnel management. Project management
topics studied in this course are applied in the corequisite
lab. This course is formally designated as a writing
intensive course. Formal written and edited and oral
presentations are presented and critiqued by the BC
faculty team, the writing resource center, students
and industry professionals.
Pre: 4434.
(3H,3L,4C)
4754: INTERNSHIP
Variable credit course.
4974: INDEPENDENT STUDY
Variable credit course.
4984: SPECIAL STUDY
Variable credit course.
4994: UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH
Variable credit course.