The effect of environmental control course on architectural design projects (Case study environmental control course - Canadian International Collage – Egypt)

Abstract

It is a global strategy to save the environment through sustainable designs; this approach must begin throughout the college phase and progress through their professional career. During their academic journey, undergraduate architecture students take many courses, including a chain of Design courses and an Environmental Control (EC) course. The main aim of this paper is to discuss the importance of EC courses and how they affect design courses' outcomes. The research methodology starts with secondary data through a literature review about environmental studies and their impact on design, what the topics that the EC course has covered, and when it should be taught to be able to design a framework that helped the instructors in developing their courses' plan, then collect the data from the instructors of both courses EC and design to develop the EC course plan by adding new assignment asking students to apply what they learn during EC course in one of their previous design projects which submitted before registered the EC course and gained a knowledge of different environmental techniques. Finally, test the application of the suggested Framework by comparing the results of design projects before and after EC study and validate the results by publishing an online survey targeting the experts in different countries to demonstrate the importance of EC courses as a powerful learning tool in architecture education, as well as to be a comprehensive approach that reflects the relationship between design and environmental studies to improve both architects and building design performance.

Keywords

• Environmental control
• Design studio
• Architectural courses
• Environmental pillars
• Architecture courses integration