Unit Six: The Pathfinder Template
Author: Carmita Sanchez-Fong
Go to: ETAP 623 Spring 2012
Go to portfolio page: A Pathfinder as a Coordination and Teaching Tool
Go to the mini-course: The Pathfinder Building Blocks
Course Description and Coordination Map
Materials and Methods of Interior Construction aims at preparing students to understand the process of interior construction and its interaction with the various building systems; as such, it is both an art and a science. It is an art because through the choice of materials and the beautification of spaces students will have an opportunity to express themselves in a new language. It is a science because through higher-order knowledge skills they will be able to critically analyze a material's proper use, application, and installation.
It is intended to be a fifteen-week-long thought provoking conversation about materials and methods of interior construction in the context of interior design.
The use of a pathfinder for course coordination changes the rules of engagement. It presupposes that we each bring to the conversation a different set of skills, knowledge, experience, and expertise. It will draw from our tacit knowledge of the subject matter and it will build on our past experiences to construct the present and prepare our students for the future.
Course Description and Coordination Map
Table of Contents
Find/Add Books and Media
Required Books
- Ballast, David K.Interior Construction & Detailing for Designers and Architects. 5th ed. Belmont, California:
- Professional Publications. 2009. Print. 2011937421
Videos and other Media
- 150 W83rd Street, NYC. Owner's Time Line. Web. 04 May 2012.
- <http://www.redeemer.com/about_us/vision_campaign/w83/timeline.html>
- The best example of how a construction project proceeds from Real Estate Search through Bidding Negotiations to Construction Administration.
- 150 W83rd Street, NYC. Web. 04 May 2012.
- <http://w83.redeemer.com/inside.html>
- Click on each floor to see rendered floor plans and elevations, Click on "photos" to access a gallery of "under construction" photos to enrich the construction conversation. The construction update videos by project manager Susan Lee are invaluable to the construction conversation.
- "A Day Made of Glass" By Corning. Web. 04 May 2012.
- Glulam Structures Production. Web. 04 May 2012.
- <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1cavOhoMng&feature=related>
- An excellent introduction to wood as a material and its application as glued-laminated timber from Boog Leuenberger + Partner AG.
- How gypsum board (Drywall) is made. 04 May 2012.
- <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmbk8Pfau0I>
- A great way to star the lesson on gypsum wall board construction.
- McGraw Hill Construction Community - Photo Galleries. Web. 04 May 2012.
- A virtual place where people share their photos and images.
- Steel: From Start to Finish. Web. 04 May 2012.
- <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9l7JqonyoKA>
- A video from United States Steel on the process of making steel from iron ore to steel slabs and to steel sheets.
- Wired New York. Web. 04 May 2012.
Find/Add Reference Books/Materials
- Ching, Francis D.K. Building Construction Illustrated. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2008. Print. 2007044826
- DeChiara, J., Panero, J. and Zelnik, M. Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning. 2nd ed. New York:
- McGraw-Hill, 2001. Print. 2001030504
- Glossary of Engineering Words. Online.
- Harmon S. K. and Kennon, K. E. The Codes Guidebook for Interiors. 4th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & sons, 2008.
- Print. 2008004928
- The American Institute of Architects. Architectural Graphic Standards. 11th ed. Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons,
- 2007. Print. 2006102175
- United States Gypsum Company. The Gypsum Construction Handbook.Online.
- United States Gypsum Company. Framing Catalog. Online
- http://www.usg.com/documents/construction-handbook/chapter2.pdf
- Excellent reference for teaching light gauge steel construction.
Find/Add Journal & Magazine Articles
- Architect Magazine web edition.
- <http://www.architectmagazine.com/>
- A great resource of the latest in information on architecture including videos.
- Mau, Bruce. "You Can Do Better". Architect. January 2011. Web. 19 May 2012.
- <http://www.architectmagazine.com/architects/you-can-do-better.aspx>
- Inspirational reading on the value of higher education and architecture.
- The Directory of Open Access Journals
- Ulrich, Roger S. "Effects of Interior Design on Wellness: Theory and Recent Scientific Research." Journal of Healthcare Interior Design (
Find/Add Internet Resources
Professional Organizations
- FIT is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education
- The Interior Design Program at FIT follows the Professional Standards 2011 as set by The Council for Interior Design Accreditation (CIDA).
- The School of Art and Design at FIT, is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design
Government Agency Websites
- New York City Department of City Planning
- <http://www.nyc.gov/html/dcp/html/zone/glossary.shtml>
- Excellent glossary of legally defined terms for planning and zoning including additional links and graphics.
- Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Know your industry's latest statistics.
- Example: Interior Design
Institutional Resources
- The Center for Excellence in Teaching at FIT.
- <http://www.fitnyc.edu/6684.asp>
- The CET provides instructional support to faculty on everything from training on FIT's Course Management System to lectures, conferences, and informal gatherings to keep faculty current and engaged.
- This is one of their Student/Faculty Mini Retreats which included a fun and intelligent clicker presentation.
- <http://www.fitnyc.edu/10821.asp>
Other Websites
- Material Connexion
- Material ConneXion is a collection of over 1,400 materials and processes. Includes a large spectrum of cutting-edge materials which are selected by a panel of material specialists.
- Students must register, using their FIT email address, to receive an account number at:
- <http://library.materialconnexion.com/Register.aspx?query=academic&key=b8ac55bf-f850-4a46-9a65-65cca6032e90>
- Sound Transmission Class from Acoustics.com
- <http://www.stcratings.com/>
- An excellent reading assignment for the understanding on what Sound Transmission Class is and how it depends on the construction of the partition.
Blogs/RSS Feeds
- Teachers College Record, The Voice of Scholarship in Education.
<http://www.tcrecord.org/Content.asp?ContentID=1770>
Find/Add Field Trips
- New York Times Building
- Contact: Tom.Glieden@pcfcorp.com
- Email Tom at the beginning of the semester. Give him some possible dates and the number of students in your class. Only 10 students can go up at a time.
- This is a great opportunity to talk about design, building structures, finishes, furniture, etc.
- Provide students with the videos in advance, it builds on their excitement when they realize that they are going to have the opportunity to be inside the space they are hearing about.
- Media:NYT_Bldg_Building_Overview.pdf
- Media:NYT_Bldg_Environmentally_Sustainable.pdf
- Vincent Trocchia Offices
- Contact: See Dept. Secretary
- Email Vincent with possible dates and the number of students in your class.
- This is a great visit to support and strengthen knowledge of building systems and building regulations.
Find/Add Case Studies
- David L Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh
- A benign structural failure occurred on February 5, 2007. No one was hurt and the damage was limited to expansion joint X-9. The failure affected a 60 x 30-ft bay in the second-floor loading dock causing the collapse of its Double Tees Precast Concrete structure.
- Students will read more about Double Tees Precast Concrete on Chapter 4.12 of their textbook
- Media:PittsburgDesignCenter.pdf
- Media:DavidLawrenceConventionCenterFloorPlans.pdf
- Media:Pittsburg_CC_Expansion_Joint_Failure.pdf
Find/Add Images
Go to Unit One: Building a Pathfinder
Go to Unit Two: Course Coordination and Educational Quality
Go to Unit Three: Formal Curriculum vs. Enacted Curriculum
Go to Unit Four: Quality, Quantity, and Relatedness in the curriculum