Course Description

This seminar is focused on an evaluation of the third ecoMOD project. ecoMOD is a research and design / build / evaluate project at the School of Architecture, in partnership with the School of Engineering and Applied Science. The project goal is to develop ecological, prefabricated and affordable house prototypes for low-income families. Over the next several years, interdisciplinary teams of UVA students and faculty are designing and building several 600 to 1,400 square foot housing units. The completed homes are being evaluated carefully. The results of these efforts will directly influence later designs. The objective of the seminar is to analyze the third project, using the building monitoring, life cycle assessments, post occupancy evaluations and an affordability analysis. The course is open to graduate as well as 3rd and 4th year undergraduates from any program at the university. In particular,

the instructor is hoping for a mix of architecture, landscape architecture, historic preservation, planning, economics, business and environmental science students. Engineering students will be enrolled in a separate course, led by engineering

professor Paxton Marshall. The engineering students will meet with the class on a regular basis, so that all disciplines can work together on the final report.

Several advisors and outside visitors will assist the seminar in the analytical process throughout the year. These will include engineers, architects, landscape architects, affordable housing experts, modular housing manufacturers, builders, planners, government officials, and building scientists.

Requirements

There are two assignments: one individual, and one group. The individual assignment is a verbal and written presentation on a related research topic of their choosing. For the second assignment, the class will be divided into groups to participate in the creation of a subsection of the evaluation document ? as determined by the team.