Architecture Web Resources

Architecture and Building

Architecture and Building is a guide to net sites on architecture, building and construction, design, housing, planning, preservation, facility management, energy and the environment, and landscape architecture, compiled by Jeanne Brown, University of Nevada Las Vegas Architecture Studies Library. For a listing of sites by category, go to the Contents Page. For a listing of sites by site name, go to the Alphabetical Index.
This Architecture Internet Database is very extensive. Scroll down, use ->EDIT ->FIND , or the hotkeys Control F to search within these pages.

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Contents page

Alphabetical index by site

Real Estate

New York University Jack Brause Real Estate Library [http://www.nyu.edu/library/rei/]

Bibliographies of print materials, links to web resources, index to periodical articles (choose "search Brause index." 1/99

Realtor.com [http://realtor.com]

Fill in the parameters to find a home or neighboorhood to match. 8/99

Research

Centers and Groups

American Institute of Steel Construction [http://www.aisc.org/]

Includes full-text of papers.

American National Standards Institute (ANSI) [http://www.ansi.org]

Mission, news, catalog, reference library, links to other standards information on the net including standards developers.

American Society for Testing and Materials [http://www.astm.org]

Bookstore, committees, consultants directory, news. 7/98

Architectural Practice Research Project [http://archprac.cua.edu/]

Reports and descriptions of their research projects on architectural practice. 1/03

Architectural Research Centers Consortium [http://www.arccweb.org/]

"An international consortium of architecture research centers committed to the expansion of research culture and infrastructure in architecture and related design disciplines." List of publications, and some online discussion papers. 7/98

Architecture Research Institute, Inc. [http://www.architect.org]

Non-profit think tank located in New York, concerned with issues of obsolescence in urban spaces and buildings caused by the rapid technological changes in the information age.

Building and Fire Research Laboratory [http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/]

Information on their areas of research: high performance building materials, fire loss reduction, enhanced building performance, and advanced construction technology. 8/02

Building Research Association of New Zealand [http://www.branz.org.nz]

Description of BRANZ, their charter, links, a few full text research papers that can be downloaded for free, and many other research papers that can be obtained for a fee.

Building Research Council [http://brc.arch.uiuc.edu/]

"The Building Research Council is the research unit of the School of Architecture which is part of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign." The site has information on the history of the council, research it undertakes, and publications. 7/98

Building Research Establishment [http://www.bre.co.uk]

BRE literature, specific initiatives such as the Energy Efficient Office Building Best Practice Programme, research programme (under construction), and links to other organizations. "The Building Research Establishment (BRE) is the principal organisation in the United Kingdom carrying out research into building and construction and the prevention and control of fire. BRE is an Executive Agency of the UK Government's Department of the Environment."

Building Services Research and Information Association [http://www.bsria.co.uk/]

Research projects, news, links. 7/98

Buildings Technology Center [http://www.ornl.gov/ORNL/BTC/]

"The Buildings Technology Center (BTC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is the premier U.S. research facility devoted to the development of technologies that improve the energy efficiency and environmental compatibility of residential and commercial buildings." Sections of the web site, based on topic (e.g. envelope systems, building design and performance), vary in depth. Some contain full-text papers. Some contain factsheets and calculators. 8/99

Canadian Center for Architecture [http://www.cca.qc.ca/]

General description of the CCA, and its library and exhibition program. CCA personnel are listed.

Center for Integrated Facilities Engineering (CIFE), Stanford University [http://www.stanford.edu/group/CIFE]

According to Andrew Arnold, who alerted me to this site, "CIFE draws students from engineering and architecture backgrounds to do research in developing technologies for AEC integration applications." For some of their research projects, such as the Virtual Design Team and the project Putting CIFE on the Web, they have substantial information.

Center for Landscape Research, University of Toronto [http://www.clr.utoronto.ca]

The Center for Landscape Research site provides information on the Center and attempts to gather other research efforts in landscape architecture. It includes an archive of theses in landscape architecture and of research in landscape architecture. CLR research interests include CAD/GIS integration, distance learning and computer-supported cooperative work approaches, and evaluation of space for social interaction.

Center for Maximum Building Potential Systems [http://www.cmpbs.org/]

"A laboratory of sustainability." Non-profit, demonstration and research organization. Projects and publications.

Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers [http://www.cibse.org]

The institution's publications list and details of conferences, as well as links to suggested HVAC info sources, building engineering sources, and British engineering institutions.

Children's Environments Research and Design Group [http://www.uwm.edu:80/dept/cerdg]

Description of their research or proposed research "related to children, youth, and environment and application of research in the design of children's environments." 7/98

CIE International Commission on Illumination (Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage) [http://www.cie-usnc.org/]

Publications, press releases, extracts from CIE Journal.

Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation (CEFI) [http://content.asce.org/cefi/HomePage.html]

"ASCE established the Civil Engineering Forum for Innovation (CEFI) in January 2006 to strengthen the profession and industry through technical innovation and public policy." 4/07

Civil Engineering Research Foundation (CERF) [http://www.asce.org/instfound/cerf.cfm]

About the foundation, with abstracts of some of their research projects. 8/99

Construction Industry Institute, Purdue University [http://construction-institute.org/]

"The Construction Industry Institute (CII) is the principal collaborative effort by construction owners, designers, and contractors to further the industry through research."

Construction Specifications Institute [http://www.csinet.org]

History, membership categories, and code of ethics.

Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE [http://www.ise.fhg.de/]

"The Institute conducts research on the technology needed to supply energy efficiently and on an environmentally sound basis in industrialised, threshold and developing countries. To this purpose, it develops systems, components, materials and processes in the areas of thermal use of solar energy, photovoltaics, solar architecture, electrical power supplies, chemical energy conversion and rational use of energy." 6/99

Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities [http://www.getty.edu/research/index.html]

"The Getty Research Institute for the History of Art and the Humanities is one of six independent entities of the J. Paul Getty Trust. Its goals as a research institute are to promote innovative scholarship in the arts and the humanities, cross traditional academic boundaries, and provide a unique environment for research, critical inquiry, and debate." 7/99

Institute for Research in Construction. National Research Council Canada [http://www.nrc.ca/irc]

Site with information on staff, research projects, and publications. Some full-text items are included, including their newsletter "Construction Innovation." French and English versions available.

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) [http://www.ieee.org]

Services, bookstore, its societies, etc.

Integrated CAD Research Information System (ICARIS) [http://itc.fgg.uni-lj.si/ICARIS]

"ICARIS is an experimental research network related to integrated CAD in civil engineering and architecture." It includes bibliographies, full-text papers, a searchable civil engineers' calendar of events, and EDITEC and W78 membership databases.

ISO International Organization for Standardization [http://www.iso.ch/]

Includes the catalog of all ISO standards, lists of ISO members and technical committees, and background information on the ISO.

Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory [http://www.lbl.gov]

Access is provided to their library catalog, their publications list, and more. The Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory has a Center for Building Science which has programs in Building Technologies (including windows and daylighting), Energy Analysis, and Indoor Air Quality. Full-text of the 1994 and 1995 issues of the Lawrence Berkeley Lab Building Science newsletter on energy are available [http://eetd.lbl.gov/newsletter/CBS_NL/]

Lighting Research Center, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute [http://www.lrc.rpi.edu]

Overview of the center and its projects, abstracts from the National Lighting Product Information Program and DELTA (Demonstration and Evaluation of Lighting Techniques and Applications), and a nice set of links to lighting sources on the net (and to net sources on energy, optics, patents, and standards as well).

Lincoln Institute of Land Policy [http://www.lincolninst.edu/index-high.asp]

Description of their three program areas relating to land use and taxation and abstracts of projects in each of the areas. Newsletter, publications. 7/98

Masonry Conservation Research Group [http://www.rgu.ac.uk/schools/mcrg/mcrghome.htm]

Research areas, publications, links. 7/98

Metropolitan Design Center [http://www.designcenter.umn.edu/]

"The Design Center develops interactive educational projects located in neighborhoods, communities, or affecting national urban design and planning issues." Includes descriptions and documentation of the projects they have undertaken. 2/00

National Association of Home Builders Research Center [http://www.nahbrc.org]

Includes an "online directory of innovative technologies to make homes stronger, safer, more energy efficient, and more affordable." 7/98

National Building Museum [http://www.nbm.org]

Education programs, events, exhibitions from "the only institution in the United States dedicated to American achievements in architecture, construction, engineering and design."

National Fire Protection Association Research Foundation (NFPA) [http://www.nfpa.org/]

NFPA Research Foundation seeks to reduce the threat of fire and other related safety issues through research, education and the establishment of codes and standards. AW 4/99

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [http://www.nist.gov/welcome.html]

This site lists programs and general information including: It also has an index of the Journal of Research available online in full text that can be search by subject of author.. AW 4/99

Office of Applied Economics (OAE) [http://www.bfrl.nist.gov/oae.html]

Research in building economics. The OAE is part of NIST's Building and Fire Research Laboratory.

Pacific Energy Center Daylighting Initiative [http://www.pge.com/pec/daylight/]

History of the project, papers on daylighting and productivity, case studies of a variety of building types, design tools. 10/99

Purdue University, Construction Engineering and Management [http://CE.www.ecn.purdue.edu/CEM/]

Descriptions of its research departments including: Emerging Construction Technologies [http://ce.www.ecn.purdue.edu/CEM/Ciiproj/cii.html] Construction Industry Institute [http://construction-institute.org/] AW 4/99

Quebec Building Envelope Council [http://www.luisd.freeyellow.com/]

Description, list of publications.

Rocky Mt. Institute [http://www.rmi.org]

Description of the institute and its seven foci, including green development. Publications lists are included.

Stanford University [http://www.stanford.edu/home/research/index.html]

This site contains a list and descriptions of research departments. AW 4/99

Swedish Institute of Steel Construction [http://www.sbi.se]

Research and development organization, composed of approximately 75 companies. Site includes lists of publications and reports, links, and lists of steel architecture and bridges.

Texas Tech University College of Architecture [http://www.arch.ttu.edu/architecture/]

Last accessed 1/03.

The Institute of Classical Architecture & Classical America [http://www.classicist.org/]

Information on their publications, summer program, year-long certificate program, conference/workshop, and journal.

University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Center for Environmental Design Research (CEDR) [http://www.cedr.berkeley.edu/research.html]

Description of its various research groups and projects.

University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Center for the Built Environment (CBE) [http://www.cbe.berkeley.edu]

Provides research on how well a building works and how well it can work. The site describes projects, facilities, and publications list.

University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Geographical Information Science Center (GISC) [http://www.gisc.berkeley.edu]

Established in 1998 to serve Berkeley faculty, students, and staff by coordinating the acquisition, instruction, deployment, and development of geographic information technologies on the campus.

University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, Institute of Urban and Regional Development (IURD) [http://www-iurd.ced.berkeley.edu/]

Description of its research into processes of urban and regional growth and decline, and effects of governing policies on the patterns and processes of development. The Institute publishes working papers describing current research projects with abstracts available online.

University of California, Berkeley, College of Environmental Design, International Association for the Study of Traditional Environments (IASTE) [http://www.arch.ced.berkeley.edu/research/iaste/]

"Founded in 1988, IASTE is an interdisciplinary forum for comparative and cross-cultural research and understanding of traditional, vernacular, indigenous, and popular dwellings, settlements, and associated environments.

University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology [http://www.umist.ac.uk]

Descriptions of its research departments including: Building Engineering, Management, and Materials Science. AW 4/99

University of New South Wales, Research Centres [http://www.fbe.unsw.edu.au/research/]

Description of their three research centres: BRC: The Building Research Centre, LSRU: Lightweight Structures Research Unit, and SOLARCH: National Solar Architecture Research Unit.

Urban Data Visualization [http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/udv/]

Description of the project to "link databases, GIS, and 3D visualization into a medium suited for urban and regional planning and policy." Some full-text GIS papers are in the current projects section. 2/00

Urban Land Institute [http://www.uli.org/]

Includes information on their research agenda. Needs Netscape.

SEE ALSO:

Databases

AIA SOLOSO [http://soloso.org/eknowledge/index.htm]

“Soloso is a new centralized knowledge and content acquisition experience being provided by AIA National for members. The site launched in May of this year and is a research tool that, over time, will become a premiere resource of information about architecture and the profession. Soloso will house member content, AIA contributor content, and third party content. All of the content is accessible through three search mediums, the Thinkmap, the scroll tape, and the typical search box method. Soloso was created as a platform for member interaction. Currently members interface with Soloso by contributing their own content in the form of articles, projects, and/or images as well as reviews, profile pages, and feedback. To learn more go to [http://www.soloso.org/eknowledge/help/index.htm]” 10/07.

Education for Sustainability Profiles [http://www.secondnature.org/efs/efs_profiles.htm]

Profiles of sustainability initiatives of higher education institutions. Listed by institution and by type of project (including sustainability research). Searchable. 6/99

InformeDesign: Where Research Informs Design [http://www.informedesign.org/]

Research summaries can be browsed by category [Space, Issues, or Occupants] or searched by keywords. Each research summary includes design issue, design criteria, key concepts, research methods, and limitations of the study. Substantial site. 5/04

Research Highlights [http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/publications/en/rh-pr/index.html#envelope]

Research Highlights are brief summaries of recently completed studies. Research reports in their entirety are available through the Canadian Housing Information Center (CHIC). 6/99

Research on Place and Space [http://pegasus.cc.ucf.edu/~janzb/place/]

Lists of courses, bibliographies, web sites, etc. on "place" as it is viewed by such disciplines as philosophy, architecture, history, and many others. 1/03

Papers and Case Studies

Agents of Change [http://aoc.uoregon.edu/]

Successor to the Vital Signs project. Teaching exercises; case studies in the workshop section. Links to additional case studies coming from the Vital Signs project are at [http://aoc.uoregon.edu/case_studies/index.shtml]. Case studies coming from the environmental controls class 1999-2003 are at[http://www.uoregon.edu/~hof/] 11/05

Architectural Research Centers Consortium Journal [ [http://www.arccweb.org/journal/journal_html/index.htm]

Full-text articles. 5/04

Architronic [http://architronic.saed.kent.edu/]

The web's oldest architecture journal, it publishes research articles three time per year.

Building Research Association of New Zealand [http://www.branz.org.nz]

Description of BRANZ, their charter, links, a few full text research papers that can be downloaded for free, and many other research papers that can be obtained for a fee.

Buildings Technology Center [http://www.ornl.gov/ORNL/BTC/]

Center for Landscape Research, University of Toronto [http://www.clr.utoronto.ca]

Integrated CAD Research Information System (ICARIS) [http://itc.fgg.uni-lj.si/ICARIS]

"ICARIS is an experimental research network related to integrated CAD in civil engineering and architecture." It includes bibliographies, full-text papers, searchable civil engineers' calendar of events, and EDITEC and W78 membership databases.

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) [http://www.nist.gov/welcome.html]

This site lists programs and general information. It also has an index of the Journal of Research available online in full text that can be searched by subject or author. AW 4/99

Pacific Energy Center Daylighting Initiative [http://www.pge.com/pec/daylight/]

History of the project, papers on daylighting and productivity, case studies of a variety of building types, design tools. 10/99

Southwest Housing Traditions: Design, Materials, Performance [http://www.huduser.org/publications/destech/SWhousingtraditions.html]

Full text of this August 2005 HUD publication which "assesses the relevance of traditional Southwestern building designs and materials for the contemporary housing needs of low-income residents of the U.S.-Mexico border communities." Includes case studies and prototypes. 11/05

Urban Data Visualization [http://www.uic.edu/cuppa/udv/]

Urbanisme [http://www.urbanisme.equipement.gouv.fr]

The Centre de Documentation de l'Urbanisme section contains bibliographies, research papers, information on the group Urbandata, and more. In French, bien sur. 4/99

Usable Buildings [http://www.usablebuildings.co.uk/]

Full-text publications, some available to members only, on building use and services. 9/99

Vital Signs [http://arch.ced.berkeley.edu/vitalsigns/]

Curricumlum materials project to develop teaching and resource materials for architecture students' study of lighting and mechanical systems. No longer an active page, but useful for the case studies. 11/05

Tools

Community Image Survey [http://www.lgc.org/services/cis/]

"Based on the Visual Preference Survey developed by architect Anton Nelessen, the Community Image Survey is a very effective tool for educating and involving community members in land use planning." 7/98

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