2021-2022 Virtual Curriculum
Curriculum Resources
spring Semester 2022
Week 11, APRIL 12-13: Final Presentations!
TOPICS:
Students presented their final pavilion projects this week - we're so proud of all their hard work this year! Congratulations to everyone who presented their projects to the judges, we can't wait to have all of you officially join the AEC industry someday.
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Student teams: if you would still like to upload your final project presentation, please use the link below.
Week 10, APRIL 5-6: PRESENTATION SKILLS
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Verbal and visual presentation tips and tricks
What to expect for the final presentations next week
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Amy Hufnagel, Executive Director, ACE Mentor Program Houston
Wednesday: Ken Black, Associate Principal & Senior Project Manager, Page
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Wednesday
ACTIVITIES:
Finish working on project designs
Start practicing presentations for next week
Week 9, MARCH 29-30: GROUP WORK SESSION
Students and mentors will be focusing on their team projects this week, so there will be no speakers, new curriculum, or recordings.
Week 8, MARCH 22-23: GROUP WORK SESSION
Students and mentors will be focusing on their team projects this week, so there will be no speakers, new curriculum, or recordings.
Week 7, MARCH 8-9: GROUP WORK SESSION
Students and mentors will be focusing on their team projects this week, so there will be no speakers, new curriculum, or recordings.
Week 6, MARCH 1-2: GROUP WORK SESSION
Students and mentors will be focusing on their team projects this week, so there will be no speakers, new curriculum, or recordings.
Week 5, February 22-23: Leaders of the Industry
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here: Tuesday, Wednesday. This week we will:
Hear from special guest speakers who are leaders in the AEC industry
Discuss the many career pathways in the AEC industry and how to pursue a successful one
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Steve Parker, Principal, Stantec
Sidhesh Kakodkar, Executive Vice President - Preconstruction Services, Durotech, Inc.
Gary Poole, Principal, Stantec
Wednesday: Mide O. Akinsade, Principal & Design Director, Perkins & Will
Angela Cotie, Vice President of Operations - East Texas, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors
Adam Cryer, President, Pinnacle Structural Engineers
RECORDINGS:
ACTIVITIES:
Finish bubble diagram and programming plan for your pavilion and site
Create a massing model from your bubble diagram in Sketchup (see template above to get started!)
See examples of continued schematic design from our students' projects below!
Week 4, February 15-16: MODEL BUILDING
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Principles of three dimensional building modeling and the various software packages commonly used in the industry
Basics of physical model building
Introductory tutorial on how to use Sketch-Up
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Kevin Perks, Architect, Gensler
Wednesday: Kyle Meeks, Designer, Stantec
RECORDINGS:
ACTIVITIES:
Brainstorming session for site and style of pavilions - sandbox thinking in Miro
Start developing bubble diagrams for your pavilion and your site
See examples from the brainstorming sessions below!
Week 3, February 1-2: Construction Trades Round Table
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here: Tuesday, Wednesday. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to construction trades and skilled construction disciplines
Career options and benefits of pursuing a career in a skilled trade
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Ethan Dady, Plumbing Supervisor
Mike Nanyes, Superintendent & Journeyman Electrician
Paulino Campuzano, Drywall Foreman, DPR Drywall
Wednesday: Lee Croft, Electrician & Foreman, WTM Electrical
Frank Lamas, Drywall Supervisor, DPR Drywall
Jose Espinoza, Project Manager (Plumbing), Gowan Inc.
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Wednesday
ACTIVITIES:
Students will be placed on their project teams for the first time
Begin designing your pavilion as a team using our mad lib exercise in Miro
See examples of our students introductory design ideas in mad lib form below!
Week 2, January 25-26: Engineering Round table
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here: Tuesday, Wednesday. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to engineering and various disciplines in the AEC industry
Meet and interview a variety of engineers and hear about their backgrounds, current positions, and a day-in-the-life
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Jessalyn Nelson, Senior Associate & Structural Engineer, Walter P Moore
Mark Hoffman, Director of Design & Engineering, Houston Zoo
Chris Low, Senior Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Engineering Technician, Stantec
Claudia Cepeda, Parking Consultant, Walter P Moore
Wednesday: Jae Kim, Forensics Graduate Engineer, Walter P Moore
Melissa Sibley, Structural Engineer, DCI Engineers
James Thornton, Mechanical, Electrical, & Plumbing Engineer, GK Engineers LLC
Lauren Madison, Structural Engineer, Dally + Associates
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
ACTIVITIES:
Explore pavilion options and discuss what design you want to pursue for your project this semester
Think through the various types of engineering that would be required for your pavilion project
See examples of our students favorite pavilions that may influence their designs below!
Week 1, January 18-19: Building Interiors + Lighting + Sustainability
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to interior design, including materiality, finishes, furniture, equipment, etc.
Principles of lighting design, including fixture selection and layout
Basics of sustainability that relate to interior and lighting design
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Douglas Detiveaux, Design Director & Senior Associate, Gensler
Wednesday: Gail McCleese, Founder & Sensory Director, Sensitori
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday:
ACTIVITIES:
Develop a sample furniture plan, fixtures plan, and equipment floor plan based on the programming provided in Miro
Create a lighting design layout and find inspirational images for types of lighting and fixtures to be used
Make a material palette with images of proposed materials to be used
See examples from our students below!
Fall Semester 2021
Week 7, DECEMBER 14-15: ESTIMATING & sCHEDULING
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to building, material, and cost estimating
Principles of budgeting and cost management
Basics of project planning and task scheduling
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Paul Bain, Preconstruction Manager, Tellepsen Builders
Wednesday: Roel Aguilar, Estimating Manager, DPR Construction
Forrest Rasmussen, PSPP, DPR Construction
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
ACTIVITIES:
Apply what you learned today to develop a sandwich design to compete with other students. What makes your design special? Why would an eater (owner) select you to build their sandwich compared to other designs?
Estimate the cost of your sandwich design and use this to iterate on your design to make it even more competitive
See examples from our students below!
Week 6, DECEMBER 7-8: BUILDING ENGINEERING + STRUCTURAL & mep engineering
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to architectural massing studies
Basics of structural engineering design
Principles of mechanical, electrical, and plumbing engineering design
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday/Wednesday: Gregory Brooks, Architectural Engineering Professor, UT-Austin
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
ACTIVITIES:
Explore possible building forms for your pavilion design in Miro
Develop options for structural systems required for your pavilion
Research potential MEP systems that you will need for your pavilion
See examples from our students below!
BONUS ACTIVITY, DECEMBER 4: ARCHITECTURAL WALKING TOUR OF DOWNTOWN HOUSTON
On Saturday, December 4th, 25 ACE students and mentors participated in an architectural walking tour of Downtown Houston led by AIA Houston and Architecture Center Houston Foundation Docent Justin Smith. The group met at City Hall and began the tour with an in-depth conversation about the various architects, builders and developers who shaped the skyline of Houston. Students heard the history behind buildings such as One Shell Plaza, TC Energy Center, Pennzoil Place, and the Esperson Building. They also visited several parks, including Hermann Square, Tranquility Park, and Discovery Green and compared the considerable differences between them. As they observed the built environment around them, students also sketched aspects of their favorite buildings, drawing inspiration for future design projects using sketching supplies generously donated by sponsors of ACE Houston. Special thanks to Justin Smith for sharing his vast knowledge of the history of Downtown Houston and the impact of the architecture that shaped the city!
Week 5, NOVEMBER 30-DECEMBER 1: BUILDING DESIGN + PROGRAMMING + VISUALIZATION
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to architectural schematic design basics
Basics of building programming and space planning
Principles and methods of visualization
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Raul Pinol, Project Architect, Stantec
Wednesday: Truitt Raun, Project Architect, Gensler
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Wednesday
ACTIVITIES:
Develop a spatial diagram based on an example building's needs in Miro
Create a perspective and axonometric rending for exterior and interior buildings in Miro
Find sample pictures and create a vision board to represent areas of your renderings
See examples from our students below!
Week 4, NOVEMBER 16-17: BUILDING ASSEMBLY + TECHNIQUES/SITE WORK
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to construction site logistic planning
Learn about the first steps at the beginning of a construction project
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Nedwan Winters, Project Manager, Tellepsen
Wednesday: Ashley Rhodes, Assistant Project Manager, McCarthy Building Companies
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Wednesday
ACTIVITIES:
Develop a plan for an example construction site, including building footprint, parking, laydown area, crane space, and more using the Miro toolkit; see examples from our students below!
Determine sequence of construction for various projects on one site
BONUS ACTIVITY, nOVEMBER 13: CONSTRUCTION SITE VISIT AT BELLAIRE HIGH SCHOOL
On Saturday, November 13th, about 30 ACE students and mentors toured Bellaire High School, currently under construction and designed by PBK, an ACE Houston sponsor. Students had the opportunity to walk around the entire construction site while being guided by Randi Schieber, Superintendent from Turner Construction. Randi shared various insights about the construction process, including safety guidelines, site work preparation, underground utilities, the complexity of phased-construction scheduling and the collaboration process between the owner, architect, and construction team. The students also participated in a (safe) scavenger hunt to identify basics of architecture, construction, and engineering that they have been learning about so far this semester. At the end of the tour, students gathered at the job trailer and asked various in-depth questions. Thank you, Turner Construction, for a fantastic tour to our ACE Houston students!
Week 3, NOVEMBER 9-10: INFRASTRUCTURE, CIVIL ENGINEERING, MEP SITEWORK
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to infrastructure and civil engineering
Principles of site design, including civil, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing impacts
Basics of utility design concepts
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday/Wednesday: Tu Truong, Civil Engineer in Training in Roadways/Transportation, Stantec
Youssaira Belmokadem, Strutural Engineer, Stantec
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Wednesday
ACTIVITIES:
Identify existing and necessary utilities on an example site in Miro
Consider drainage on example site in Miro by regrading the topography
Week 2, NOVEMBER 2-3: LANDSCAPE, PLANNING, SUSTAINABILITY, URBAN DESIGN
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to landscape architecture
Principles of urban design and city planning
Basics of sustainability
SPECIAL GUEST SPEAKERS:
Tuesday: Shao Lin, Architect & Design Director, Gensler
Wednesday: Yongfei Gu, Design Director & Senior Associate, Gensler
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Wednesday
ACTIVITIES:
Site analysis activity in Miro (see some examples from our students below!)
Think about selecting a site location for your pavilion project
Week 1, October 26-27: Introduction to ace houston
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here. This week we'll talk about:
Introduction to the new year and what to expect this year with curriculum, meetings, and schedule
Meet an ACE alumni and hear their story
Meet your mentors
Mentor session expectations
Introduction to pavilion project
RESOURCES:
Miro Board: We'll be using Miro again this year for activities and project work in our mentor sessions. To create a FREE account, go to www.miroboard.com
Zoom: Please make sure you have the most current version of Zoom; this will make navigating the breakout rooms much smoother.
RECORDINGS:
Did you miss our sessions this week? Get caught up by watching the recordings here:
ACTIVITIES
Student introduction cards on Miro
100 pavilions activity on Miro
We asked our students to tell us what they think architects, engineers, and contractors do; see their responses in the pictures below!