VIRTUAL CURRICULUM
CURRICULUM RESOURCES
Keep these documents handy, you will refer back to them often throughout the year.
Request for Proposal: Design a Treehouse
ACE Houston Student Workbook
SPRING SEMESTER 2021
Meeting calendar
Weekly Curriculum
Week 1, January 26-28: Introduction to Visualization Methods
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here.
Introduction to the new semester and what to expect
What visualization methods are most commonly used in the AEC industry?
Introduction to modeling/rendering software packages
Try your hand at rendering and visualizations with a group activity
RESOURCES:
Software downloads (free):
ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 2:
Watch these videos: Rethink Careers in Construction, RDA's "Who Built This City" Discussion
Read this article: Building Skills with 'Generation NEXT'
Research these topics: ProCore, Construction Trades, Construction Management
Project applications:
For students who participated last semester:
Create a shell of your treehouse in SketchUp or Revit
Go back to your existing hand sketches and add some of the visualization/rendering/shading techniques you learned this week
For students who are new to ACE this semester:
Review the RFP (see above)
Review Fall Semester, Week 1 Curriculum on napkin sketches (see below)
Sketch initial ideas for your treehouse
Search for inspiration for your treehouse design online
RECORDINGS: Coming Soon
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Alberto Ponce, Harris County
Activity Introduction
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Robert Tai, Gensler
Activity Introduction
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Raul Pinol-Marti, Stantec
Activity Introduction
Week 2, February 2-4: Introduction to construction Trades
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here.
Introduction to construction trades
Concepts of cost estimating and scheduling
Introduction to plan reading and different types of construction and design plans
Students will try their hand at reading plans with an interactive activity
RESOURCES:
ProCore Activity (see slides for login information)
ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 3:
Watch these videos: New York is Building a Wall to Hold Back the Ocean, Flood Defenses for New York
Read this article: Tokyo is Preparing for Floods Beyond Anything We've Seen
Research this topic: Buffalo Bayou Park Houston
Project applications:
For students who participated last semester:
Determine which trades you will need to build your treehouse
Refine your cost estimate based on the updated labor requirements: what construction activities would need to happen first, second, third, etc.
For students who are new to ACE this semester:
Continue to sketch treehouse design
Review curriculum from fall semester on bubble diagrams
Make a list of all spaces/rooms in your treehouse (programming
Start a presentation slideshow to document your work; include your napkin sketch and bubble diagram
RECORDINGS: Coming Soon
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Karl Dean, Wayne Electric
Activity Introduction
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Frank Lamas, DPR Construction
Activity Introduction
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Paul Bain, Tellepsen
Activity Introduction
Week 3, February 9-11: Site Planning, Sustainability & Landscape Architecture
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here.
Concepts of site planning and visualization
Introduction to sustainable design concepts and green infrastructure
Basics of landscape architecture
RESOURCES:
We'll be using Miro Board again this week for our activity; create a free account here
Complete this waiver to participate in our Build it Forward at Home activity starting next week; waiver due 2/12/2021
ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 4:
Watch this video: Adam Savage's One Day Builds: Foamcore House
Read this article: Architects Reimagined Chicago's Tribune Tower with Abstract Skyscraper Models
Research this topic: Architectural Model Materials
Build: A tall tower out of paper
Project applications:
For students who participated last semester:
Expand sustainable design aspects to your treehouse and include cost in your estimate
Create a site plan; include your treehouse, yard, home, nearby homes/neighborhood
Draw a section of your treehouse and site or cut one in your 3-D model
Add landscaping to your site in your model; why did you include each different type of plant?
For students who are new to ACE this semester:
Determine materials for your treehouse and use those ideas to further refine your sketches
Draw a section of your treehouse
Add sustainable design aspects to your treehouse
RECORDINGS: Coming Soon
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Christina Hughes, Walter P Moore
Activity Introduction
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Eric Burnside and Courtney Alexander, Inventure
Activity Introduction
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Scott McCready, SWA Group
Activity Introduction
Week 4, February 23-25: BUILD IT fORWARD
TOPICS:
Download the slides for this week here.
Concepts of scaled model building
How to use tools safely and effectively
RESOURCES:
We'll be using Miro Board again this week for our activity; create a free account here
If you still need tools/materials for Build it Forward at Home activity starting this week, complete this waiver and email it to students@acementorhouston.org
ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 5:
Watch this video: The Engineering Behind Rollercoasters
Read this article: Dubai's Burj Khalifa - Inside the World's Tallest Building
Research this topic: NASA Mars Rover Perseverance
Project applications:
Refine your treehouse design and adapt it to build it as a birdhouse
Work on construction of your birdhouse/treehouse model
RECORDINGS: Coming Soon
Tuesday: Activity Introduction
Wednesday: Activity Introduction
Thursday: Activity Introduction
FALL SEMESTER 2020
See all of the details, agendas, presentations, and recordings that you missed from our fall 2020 semester below!
Meeting calendar
Weekly Curriculum
Week 1, November 3-5: Welcome to ACE Houston!
TOPICS:
Download the slides from this week: Introduction to ACE, Introduction to RFPs
Introduction to ACE Houston
Fall semester overview and expectations
Introduction to semester project
Introduction to napkin sketches
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES AND ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 2:
Read pages 4-19 of the ACE Workbook (see above)
Watch these videos:
Create one Google Slide using your Jamboard sketches from last week and be prepared to share your work with your small group. Include the following:
List of program elements (type of spaces to be included in your treehouse
Your initial napkin sketches
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Angela Cotie, Chair of ACE Houston Board, Gilbane
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Amy Hufnagel, ACE Houston Board Member, Genesys Works
Activity Introduction
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Megan Monedero, ACE Houston Associate Board Member, Stantec
Activity Introduction
Week 2, November 10-12: Introduction to Architecture
TOPICS:
Download the slides from this week here.
What does an architect do?
Introduction to bubble diagrams
Basics of floor plans and elevation views
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES AND ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 3:
Read chapters 9-13 of the ACE Workbook (see above)
Watch these videos:
Continue developing your Google Slide with the following:
Any items missing from last week (list of spaces, napkin sketch)
Bubble diagram and any elevation or plan views
Supplemental ideas for your space in the form of inspirational images
Start getting familiar with Sketch-Up, so you can be ready to create a 3-D model of your treehouse. Here are a few resources:
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Kyle Thiel, Courtney Harper & Partners
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Micki Washington, HOK
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Mahe Hameed & Rebecca Gandy, Gensler
Week 3, November 17-19: Introduction to Engineering
TOPICS:
Download the slides from this week here.
Introduction to engineering disciplines
Concepts of engineering, including form, structure, and building materials
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES AND ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 4:
Read chapter 14 of the ACE Workbook (see above)
Explore these links:
Continue developing your Google Slide with the following:
Structural building material selection and why you chose it
What other types of engineering will you need to incorporate in your design (ex: plumbing, mechanical, civil, etc.)
Sustainable design aspects
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Daniel Ash, Nelson Treehouse & Supply
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Adam Cryer, Pinnacle Structural Engineers
Thursday
Guest Speakers: Danny O'Bannon and Gary Poole, Stantec
Week 4, December 1-3: Introduction to Construction
TOPICS:
Download the slides from this week here.
What does a contractor do?
Concepts of site logistics, cost estimations, and scheduling
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES AND ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 5:
Read chapters 15-21 of the ACE Workbook (see above)
Watch this video: Effective Essay Writing
Review these resources:
Continue developing your Google Slide with the following:
Complete any items missing from previous weeks
Add in your construction site plan or site logistics plan
Include your construction schedule and preliminary cost estimate
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: John Banks, McCarthy Building Companies
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Anthony Walton, DPR Construction
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Brad Zemanek, Hoar Construction
Week 5, December 8-10: Presentation Skills
TOPICS:
Download the slides from this week here.
Basics of virtual, verbal, and visual presentation skills
Practice presentations
SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES AND ASSIGNMENTS TO PREPARE FOR WEEK 6:
Complete your Google Slides presentation and prepare for our showcase:
Utilize the template presentation guide for your final submission, download here
Make sure you add in all of your hard work from this semester
Submit your final presentation to Google Classroom
Practice presenting your project to your family and friends
RECORDINGS:
Tuesday
Guest Speaker: Bob Carnegie, HOK
Wednesday
Guest Speaker: Ken Black, Page
Thursday
Guest Speaker: Ellyn Wulfe, Gensler
Week 6, December 15-17: Treehouse Showcase
Thanks to all of our students who submitted and presented their incredible treehouse projects! We're so proud of what you accomplished this semester. Thanks also to our special guest panelists from the ACE Houston Executive Board who gave feedback and design advice on each of our presenters. Here are a few samples of the designs our students came up with over the course of this semester.