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:

• Virtual SketchUp Tutorials

• Software downloads (free):

  1. Revit

  2. SketchUp

  3. Enscape

  4. Lumion

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

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

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

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:

1. Read pages 4-19 of the ACE Workbook (see above)

2. Watch these videos:

   • Napkin Sketches

   • Bubble Diagrams

   • Sketching Video

   • Architecture Career Videos

3. 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

  1. Guest Speaker: Angela Cotie, Chair of ACE Houston Board, Gilbane

  2. Activity Introduction

• Wednesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Amy Hufnagel, ACE Houston Board Member, Genesys Works

  2. Activity Introduction

• Thursday

  1. Guest Speaker: Megan Monedero, ACE Houston Associate Board Member, Stantec

  2. Activity Introduction

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:

1. Read chapters 9-13 of the ACE Workbook (see above)

2. Watch these videos:

   • What is Structural Engineering?

   • Sustainable Design

   • Engineering Technology

   • Internal Forces

3. 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:

     • SketchUp Model Template

     • SketchUp Quick Reference Card

     • Template Site Plan

RECORDINGS:

• Tuesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Kyle Thiel, Courtney Harper & Partners

  2. Activity Introduction

• Wednesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Micki Washington, HOK

  2. Activity Introduction

• Thursday

  1. Guest Speaker: Mahe Hameed & Rebecca Gandy, Gensler

  2. Activity Introduction

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:

1. Read chapter 14 of the ACE Workbook (see above)

2. Explore these links:

   • Nelson Treehouse

   • ProCore

3. 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

  1. Guest Speaker: Daniel Ash, Nelson Treehouse & Supply

  2. Activity Introduction

• Wednesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Adam Cryer, Pinnacle Structural Engineers

  2. Activity Introduction

• Thursday

  1. Guest Speakers: Danny O'Bannon and Gary Poole, Stantec

  2. Activity Introduction

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:

1. Read chapters 15-21 of the ACE Workbook (see above)

2. Watch this video: Effective Essay Writing

3. Review these resources:

   • Architecture Student's Presentation Roadmap

   • Industry Software Resources

   • Enscape Rendering Software

4. 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

  1. Guest Speaker: John Banks, McCarthy Building Companies

  2. Activity Introduction

• Wednesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Anthony Walton, DPR Construction

  2. Activity Introduction

• Thursday

  1. Guest Speaker: Brad Zemanek, Hoar Construction

  2. Activity Introduction

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:

1. 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

2. Submit your final presentation to Google Classroom

3. Practice presenting your project to your family and friends

RECORDINGS:

• Tuesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Bob Carnegie, HOK

• Wednesday

  1. Guest Speaker: Ken Black, Page

  2. Activity Introduction

• Thursday

  1. Guest Speaker: Ellyn Wulfe, Gensler

  2. Activity Introduction

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.