Tornadoes and extreme winds cause heavy loss of life and property damage throughout the United States. Most buildings offer significant protection from this danger, and building administrators should know the areas where this protection is available. This booklet presents a review of three schools, all of which were struck by tornadoes on April 3,…

Two beams forming part of the roof over the swimming pool at the school collapsed. The investigation showed that the cause of the failure was loss of strength due to conversion of high alumina cement concrete followed by sulphate attack leading to disruption of the concrete. The degree of conversion and loss of strength was greater than expected…

Building systems can be traced back to a 1516 A.D. project by Leonardo da Vinci and to a variety of prefabrication projects in every succeeding century. When integrated into large and repetitive spatial units through careful design, building systems can produce an architecture of the first order, as evidenced in the award winning design of…

Following recent tornadoes, terms of specially trained architectural and engineering faculty conducted onsite examinations and research of building damage. It was concluded that tornado damage to buildings is predictable. A trained architect or engineer can establish, before a tornado strikes, those portions of the building that will offer the…

This report describes the advantages and utilization of an architectural design technique known as on-the-spot design, which involves the production of basic plans (by a team of architects, city planners, and engineers) at the location where the project is to be constructed. On-the-spot design techniques are described for a dormitory for the…

A guide for the instruction of bridge inspectors is provided in this manual as well as instructions for conducting and reporting on a bridge inspection. The chapters outline the qualifications necessary to become a bridge inspector. The subject areas covered are: The Bridge Inspector, Bridge Structures, Bridge Inspection Reporting System,…

Contains contributions by seven library building consultants on designing a forgiving building, i.e., a building that can be modified easily and inexpensively to meet new conditions. Topics include (1) small library design; (2) academic library design; (3) adapting libraries to current and future needs; (4) designing space; (5) the changing…

Presently available design techniques, technologies, and management practices can significantly reduce the energy requirements of new buildings. A two-part section discusses solutions to the energy problem in the commercial, institutional, and industrial fields. (Author/MLF)

A study of Hawaii's school construction program analyzed four major processes: program planning, facilities design, construction, and repair and maintenance. (MLF)

Describes design and construction of a new physical activities center at Dayton University that utilized a design/build approach and pre-engineered building systems to substantially reduce construction costs. (JG)

A classification system for analyzing the dynamics of energy consumption in building components. (Author/MF)

Skillful handling of a science complex for the State University of New York at Binghamton expresses society's concept of the goals of technology and questions about values generated by those standards. The spatial organization and systems of the buildings meet the pragmatic needs of science; however, the design does not succeed in expressing…

Whiz Bang Quick City 2 went up in two days, thrived for seven more, and ecologically speaking, disappeared without a trace. The temporary, experimental community dealt with problems of community life support systems and the role that the physical design of the community plays in regard to meeting social needs of the residents for privacy and…

Four projects were assigned to final year civil engineering undergraduates in a course on structural steel design. The projects involved the design, construction, and testing of two columns and two trusses. (TS)