April 11, 2024
Updated April 10, 2025
16 minute read
A Career in Building Science: Shaping the Future of the Built Environment
Building science is a dynamic and interdisciplinary field focused on understanding how buildings perform as complex systems. It draws on principles from physics, chemistry, engineering, architecture, and even life sciences to analyze and optimize the physical behavior of buildings. This knowledge helps create structures that are not only energy-efficient and durable but also provide healthy, comfortable, and safe environments for occupants.
Working as a building scientist involves tackling challenges across the entire lifecycle of a building, from initial design and construction through operation, maintenance, retrofitting, and eventual demolition or reuse. You might find yourself analyzing heat flow to minimize energy loss, investigating moisture movement to prevent mold growth, optimizing airflow for better indoor air quality, or assessing the environmental impact of building materials. It's a field where scientific rigor meets practical application, directly impacting how we live and work within our built environment.
The field offers exciting opportunities to contribute to a more sustainable future. By optimizing building performance, building scientists play a crucial role in reducing energy consumption and the carbon footprint of the construction sector. Furthermore, the focus on indoor environmental quality means improving the health and well-being of people who spend the vast majority of their time indoors.
What Does a Building Scientist Do?
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Find a path to becoming a Building Scientist. Learn more at:
OpenCourser.com/career/dcwcj9/building
Reading list
We've selected some books
that we think will supplement your
learning. Use these to
develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a
deeper understanding of the topics covered in
Building Scientist.
Foundational text for understanding the historical trajectory of modern architecture, providing essential context for the emergence of contemporary styles. It offers a critical analysis of key movements, figures, and theoretical positions from the 18th century to the present, making it invaluable for gaining a broad understanding. It is widely used as a textbook in architectural history courses.
A comprehensive reference guide that covers the principles, elements, and techniques of environmental design, providing practical guidance for creating sustainable and livable environments.
Developed by a leading professional organization, this guide offers best practices for achieving good indoor air quality through design, construction, and commissioning. It crucial reference for architects, engineers, and contractors. The guide emphasizes practical strategies and aligns well with the course topics on building design and ventilation.
Authored by a well-known expert in the field, this book provides a broad understanding of indoor environmental problems beyond just air quality, including links between buildings and health. It serves as a valuable textbook for undergraduate and graduate students, offering a solid foundation in the subject. The book incorporates concepts from the author's previous works, making it a comprehensive resource.
This influential book challenged the strict dogma of modernism and paved the way for postmodern architectural thought. Venturi argues for richness and ambiguity over purity and clarity, providing a critical perspective that is highly relevant to understanding the diverse and sometimes contradictory nature of contemporary architecture. It is considered a classic and is valuable for deepening one's understanding of architectural theory.
More than a monograph, this book massive and influential exploration of architecture, urbanism, and contemporary society through the work of OMA. It presents projects, essays, and theoretical reflections that are highly relevant to current architectural discourse and practice. It offers insights into the complexities and challenges facing contemporary architects.
Considered a definitive text on ventilation, this book is essential for understanding a key aspect of indoor air quality. It covers both fundamental principles and recent developments, making it relevant for students and practitioners in building services and HVAC. A strong understanding of fluid dynamics and heat transfer is beneficial.
This book, published in association with the AIVC, provides an in-depth look at advancements in building ventilation, covering design, analysis, and performance. It's a valuable resource for researchers and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of ventilation's role in IAQ and explore contemporary approaches.
This comprehensive handbook serves as an excellent reference tool for professionals and advanced students. It covers a wide range of topics in indoor air quality, offering solutions to various problems encountered in different building types. While not a recent publication, its breadth and depth make it a valuable resource for solidifying understanding and providing background knowledge.
This publication provides guidelines and scientific basis for understanding the health risks of specific indoor air pollutants. It's a crucial reference for public health professionals and those involved in setting standards. While not a textbook, it offers authoritative information on the health aspects of IAQ.
A seminal manifesto of modern architecture, this book articulates principles that profoundly influenced contemporary design. While not strictly about 'contemporary' architecture as it stands today, its ideas on functionality, form, and mass production are crucial for understanding the roots of many current architectural philosophies. It classic text often referenced in architectural theory discussions.
This anthology compiles key theoretical texts from 1968 onwards, providing a comprehensive overview of the critical discourse that has shaped contemporary architectural thought. It is an essential resource for understanding the intellectual landscape of recent architectural history and the ideas that continue to influence practice today.
Explores the concept of biophilia, the human need to connect with nature, and provides principles and strategies for incorporating nature into built environments to enhance occupant well-being and environmental sustainability.
This comprehensive reference covers the design and performance of ventilation systems, a critical aspect of maintaining good indoor air quality. It includes recent developments and is suitable for researchers and building professionals. helps deepen understanding of ventilation's role in IAQ.
(a reprint of a special issue) explores the intersection of sustainable building practices and indoor air quality. It covers contemporary topics like energy efficiency and IAQ in the context of sustainability. It's relevant for those interested in the environmental aspects of building design and IAQ.
Focuses on the critical link between building materials and indoor air quality, addressing hazardous materials and their impact on health. It's a valuable resource for understanding source control and sustainable building practices, relevant for a broad audience including those interested in eco-friendly design.
A practical guide to sustainable design, covering the latest technologies, materials, and best practices for creating environmentally friendly buildings.
Frampton explores the relationship between construction and form in architecture, a key theme in contemporary practice. delves into the technical and material aspects that inform architectural design, providing a deeper understanding of how buildings are conceived and realized. It is particularly useful for those interested in the theoretical underpinnings of architectural construction.
Focuses on creating healthier indoor environments through building design and construction practices. It provides practical guidance on material selection and building techniques that minimize indoor pollutants. It's a valuable resource for those interested in the preventative aspects of IAQ and sustainable building.
This handbook provides guidance on verifying indoor air quality using methods outlined in the National Construction Code. It's a practical resource for building professionals involved in compliance and assessment. While focused on Australian standards, the principles can be relevant globally for understanding verification processes.
Argues that architecture is inherently dependent on external factors, including politics, economics, and social context. It challenges the idea of architectural autonomy and encourages a more engaged and critical approach to practice, reflecting contemporary concerns about the architect's role in society. It's valuable for grappling with the complexities of real-world architectural production.
This book, written by an environmental journalist, explores the global impact of air pollution, including indoor air quality. It combines scientific information with personal stories, making it accessible for a broad audience and highlighting the real-world consequences of poor air quality. It's a good resource for gaining a broad understanding and appreciating the importance of the topic.
While not solely focused on individual buildings, this book examines the impact of urban design on well-being, a crucial contemporary topic. It explores how the built environment influences happiness and social interaction, offering valuable insights for architects and urban planners working on contemporary projects. It is relevant for understanding the broader societal context of contemporary architecture.
Offers a broad overview of indoor air quality, covering various pollutants, their sources, and control methods. It is suitable for gaining a general understanding of the topic and can serve as introductory reading for students.
Presents a curated selection of recent buildings that suggest future directions for architecture. It offers a glimpse into innovative designs and technologies shaping the contemporary built environment, making it useful for identifying emerging trends and ideas.
Considered a widely used textbook, this book by Thad Godish provides a strong foundation in air quality, including aspects relevant to indoor environments. While broader than just indoor air quality, it offers essential background knowledge on air pollutants and their behavior. Suitable for undergraduate students.
Provides a broad overview of notable architectural projects from the early 21st century. Featuring a diverse range of building types and locations, it serves as a visual introduction to contemporary architectural practice around the world. It's a good starting point for exploring recent built examples.
Written by an indoor air quality specialist, this workbook provides practical tips and guidance for homeowners to identify and address common indoor air quality problems like mold and odors. It's a good resource for gaining a basic understanding of how to improve IAQ in residential settings.
Focusing on the technical aspects of contemporary house design, this book delves into construction details and material use. It is valuable for students and professionals interested in the practicalities of realizing contemporary architectural concepts, offering insights into how design intent is translated into built form.
Breaks down fundamental architectural principles in a clear and accessible way, providing essential foundational knowledge. While not exclusively focused on contemporary architecture, a solid understanding of these principles is crucial for analyzing and creating contemporary designs. It serves as a valuable reference for students and those new to the field.
While not exclusively about IAQ, this book provides foundational knowledge of HVAC systems, which are crucial for ventilation and air quality control in buildings. It good resource for students and professionals needing to understand the mechanical aspects related to IAQ. It serves as valuable background reading.
Based on a popular online course, this book provides an introduction to architectural thinking and the forces that shape the built environment. It covers historical examples and theoretical concepts relevant to understanding architecture, including contemporary issues. It can serve as a good starting point for developing architectural literacy.
Taschen is known for its high-quality visual books on architecture. This type of book would offer a visually rich introduction to contemporary projects and architects globally, suitable for broad understanding and inspiration. It serves as a good visual reference.
A practical guide for homeowners, this book focuses on assessing and improving indoor air quality in residential settings. It provides actionable advice and is suitable for those seeking a broad understanding of IAQ in their own homes.
A philosophical exploration of the relationship between architecture and human happiness, providing a unique perspective on the importance of designing environments that promote well-being.
Explores a specific and increasingly important area of contemporary architecture: healthcare design. It addresses the unique challenges and considerations in designing hospitals and other healthcare facilities, reflecting how contemporary architecture responds to specialized programmatic needs and technological advancements.
This introductory text provides a framework for understanding architectural concepts and historical development. It helps build a foundational knowledge base necessary for engaging with contemporary architectural ideas and projects. It is particularly useful for high school and undergraduate students.
Explores the psychological aspects of environmental design, providing insights into the relationship between people and their surroundings.
Provides an economic perspective on environmental design, examining the costs and benefits of sustainable practices and policies.
Advocates for an ecological approach to design, emphasizing the importance of designing in harmony with natural systems.
Focuses on the design of inclusive and accessible environments for people with disabilities and diverse needs.
Seminal work in the field of environmental design, advocating for the integration of natural processes into the design process.
For more information about how these books relate to this course, visit:
OpenCourser.com/career/dcwcj9/building
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