Study Architecture 
ProPEL 2025
Mass Timber Pedagogy
Environment
Environment – Coming Soon
The Environment modules introduce students to the fundamentals of embodied carbon and life cycle thinking in the built environment. Through a combination of foundational concepts, carbon accounting frameworks, and hands-on assessment activities, students learn how to measure, compare, and contextualize material impacts—equipping them with practical tools to make informed, climate-aware design decisions as they move into professional practice.
This module discusses embodied carbon and how it is measured in the built environment. The module presents embodied carbon fundamentals so that students are empowered with introductory knowledge and tools to make better buildings as they enter professional practice. An accompanying Excel exercise allows students to asses the embodied carbon in their design studio projects and compare their results relative to other students in their class and/or related industry precedents. Target Courses: Design Studio, Environmental Systems, Structures, Building Technology / Performance Delivery Method: Can be used as a presentation document or reference guide by faculty and students. |
Coming Soon |
This module introduces biogenic carbon, as opposed to fossil carbon, and discusses biogenic carbon flows as related to the built and natural environment. A description of Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) and Whole Building Life Cycle Assessment (WBLCA) are also included, specifically a comparison of the most prevalent WBLCA tools used by architects to conduct biogenic carbon accounting. The module frames macro-level carbon flows in a manner suitable for architecture students, thus helping students to contextualize their carbon-related choices within the wider biogenic carbon cycle. Target Courses: Design Studio, Environmental Systems, Structures, Building Technology / Performance Delivery Method: Can be used as a presentation document or reference guide by faculty and students. |
Coming Soon |
This module provides a hands-on exercise that enables students to quantify and compare embodied carbon in their design projects using an industry-aligned workflow. Students transfer A1–A3 global warming potential results from EC3 into an Excel workbook, calculate embodied carbon intensity (ECI) using gross floor area, and compare their results against classmates and industry benchmarks. Target Courses: Design Studio, Environmental Systems, Structures, Building Technology / Performance Delivery Method: Students input EC3 results into the workbook to assess their project’s structural embodied carbon and use built-in filters to compare performance across building types and structural systems, supporting discussion of material choices and design decisions. |
Coming Soon |
Partners
Are you interested in learning more about the Mass Timber curriculum?
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Edwin Hernández-Ventura
Awards and Competitions Manager
ehernandez@acsa-arch.org
202-785-2324
Eric Wayne Ellis
Senior Director of Operations and Programs
eellis@acsa-arch.org
202-785-2324
Founded in 1912 by 10 charter members, ACSA is an international association of architecture schools preparing future architects, designers, and change agents. Our membership includes all of the accredited professional degree programs in the United States and Canada, as well as international schools and 2- and 4-year programs. Together ACSA schools represent some 7,000 faculty educating more than 40,000 students.
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