Case Studies

The following resources have been developed for faculty who seek to teach through the use of case study buildings. Some resources have been designed to be delivered via the Case Method, a widely used form of discussion-based, decision-forcing pedagogy commonly found in schools of business, law, education, and the social sciences. In practice, each ‘case’ is written like a typical architectural case study but contains additional information that can help focus attention on a particular issue, dilemma, and/or condition (i.e., the learning focus). As such, the cases target specific learning objectives, and thus specific courses, found across undergraduate and graduate architectural degree curricula, including design studio, integrative or comprehensive design studio, building materials and assemblies, structures, and/or research-based courses. Each case includes the Case document, an Appendix of images and drawings to support the case, a Student Pre-Class Assignment, and for some cases, optional Teaching Notes to support effective classroom delivery.

FASTER, SAFER, LOWER COST: Prefabrication for the Sara Kulturhus Written via the case method, the module focuses on how integrated design to delivery processes for the Sara Kulturhus project in Skellefteå, Sweden, the world’s tallest mass timber volumetric prefab building, exemplify global best practices for volumetric prefab construction. Focus/Type: Volumetric Mass Timber Prefabrication / Technical Target Courses: Integrative Studio, Structures Delivery Method: (1) Students read the case and appendix; (2) Students complete the Student Pre-Class Assignment; (3) Faculty use the questions from the Student Pre-Class Assignment to moderate a ~1hr in-class discussion section. Provided Materials: Case, Appendix of images and drawings, Student Pre-Class Assignment
DOWNLOAD: Sara Kulturhus Case Study → DOWNLOAD: Sara Kulturhus Appendix → DOWNLOAD: Sara Kulturhus Pre-Class Assignment →

THE PLUS: Integrating Mass Timber into a Holistic Sustainable Design Strategy Written via the case method, the case focuses on how the use of mass timber is a critical component of more holistic sustainable design strategies for building construction. The case will illustrate the integrated ecosystem of sustainable design approaches that are reliant on or complementary to mass timber. As a result of this case study, students will have the tools to effectively design more holistically sustainable buildings with mass timber as a core tenant. The case can be used to help students develop a design ‘toolbox’ of sustainable design strategies for implementation in other projects. Focus/Type: Integrating Sustainable Strategies / Design Strategy Target Courses: Integrative Studio, Studio, Sustainability Seminar Courses Delivery Method: (1) Students read the case and appendix; (2) Students complete the Student Pre-Class Assignment; (3) Faculty use the questions from the Student Pre-Class Assignment to moderate a ~1hr in-class discussion section. Provided Materials: Case, Appendix of images and drawings, Student Pre-Class Assignment, Teaching Notes
DOWNLOAD: The Plus Case Study → DOWNLOAD: The Plus Appendix → DOWNLOAD: The Plus Pre-Class Assignment → DOWNLOAD: The Plus Teaching Notes →

Structural and Mechanical Integration in Mass Timber Multi-Family Housing Written via the case method, the case focuses on the integration of structural and mechanical considerations in three mass timber multi-family housing projects. The three cases are diverse in their structural type and include a column-beam-slab system, a point supported system using mass plywood panels (MPP), and a hybrid light-frame CLT deck system. The buildings include Ascent, 1510 Webster, and The Canyons and thus cover multi-family mass timber housing for both luxury and market-rate markets. This case is written for integrative or comprehensive design studio settings and it is specifically designed to help students develop a structural and mechanical approach for their design studio projects. As such, the case is most impactful if provided to students early in the semester as they start conceptual design. Focus/Type: Structural and Mechanical Integration / Technical Target Courses: Integrative Studio, Building Assemblies Delivery Method: (1) Students read the case and appendix; (2) Students complete the Student Pre-Class Assignment; (3) Faculty use the questions from the Student Pre-Class Assignment to moderate a ~1hr in-class discussion section. Provided Materials: Case, Appendix of images and drawings, Student Pre-Class Assignment
DOWNLOAD: Multi-Family Housing Case Study → DOWNLOAD: Multi-Family Housing Appendix → DOWNLOAD: Multi-Family Housing Pre-Class Assignment →

THE JOHN OLVER DESIGN BUILDING: A Human-Centered Approach to Sustainable Architecture with Mass Timber Written via the case method, the case focuses on the John W. Olver Design Building at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. The case explores how design for well-being is evidenced at the human, building, and urban scales. The case also provides tangible examples of how the Design Building embodies the concept of mass timber humanism through its use of structural wood products. The case is written in a non-technical manner and it emphasizes how exposed mass timber, biophilia, natural light, and effective space planning can positively impact the human experience. Focus/Type: Design for Wellbeing / Humanistic Target Courses: Design Studio (introductory) Delivery Method: (1) Students read the case and appendix; (2) Students complete the Student Pre-Class Assignment; (3) Faculty use the questions from the Student Pre-Class Assignment to moderate a ~1hr in-class discussion section. Provided Materials: Case, Appendix of images and drawings, Student Pre-Class Assignment
DOWNLOAD: John Olver Case Study → DOWNLOAD: John Olver Appendix → DOWNLOAD: John Olver Pre-Class Assignment →