Building Technology I: Materials and Construction
MIT's Department of Architecture offers this introduction to how buildings stand up and stay comfortable. The course covers the history and theory of basic structural systems, from load paths through individual elements like beams and columns, alongside the principles that govern how each element behaves under stress. A second strand introduces building energy topics: thermodynamics, psychrometrics, and human comfort, the basics behind heating, cooling, and ventilation design. Materials include lecture notes, problem sets, and structural analysis exercises drawn from MIT's required curriculum for Master of Architecture students. The course is delivered through MIT OpenCourseWare, so all readings, assignments, and lecture materials are free to access, with no certificate offered. It suits students who want a grounded, calculation-based introduction to structures and energy before moving into more advanced architectural engineering coursework.