Architectural Detailing

PATRICK RAND, FAIA, is a Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Architecture in the College of Design at North Carolina State University. Rand has also authored or co-authored Materials for Design and Detailing for Landscape Architects, and his books have been translated into French, Chinese, and Korean. He has been named by Design Intelligence as a recipient of the Thirty Most Admired Design Educators. He was named a Distinguished Professor by ACSA in 2014. In 2019 he was a Fulbright Distinguished Chair, teaching and carrying out research for six months at Aalto University in Otaniemi and Helsinki, Finland. He was honored as the 2019 recipient of the NCSU Board of Governor’s Award for Teaching Excellence. JASON MILLER, AIA, is a professor of Building Sciences at Appalachian State University. A practicing architect, Miller emphasizes an integrated, collaborative design approach to achieve design excellence in professional and academic settings. His research interests include design pedagogy, sustainable design-build practices, and the role of architecture as an agent of community change. For his work in professionally based design education, Miller received the 2014 Appalachian State University Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award and the 2019 UNC Board of Governors Excellence in Teaching Award. EDWARD ALLEN, FAIA, (1938-2020) was a member of the faculties at both Yale University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and frequently taught as a guest at institutions across the United States for over 30 years. He also authored The Architect’s Studio Companion; Shaping Structures: Statics; and Fundamentals of Building Construction. Among his many honors, Allen was selected as a Topaz Laureate by ACSA in 2005.

Acknowledgments xi

Introduction xiii

Part I – Detail Patterns 1

Section 1 Function 3

Chapter 1 Controlling Water 5

Wash 7

Overlap 12

Overhang and Drip 15

Drain and Weep 19

Unobstructed Drainage 21

Ventilated Cold Roof 22

Foundation Drainage 24

Moisture Break 25

Capillary Break 26

Labyrinth 28

Rainscreen Assembly and Pressure Equalization 29

Upstand 34

Sealant Joints and Gaskets 36

Chapter 2 Controlling Air 45

Air Barrier System 47

Weatherstripped Crack 49

Chapter 3 Controlling Heat Flow 51

Thermal Insulation 52

Thermal Break 54

Multiple Glazing 59

White and Bright Surfaces 60

Reflective Glazing 61

Reflective Surface and Airspace 62

Outside-Insulated Thermal Mass 64

Chapter 4 Controlling Water Vapor 67

Warm Interior Surfaces 68

Warm-Side Vapor Retarder 70

Vapor Ventilation 75

Condensate Drainage 78

Chapter 5 Controlling Sound 79

Airtight, Heavy, Limp Partition 80

Cushioned Floor 83

Quiet Attachments 85

Sound-Absorbing Surfaces 86

Chapter 6 Accommodating Movement 89

Seasoning and Curing 91

Vertical-Grain Lumber 94

Equalizing Cross Grain 96

Relieved Back 98

Foundation below Frost Line 99

Structure/Enclosure Joint 100

Abutment Joint 102

Expansion Joint 103

Control Joint 106

Sliding Joint 109

Building Separation Joint 111

Chapter 7 Providing Structural Support 113

Small Structures 114

Connecting Dissimilar Materials 116

Distributing Loads 118

Chapter 8 Providing Passages for Building Services 121

Vertical Chase 122

Horizontal Plenum 125

Chapter 9 Health and Safety 129

Safe Footing 130

Fall Protection 132

Safe Edges 134

Safe Glazing 135

Nontoxic Materials 136

Fire-Safe Materials 137

Fire-Resistant Assemblies 138

Barrier-Free Design 140

Universal Design 141

Chapter 10 Providing for the Aging of the Building 145

Life Cycle 146

Expected Life 148

Surfaces That Age Gracefully 150

Repairable Surfaces 152

Cleanable Surfaces 153

Maintenance Access 154

Dry Wood 156

Protected and Similar Metals 158

Less Absorbent Materials 161

Robust Assemblies 163

Building Armor 164

Extreme Event Protection 166

Section 2 Constructability 169

Chapter 11 Ease of Assembly 171

Uncut Units 172

Minimum Number of Parts 174

Parts That Are Easy to Handle 176

Repetitious Assembly 179

Simulated Assemblies 181

Observable Assemblies 183

Accessible Connections 184

Detailing for Disassembly 186

Installation Clearance 188

Nonconflicting Systems 189

Chapter 12 Forgiving Details 191

Dimensional Tolerance 192

Sliding Fit 197

Adjustable Fit 201

Reveal 204

Butt Joint 206

Clean Edge 209

Progressive Finish 211

Forgiving Surface 213

Chapter 13 Efficient Use of Construction Resources 215

Factory and Site 216

Repetitious Fabrication 218

Rehearsing the Construction Sequence 220

Off-the-Shelf Parts 223

Local Skills and Resources 224

Aligning Forms with Forces 226

Refining the Detail 229

All-Weather Construction 230

Pride of Craftsmanship 232

Accepted Standards 233

Section 3 Aesthetics 235

Chapter 14 Aesthetics 237

Contributive Details 237

Timeless Features 240

Geometry and Proportion 241

Hierarchy of Refinement 243

Intensification and Ornamentation 245

Sensory Richness 247

Formal Transitions 248

Didactic Assemblies 251

Composing the Detail 252

Part II – Detail Development 253

Section 1 Applying the Detail Patterns 255

Chapter 15 Detailing a Building in Wood Light Framing 257

Chapter 16 Detailing a Building in Architectural Concrete 291

Chapter 17 Detailing a Building in Masonry on a Concrete Frame 313

Section 2 Getting Started 349

Appendix A: The Detailer’s Reference Shelf 351

Appendix B: Formulating Exercises for Self-Study, Studio, or Classroom Use 359

Index 361