Building Architectural and Structural Systems

• Introduction
• Building Framing Types
• Footings and Foundations
• Floor Systems
• Exterior Wall Types
• Roofing
• Windows
• Doors and Frames
• Exterior Insulation
• References

Introduction

The following entry was made on July 7, 1958, in Eric Hoffer's personal diary, which later became one of his published works, Working and Thinking on the Waterfront: A Journal, June 1958-May 1959. Hoffer was a longshoreman for more than 20 years in the San Francisco Bay area. From time to time, I think of the following passage and reflect on its content.

Same ship, same place. Six hours [worked]. In the morning I took the Key-System bus to Encinal. As I walked down the several blocks from the bus stop to the docks I was impressed by the gardens in front of the houses. The houses of average size, are fairly old, yet in excellent shape. The people living here are mostly workingmen. The sight of the gardens and houses turn my mind to the question of maintenance. It is the capacity for maintenance which is the best test for the vigor and stamina of a society. Any society can be galvanized for a while to build something, but the will and the skill to keep things in good repair, day in and day out, are fairly rare. At present, neither the Communist countries nor in the newly created nations is there a profound capacity for maintenance. I wonder how true it is that after the Second World War the countries with the best maintenance were the first to recover. I am thinking of Holland, Belgium, and Western Germany. I don't know how it is in Japan. The Incas had an awareness of maintenance. They assigned whole villages and tribes to keep roads, bridges, and buildings in good repair. I read somewhere that in ancient Rome a man was disqualified as a candidate for office because his garden showed neglect.¹

These are remarkable words. Although nearly 40 years have passed since his thoughts were committed to writing, much of the content of his message remains the same. The question of maintenance of building systems is covered in the following chapters, which explore such topics as general building systems, mechanical systems, electrical systems, and other major elements of a physical facility. The level to which facilities managers aspire to keep their existing inventory of buildings in good repair is the "best test for the vigor and stamina" of their college or university. Facilities managers should read, study, and enjoy the following chapters to the benefit of their institutions. Thousands of buildings exist on college campuses and all appear to be different. Their outward appearance is limited only by the designer and the builder. Buildings also vary according to their primary structure. The following sections describe these basic types of structures.