HS 357 Site Design and Construction Grading and Drainage

This is a 4–credit lecture course in landscape site planning (grading and drainage) and construction, which includes lectures, assignments, readings, site visits, design exercises, and a comprehensive final project.  This course is an introduction to landforms, site grading and drainage, and the manipulations of such landforms necessary to create built landscapes. Site design, site development, and site engineering all refer to the process of grading and drainage. Grading and drainage are processes used to reshape the earth’s surface and to convey surface water runoff. This course emphasizes a grounding in technical calculations and documents, which are an integral part of the entire landscape design process. Observations about landforms, soils, and surface water runoff in the site analysis phase inform the conceptual design process. Landscape designers use these sound site planning principles to make critical design decisions.

This course applies the skills learned to explore the design of stormwater applications and best construction practices. Students’ understanding of grading and drainage construction materials, critical issues, and their knowledge of the construction document process is an important part of the foundation for their development as future practicing landscape designers. Whereby the students use knowledge learned in the first part of the course to apply to a design project that takes their design ideas to the construction document level. The class covers three major areas including:

  1. The introduction of the design of grade change devises, and stormwater management concepts and elements;
  2. The applications of construction details and materials in integrated systems in the built environment; and
  3. The process of preparing grading and drainage construction documents.

The goal of the course is to arm students with information necessary for the preparation of technical calculations and documents for grading and drainage; with the understanding of the integration and the application of physical materials and structures in the landscape; and with the ability to communicate their designs using technical drawings.

Throughout the semester, the exploration of the critical topics relating to responsible, “green/low impact” design and construction practices will be underscored.

The design project is chosen as a unique experience every year and includes a collaboration with other allied colleagues.  This course is a thorough introduction to the site engineering and the construction of grading change devices and stormwater landscape elements.

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