Construction and Design Guide: Construction Resources

Construction Methods and Systems

Construction Research Resources

Cost Data

Details for Building Construction

Dictionaries and Encyclopedias

Handbooks and Manuals

Journals

Materials:types and uses

Performance and Evaluation

Product Directories

Projects, Associations, Centers, and Libraries

Search terms

Use the following search terms in library catalogs & indexes to find book and articles.

Terminology, illustrations, definitions of building materials, names, dates, sites, methods.

• Concise dictionary of construction. Los Altos, CA: Crisp Publications, 1991.
• Construction dictionary. 8th ed. Phoenix: Phoenix, Arizona Chapter, Natl Assoc. of Women in Construction, 1991.
• Construction dictionary illustrated /edited by James Acret et al. 3rd ed. Los Angeles, CA: BNi Building News, c2001.
• Dictionary of architectural and building technology / Henry J. Cowan and Peter R. Smith ; with contributions by W.K. Chow ... [et al.]. London ; New York : Spon Press, 2004.
• Dictionary of architecture and building construction / Nikolas Davies and Erkki Jokiniemi. Amsterdam ; Boston ; London : Elsevier/Architectural Press, 2008.
• Dictionary of architecture & construction / edited by Cyril M. Harris. : Dictionary of architecture & construction / edited by Cyril M. Harris. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2006. electronic resource
• A dictionary of construction, surveying, and civil engineering / Christopher Gorse, David Johnston, Martin Pritchard. Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2012.
• Encyclopaedia of architectural technology / Jacqueline Glass. Chichester: Wily-Academy, 2002.
• Encyclopedia of architecture: design, engineering & construction / Joseph A. Wilkes, editor-in-chief, Robert T. Packard, assoc. ed. New York: Wiley, c1988-c1989.
• Encyclopedia of construction methods & materials / William P. Spence. New York : Sterling Pub., c2000. Arranged in CSI format, includes history, definitions, span charts, rating labels, detailed illustrations.
• Encyclopedia of engineering materials. NY: M. Decker, 1988-89.
• The grammar of architecture/ Emily Cole, general editor. Boston: Bulfinch Press, 2002.
• Illustrated dictionary of building design + construction / Ernest Burden. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2005.
  EnvDesign TH9.B87 2005
• Intelligent building dictionary : terminology for smart, integrated, green building design, construction, and management / Chuck Ehrlich, editor. San Francisco : Hands-on-Guide, 2007.
• Means illustrated construction dictionary / edited by John Marchetti; managing ed. Mary Greene. 3rd ed. Kingston, MA: R.S. Means Co., c2000. See also the condensed version 

• Builder / NAHB, National Association of Home Builders. Washington, D.C.: NAHB, c1981-
• Building (London, England)
• Building design & construction. Chicago, Cahners Publishing Co.
• BRE - Good Building Guide Garston, Watford [England] : Building Research Establishment, 1990. Indexed in Architectural Publications.
• BRE - Good Repair Guide. London : Construction Research Communications, Ltd. and the Building Research Establishment, c1996. Indexed in Architectural Publications.
• Buildings. Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Stamats Publishing Co. 1908-. *Focuses on design and construction of university and corporate buildings. Includes articles on green design, smart buildings, HVAC, security, and materials. 
• Built environment. [London] Kogan Page
• Construction history : Journal of the Construction History Group. Ascot, Berkshire : Chartered Institute of Building, 1985. 
• Construction Technology Updates, National Research Council of Canada, Institute for Construction Research.
• Engineering, construction and architectural management. Oxford : Blackwell Science, 1994 - 
• ENR - Engineering News Record. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, c1987- Online: http://enr.construction.com.
• Journal of architectural engineering. New York, N.Y.: ASCE, Architectural Engineering Division, 1995. 
• Journal of performance of constructed facilities. New York, N.Y. : ASCA, 1987. 
• Wood Design & Building. Ottawa, ON : Canadian Wood Council], 1997.

For measured details, building methods, structural systems, illustrations, dimensions, design configurations and recommended performance specifications.

• Architectural graphic standards for residential construction / The American Institute of Architects; Dennis Hall, editor-in-chief; Nina M. Giglio, senior executive editor; the Magnum Group, illustrator, 2nd ed. Hoboken, N.J.: Wiley, c2010.
• Builder's instant answers / Sidney Levy, R. Dodge Woodson. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2004. Instant answer series. Entries include short facts, illustrations, charts and tables.
• Building construction handbook / R. Chudley & R. Greeno. 8th ed. Oxford; Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2010.
• Building design and construction handbook / Frederick S. Merritt, editor, Jonathan T. Ricketts, editor. 6th ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2001.
• Concrete and masonry databook / Christine Beall, Rochelle Jaffe. New York: McGraw-Hill, c2003.
  Coverage includes basic properties of concrete and masonry, construction techniques, footings, foundations, basements and slabs, masonry veneer, paving, garden walls, and more.
• Constructing architecture : materials, processes, structures : a handbook / Andrea Deplazes (ed.) ; [translation into English, Gerd H. Söffker ; Philip Thrift]. Basel, Switzerland ; Boston, Mass : Birkhäuser, 2008.
• Construction delays : understanding them clearly, analyzing them correctly [electronic resource] / Theodore J. Trauner, Jr. . . . [et al.]. : Amsterdam ; Boston : Butterworth-Heinemann, 2009.
• Construction innovation and process improvement [electronic resource] / Akintola Akintoye, Jack Goulding and Girma Zawdie. Chichester, West Sussex ; Ames, Iowa : Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.
• Construction professional reference / Paul Rosenberg. Pottstown, PA : Pal Publications, 2005.
• Fundamentals of building construction: materials and methods / Edward Allen; drawings by Joseph Iano. 5th ed. New York: Wiley, 2009. This is a classic. Overview of construction systems, foundation to roof, exterior cladding to interior finishes. Every common system of construction is covered, including wood light frame construction, heavy timber, masonry, steel, sitecast concrete, and precast concrete, light gauge steel frame construction, selecting windows and doors.
• Graphic standards field guide to residential construction / Dennis Hall, Nina Giglio. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2011.
• Interior graphic standards / Corky Binggeli, editor-in-chief ; Patricia Greichen, graphics editor; The Magnum Group, illustrator, 2nd ed. Hoboken, New Jersey : John Wiley & Sons, c2011.
• Materials, structures, and standards : all the details architects need to know but can never find / Julia McMorrough. Gloucester, Mass. : Rockport Publishers, 2006.
• Time-saver standards for building materials & systems: design criteria and selection data / Donald Watson, editor. New York ; London: McGraw-Hill, 2000. Guide to the design & specification of building materials and systems. Includes data sheets with tables and checklists.
• Time-saver standards for building types / Joseph De Chiara, editor, Michael J. Crosbie, ed. 4th ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2001. Covers residences, museums, libraries, and theaters, hospitals and nursing homes, churches, air and truck terminals, retail shops, restaurants, hotels, industrial parks, playgrounds, and arenas. Includes plans, diagrams, tables, and schematics, sections on housing for the elderly and the handicapped, including access for the handicapped to public and government buildings.

• 1001 traditional construction details / Stephen A. Mouzon, with David L. Mouzon. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2001. Standard scale detail reproductions from "Architectural elements: Traditional Construction Details", Mcgraw-Hill
• Architect's handbook of construction detailing / David Kent Ballast 2nd ed. Washington, D.C: BNI Publications, c2009.
• Architectural elements interior construction details / Andy Shelander and Karm M. Wahab. United States: McGraw-Hill, c2001
• Architectural elements residential construction details / Andy Shelander, Karm M. Wahab. [New York]: McGraw-Hill, c2000. 1 computer optical disc : col. ; 4 3/4 in. + 1 user's guide (18 p. ; 12 cm.)
• Architectural drawing and light construction / Edward J. Muller, James G. Fausett, Philip A. Grau, III. 8th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, c2009.
• Architectural formulas pocket reference / Robert Brown Butler. London: McGraw-Hill, 2002.
• Architectural technology / Stephen Emmitt. Ames, IA: Wiley-Blackwell 2012.
• Building construction illustrated / Francis D.K. Ching and Cassandra Adams. 4th ed. New York : John Wiley, c2008.
• Construction graphics : a practical guide to interpreting working drawings / Keith A. Bisharat. Hoboken, N.J.: John Wiley & Sons, c2004. Includes drawings, case studies, exercises, clear explanation of drawings to construction.
• Design of reinforced masonry structures /Narendra Taly. New York; London : McGraw-Hill, 2010.
• Detail in contemporary concrete architecture / David Phillips and Megumi Yamashita. London : Laurence King Pub., 2012.
• Detail in contemporary glass architecture / Virginia McLeod. London : Laurence King Publishing, 2011.
• Detail in contemporary residential architecture / Virginia McLeod. London : Laurence King Publishing, 2007.
• Detail in contemporary timber architecture / Virginia McLeod. London : Laurence King Publishing, 2010.
• Interior construction & detailing for designers and architects / David Kent Ballast. 5th ed. Belmont, CA: Professional Publications, c2011.
• Interior detailing: concept to construction / David Kent Ballast. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2010.
• Interiors construction manual: integrated planning, finishings and fitting-out, technical services / Gerhard Hausladen. Basel: Birkhäuser, 2010.
• Masonry design and detailing: for architects and contractors/ Christine Beall. 5th ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2004. Includes IBC references, details, moisture penetration, window flashing, masonry history and manufacturing.
• Simplified engineering for architects and builders / James Ambrose and Patrick Tripeny. ; based on the work of Harry Parker. 11th ed. New York: Wiley, c2011
• Traditional construction patterns / Stephen A. Mouzon with Susan M. Henderson; foreword by Andres M. Duany. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2004.
• Timber Construction manual / Thomas Herzog ... [et al.]. Basel: Birkhauser, 2004. Includes details for building types, spans, structures, facades with measured drawings.

Use for bidding, estimates, construction, materials, square foot, and project costs.

• Assemblies cost data / RS Means. Kingston, MA : R.S. Means Co., c1996. R.S. Means Company. see also Means assemblies cost data.
• Bidding and estimating procedures for construction / Hal Johnston, G.L.Mansfield. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, c2001.
• Building construction cost data (Kingston, Mass.: 1996) / RS Means. Kingston, MA : R.S. Means Co., c1996. Issued in 4 other versions: Building construction cost data (Western ed.: 1996) (Open shop ed.) (Metric ed.) and (Loose-leaf ed.) 
• Assemblies cost data / RS Means. Kingston, MA : R.S. Means Co., c1996. R.S. Means Company. see also Means assemblies cost data. 
• Construction estimating : a step-by-step guide to a successful estimate / Karl F. Schmid.
• Construction estimating complete handbook : Excel estimating included / Adam Ding.
• Estimating building costs for the residential & light commercial construction professional / Wayne J. DelPico.
• Estimating construction costs / Robert L. Peurifoy, Garold D. Oberlender. 5th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, c2002.
   6th ed. 
• Life-cost approach to building evaluation / Craig A. Langston.
• Means facilities construction cost data/ Melville J. Mossman. 28th annual ed. Kingston, MA:R.S. Means, 2013.
• RSMeans estimating handbook and electronic resource
• Spon’s estimating cost guide to minor works, alterations and repairs to fire, flood, gale and theft damage : [unit rates and project costs] / Bryan Spain.
• Spon's Asia Pacific construction costs handbook / edited by Davis Langdon &Seah International. 3rd ed. London; New York: E & FN Spon, 2000.
• Square foot & assemblies estimating methods / RS Means. 3rd ed. Kingston, MA : R.S. Means, c2001.
• Unit price estimating methods / [editors, John Chiang, Phillip Waier, Mary Greene and Andrea Keenan]. 4th ed. Kingston, MA : R.S. Means Co., c2007 ebook
• Whole life appraisal for construction / Roger Flanagan, Carol Jewell ; with George Norman.
• Whole life costing : a new approach / Peter Caplehorn
   

• Advanced technologies: building in the computer age / Valerio Travi. Basel ; Boston : Birkhauser, c2001. Series title: The IT revolution in architecture.
  Advanced timber framing : Joinery, design & construction oftimber frame roof systems / Steve K. Chappell. Brownfield, ME : Fox Maple Press , 2012.
• Alternative construction: contemporary natural building methods / edited by Lynne Elizabeth and Cassandra Adams. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, 2005
• Blueprint reading for construction / James A.S. Fatzinger. 2nd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Pearson Prentice Hall, c2004. Includes reference tables, exercises, contract documents, case studies with specifications.
• Build-on : converted architecture and transformed buildings /edited by Robert Klanten and Lukas Feireiss. Berlin : Gestalten, 2009.
• Builder's essentials. Framing & rough carpentry : the illustrated guide for apprentices & carpenters / Scot Simpson. 2nd ed. Kingston, Mass.: R.S. Means Co., c2001.
• Building construction : principles, materials, and systems / Madan Mehta, Walter Scarborough, Diane Armpriest. 2nd ed. Boston : Pearson, c2013.
• Carpentry & building construction / Mark D. Feirer, John L.Feirer. 6th ed. New York, N.Y. : McGraw-Hill, Glencoe, c2004.
• Carpenter's and builder's tools, steel square& joinery / Mark Richard Miller, Rex Miller. Indianapolis : Wiley, 2005.
• Complete book of framing : an illustrated guide for residential construction / Scot Simpson.2nd ed.Hoboken, N.J. : RSMeans/John Wiley & Sons,2012. and ebook
• Concrete construction manual / [Friedbert] Kind-Barkauskas et al. Basel; Boston: Birkhauser; Munich: Edition Detail, 2002.
• Construction building envelope and interior finishes databook / Sidney M. Levy. New York: McGraw-Hill, c2001.
• The construction industry: processes, players, and practices / Ralph Liebing. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, 2001.
• Construction methods and management / S.W. Nunnally. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall, c2011.
• Construction methods and planning / J.R. Illingworth. 2nd ed. London; New York : E & FN Spon, 2000.
• Construction of architecture: from design to built / Ralph W. Liebing. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, 2008.
• Construction planning, equipment, and methods / Robert L. Peurifoy, [et al.]. 8th ed. New York : McGraw-Hill, 2011.
• Construction site work, site utilities, and substructures databook / Sidney M. Levy. New York: McGraw-Hill, c2001.
• Construction waterproofing handbook / Michael T. Kubal. New York: McGraw-Hill, c2000.
• Demolition : practices, technology, and management / by RichardJ. Diven and Mark Shaurette. West Lafayette, Ind. : Purdue University Press, c2010.
• DeWalt construction residential and light commercial : professional reference / William Spence. Clifton Park, NY : Delmar Cengage Learning, 2010.
• Domestic plumbing design / Jack L. Burton. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall, 2000. Building systems design; v. 3.
• Earthquake resistant buildings [electronic resource] : dynamic analyses, numerical computations, codified methods, case studies and examples / M.Y.H. Bangash. Berlin ; New York : Springer, c2011. SpringerLink. Restricted to UC campuses
• Earthquake-resistant structures : design, build and retrofit / Amsterdam : Elsevier/Butterworth-Heinemann, 2013
• Elementary structures for architects and builders / R. E. Shaeffer. 4th ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J. : Prentice Hall, c2002.
• Fundamental building technology / Andrew J. Charlett and Craig Maybery-Thomas. 2nd ed. New York, NY : Routledge, 2013.
• Fundamentals of building construction : materials and methods /Edward Allen and Joseph Iano. 5th ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2009.
• Improving the earthquake resilience of buildings [electronicresource] : the worst case approach / Izuru Takewaki, AbbasMoustafa, Kohei Fujita. London ; New York : Springer, c2013.
• Introduction to Building / Derek Osbourn, Dip Arch [Hons], RIBA,MSIAD, Roger Greeno, BA [Hons], FCIOB, FCIPHE, FRSA.Fifth edition. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited, 2013.
• Mechanical and electrical equipment for buildings / Walter T. Grondzik ... [et al.].Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, 2010.
• National earthquake resilience [electronic resource] : research,implementation, and outreach / National Research Council of theNational Academies. Washington, D.C. : National Academies Press, 2011.
• Olin’s construction: principles, materials, and methods / H. Leslie Simmons. Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, 2011.
• Print and specifications reading for construction / Ron Russell. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, 2012.
• Reading architectural plans: for residential and commercial construction / Ernest R. Weidhaas. 5th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, c2002
• Residential & light commercial construction standards : the all-in-one, authoritative reference compiled from: major building codes, recognized trade custom, industry standards. 3rd ed., updated. Kingston, MA: R.S. Means Co., c2008.
• Simplified engineering for architects and builders / James Ambrose and Patrick Tripeny.11th ed. Hoboken, N.J. : Wiley, c2011.
• Standard handbook of architectural engineering : a practical manual for architects, engineers, contractors & related professions & occupations / Robert Brown Butler. New York : McGraw-Hill, c1998.
• Sustainable retrofit and facilities management / Paul Appleby. Abingdon, Oxon ; New York, NY : Earthscan from Routledge, 2013.
• Taunton's carpentry complete : expert advice from start to finish/ [text by Andy Engel]. Newtown, CT : Taunton Press, 2011.
• Theory of structures [electronic resource] : fundamentals, framed structures, plates and shells / Peter Marti.Berlin :

• American Hardwood Information Center The American Hardwood Information Center is a service of the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA) a non-profit national trade association.
• Basic construction materials / Theodore W. Marotta. 6th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2002.
• Building materials; essential data from the Building Research Establishment. Boston, Cahners Books [1974?]
• Building with secondhand stuff : how to re-claim, re-vamp, re-purpose & re-use salvaged & leftover building materials / Chris Peterson. Minneapolis, MN. : Creative Pub. International, 2011
• Design of wood structures--ASD/LRFD / Donald E. Breyer ... [et al.]. 6th ed.New York: McGraw Hill, 2007
• The ecology of building materials / Bjørn Berge ; translated by Chris Butters and Filip Henley. Amsterdam ; Oxford : Elsevier/Architectural Press, 2009. electronic resource
• The interior design sourcebook / Thomas L. Williams. New York : Allworth Press, 2012.
• Material design : informing architecture by materiality / Thomas Schropfer ; with a foreword by Erwin Viray ; and contributions by James Carpenter ... [et al.]. Basel : Birkhäuser, 2011.
• Material matters: new materials in design / Philip Howes and Zoe Laughlin.London : Black Dog Pub., 2012.
• Material precedent : the typology of modern tectonics / Gail Peter Borden. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, c2010.
• Material strategies : innovative applications in architecture / Blaine Brownell. New York : Princeton Architectural Press, 2012. 
• Material World 3 : innovative materials for architecture and design / directed by matériO ; [author, Elodie Ternaux]. Amsterdam : Frame Publishers ; Minneapolis, MN : Consortium Book Sales & Distribution, 2011.
• Materiality and interior construction / Nancy Gesimondo and Jim Postell. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley, c2011.
• Materials for architects and builders / Arthur Lyons .4th ed. Amsterdam ; London : Butterworth-Heinemann, 2010.. Lists the manufacturer and properties of building materials. Includes wind catchers, solar collectors, photovoltaics. Each chapter includes a bibliography.
• Materials : innovation & design / [author, Dimitris Kottas ; editorial coordination, Jacobo Krauel ; text, contributed by the companies, edited by Jay Noden]. Barcelona, Spain : Links, [2011?]
• Materials matter III / design, Matthew McNerney. New York : Material ConneXion, 2009.
• Thermally active surfaces in architecture / Kiel Moe. New York : Princeton Architectural Press, c2010.
• Transmaterial 3 : a catalog of materials that redefine our physical environment / edited by Blaine Brownell. New York, N.Y. : Princeton Architectural Press, 2010. electronic resource
• The visual handbook of building and remodeling: : a comprehensive guide to choosing the right materials and systems for every part of your home / Charlie Wing. 3rd ed. Newtown, Conn. : Taunton Press, 2009

Types:

• Aluminium architecture : 33 projets = projects / textes par Dominique Boudet. Paris : Groupe moniteur, 2007. Texts in French and English
• Architectural stone: fabrication, installation, and selection / Mark Chacon. New York: Wiley, c1999.
• Foundation and anchor design guide for metal building systems / Alexander Newman. New York : McGraw-Hill, c2013.
• The role of steel in environmentally responsible buildings / Mark Gorgolewski. Ascot: Steel Construction Institute, c1999. Series title:SCI publication ; 174.
• Use of steel in house building / Esko Miettinen, Risto Saarni; [translated by Tiina Hijanen]. Helsinki, Finland : Finnish Constructional Steelwork Assoc. Ltd. :Rakennustieto Oy, c2000. Includes history, case studies of well known houses: Rietveld, Neutra, van der Rohe, Johnson, Eames, Ellwood, Prouve, Haller, Gehry and Murcutt. Shows details of structures, assemblies, and the history of housing production.

• The collaborators : interactions in the architectural design process / Gilbert Herbert and Mark Donchin. Farnham, Surrey : Ashgate Publishing Company, 2013.
• How buildings learn : what happens after they're built / Stewart Brand. New York, NY : Viking, c1994.
• Lessons from vernacular architecture / edited by Willi Weber and Simos Yannas. Abingdon, Oxon ; New York : Earthscan, from Routledge, 2014.
• Lifetime homes design guide / Chris Goodman. Bracknell : BRE, 2011.
• Outside the box: [affordable energy efficient construction technique] / by Bill Hanlon. Reading, Kansas. : BPH Productions, 2005. 
• Residential & light commercial construction standards : the all-in-one, authoritative reference compiled from: major building codes, recognized trade custom, industry standards. 3rd ed., updated. Kingston, MA: R.S. Means, c2008.
• User-responsive design : reducing the risk of failure / C. Thomas Mitchell. 1st ed. New York : Norton, c2002.