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Building Types

Research Tips

• For a precedent study of a specific building type do a Subject search in Cameo, Carnegie Mellon's library catalog, or a Subject Word search in the Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals.

• Try singular (e.g. stadium), plural (e.g. stadiums), and variant (e.g. sports facilities) terms. See Kathryn M. Wayne, Architecture Sourcebook: A Guide to Resources on the Practice of Architecture, cited below, for listings of the best search terms for various building types.

• Consult graphic and data standards for guidelines on how to address programatic requirements for building types.

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• Architectural Record: Building Types Study
  For many years, Architectural Record magazine has published "Building Types Studies," with case-study examples of a specific building type featured in each issue. Recent studies are now available on the web. Look here for contemporary examples of various building types. Set up an account for full access.

• [Building Type Basics]. New York: Wiley, 2000-.
  HUNT FA-REF-4
  A series of books with guidelines and case studies. The series includes titles on elementary and secondary schools, healthcare facilities, hospitality facilities, museums, research laboratories, office buildings, senior living, justice facilities, college and university facilities, transit facilities, retail and mixed-use facilities, and so forth. Do a Series search in Cameo on the terms "building type basics".

• Houses
  Key books about houses and house design.
  

• Pearman, Hugh. Contemporary World Architecture. London: Phaidon, 1998.
  HUNT FA-REF-4 NA680 .P3 1998
  A survey of contemporary building types and the forces that shape them, addressing hundreds of recent buildings.

• Pevsner, Nikolaus, Sir. A History of Building Types. Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, 1976.
  HUNT FA-REF-4 NA4170 .P48
  

• Wayne, Kathryn M. Architecture Sourcebook: A Guide to Resources on the Practice of Architecture. Detroit: Omnigraphics, 1997.
  HUNT FA-REF-4 Z594 .A72 A75 1997
  Most of this guide is organized by building type: Commercial Office / Cultural / Educational / Government and Public / Health Care / Hospitality / Housing / Industrial / Justice / Libraries / Recreation and Sport / Religious / Retail / Transportation. Each section points to key reference sources, associations, bibliographies, books, and periodicals pertaining to that building type.