Program Overview

Introduction to BILD 222

BILD 222, also known as Structural Systems for Building Science, is a course that introduces students to the basic structural principles and material properties that underpin the fabric of natural and constructed environments.

Course Details

• Course Code: BILD 222
• Course Name: Structural Systems for Building Science
• Teaching Period: Trimester 1
• Duration: 23 February 2026 to 21 June 2026
• Lecture Times:
  • Monday: 8:30am
  • Thursday: 10:30am
• Campus: Te Aro
• Fees:
  • Domestic students: NZ$1,205.55
  • International students: NZ$5,558.70
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.8 hours per week for 17 weeks
• Points: 15

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: SARC 121
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: ARCI 222

Course Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Analyse and design quantitatively structural elements using principles of structural mechanics.
2. Describe how beams of selected materials resist loads, construct bending moment and shear force diagrams for determinate beams, and design quantitatively steel and timber beams.
3. Explain how structural loads (and in particular lateral loads) are transferred through light-timber framed construction and design individual members using a New Zealand Standard.
4. Explain the following aspects of building structures: the relationship between structural form, materials and loads, basic soil mechanics, and the structural behaviour of ties and columns.
5. Describe the role and impact of structures on the architecture of the built space.

How the Course is Taught

Teaching and learning in this course will be delivered through two lectures and two tutorial sessions per week. Lecture recordings will be made available for subsequent revision.

Assessment

• Test 1: 25%, 1 hour, individual
• Test 2: 25%, 1 hour, individual
• Structural Analysis: 40%, individual
• Post-lecture Question: 10%, individual

Mandatory Requirements

To pass this course, students must achieve an overall pass mark of at least 50% and a minimum of 40% in the final test.

Additional Information

• The course covers a broad range of structural forms and analyses of how they work.
• The goal is not to produce structural engineers, but to provide sufficient understanding for designers/practitioners to be comfortable with structural principles and also the language of structural engineering.
• The course has progressively moved to a 'learning by doing' approach.