UCB Libraries

This brief guide will help you find information on architecture, design, the built environment, and much more.

"Ultimately architecture is all about the creation of pleasant and stimulating settings for all aspects of social life. However, contemporary society is not standing still. Spatial arrangements evolve with the patterns of life."

Zaha Hadid in her acceptance speech for the Pritzker Architecture Prize, State Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, 2004. Full text of her speech is available here.

If you need additional assistance, please use Ask Us to contact a librarian via phone, email, IM, text message, or in person.

Choosing appropriate search terms is an important first step in the research process. Take a few moments to brainstorm a list of keywords that describe your topic. Think of similar words that express the same concepts, broader and narrower terms, and important contextual information.

Your list of keywords might include:

• name of structure, building, site, or location of interest
• architect, designer, artist, or cultural group responsible for production
• type of building (e.g. office, home, school, stadium, etc.)
• location
• era or time period of construction or design
• style and/or materials
• notable related events or people
  

In addition to generating a list of keywords, take time to think about how those keywords are related. In general, knowing broader terms will help you find books, while narrower terms will be more useful for finding articles.

Need help generating a list of terms related to your research topic, including contextual information? Try consulting one of the specialized reference resources listed below. Dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other tools can be very helpful during the early phases of your research.

Oxford Art Online

Specialized encyclopedia for art and architectural history. Entries are written by scholars in the field and include bibliographies and images. Most important reference resource for art history. Includes strong coverage for the history of architecture, landscape architecture, and related areas. VPN required for off-campus access.

Grove Encyclopedia of Classical Art and Architecture

Art & Arch Reference - N5610 .G76 2007

Grove Encyclopedia of Islamic Art and Architecture

Art & Arch REF - N6260 .G75 2009

Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture

Art & Arch REF - NA31 .C86 2006

also available online

Encyclopedia of 20th Century Architecture

Art & Arch REF NA680 .E495 2004

The Elements of Style: An Encyclopedia of Domestic Architectural Detail

Art & Arch REF NA2850 .E44 2005

Dictionary of Architectural and Building Technology

Art & Arch REF NA31 .C63 2004

Encyclopedia of the Vernacular Architecture of the World

Art & Arch REF NA208 .E53 1997

This is a small selection of the electronic and print resources available in the Art & Architecture Reference Collection.

Architect's Handbook of Professional Practice

Art & Arch REF NA1996 .A726 2008 

Universal Design Handbook

Art & Arch REF NA2545.A1 U55 2001

Time-Saver Standards for Building Types

Art & Arch REF NA2760 .D42 2001

Dictionary of Ecodesign: An Illustrated Reference

Art & Arch REF NK1520 .Y43 2010

Abrams Guide to Period Styles for Interiors

Art & Arch REF NK1860 .G87 2005

Time-Saver Standards for Interior Design and Space Planning

Art & Arch REF NK2110 .D35 2001

Constructing Architecture: Materials, Processes, Structures

Art & Arch REF TA403 .C586 2005 

Time-Saver Standards for Architectural Design: Technical Data for Professional Practice

Engineering Library Stacks TH151 .T55 2005

Architectural Graphic Standards

Art & Arch REF TH2031 .A84 2007

Time-Saver Standards for Architectural Lighting

Engineering Library Stacks TK4188 .S753 2000

Multi-volume sets on the work of Aalto, Corbusier, Buckminster Fuller, Louis Kahn, Mies van der Rohe, and Frank Lloyd Wright are located on a red shelf next to the current journals in the Art & Architecture Collection.

The Architectural Drawings of Alvar Aalto, 1917-1939

NA2707.A16 A4 1994

Le Corbusier Archive

NA 2707. L4 A4 1982d

The Artifacts of R. Buckminster Fuller: A Comprehensive Collection of His Designs and Drawings

TA174 .F86 1984

The Louis I. Kahn Archive: Personal Drawings: The Completely Illustrated Catalogue of the Drawings in the Louis I. Kahn Collection

NA2707.K33 A4 1987

The Mies van der Rohe Archive

NA2707.M55 A4 1986

Frank Lloyd Wright

NA2707.W74 A42 1984

Chinook is the catalog for materials owned by the CU Libraries. You can do a title search for a specific book, or a keyword search if you are looking for books on a particular topic. You can also use MyChinook to renew books, see what you have checked out or on hold, and much more.

Chinook Catalog

Keyword Title Author Subject --------------- LC Call Number Dewey Call Number Local Call Number SuDoc Number ISSN/ISBN Contract Number OCLC Number --------------- Reserves: Prof Reserves: Course

When searching Chinook, you can connect your keywords using terms like AND, OR, NOT. You can also used parentheses, quotation marks, and asterisks.

If you search Chinook and find that the CU Libraries do not have the item you are looking for (or if the item you are looking for is checked out), you can search Prospector, which is a combined library catalog of many libraries in Colorado and Wyoming.

Prospector is the FASTEST way to get a book if it is unavailable here at CU-Boulder.

WorldCat is an online catalog for over 9,000 libraries in the US and world wide, and it allows you to do a more thorough search than Chinook because you are not limited to only the items we already own. Instead, you are effectively searching the catalogs of most major libraries world wide.

For any books you find in WorldCat, you will be able to see if CU-Boulder owns that item. If you find something in WorldCat that we do not own, you should:

1. Search Prospector to see if the book is available. If it is, request it via Prospector. The book will typically arrive in a few days, and you'll receive an email when it is ready for pick up.
2. If the book isn't available via Prospector, you can request it via Interlibrary Loan (ILL). Please be aware that items ordered via ILL can take up to several weeks to arrive. Obviously, if your assignment is due very soon, this will not be an option.

In order to find articles on your topic, you will need to use a database. The library provides access to hundreds of databases, and many of them focus on a particular discipline such art, art history, or architecture, or design.

The Find Articles & More page provides access to all of these resources and arranges them by subject.

VPN is required for off-campus access to library databases.

Art Full Text & Art Retrospective

Provides access to scholarship on art and architectural history from prehistory to the present. Some full text available. Art Full Text covers publications 1984-present, while Art Retrospective covers 1929-1984.

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals

Most important resource for researching the built environment. The only database that allows you to search for architectural drawings, including plans, sections, and elevations.

Engineering Village

With a focus on engineering literature, this database will help you find articles on structual or architectural engineering, construction, and related topics.

JSTOR

Provides full text access to a number of important journals for architectural history, including Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Garden History, Buildings & Landscapes, and several others.

Avery Index to Architectural Periodicals

Most important resource for researching the built environment. The only database that allows you to search for architectural drawings, including plans, sections, and elevations.

Design & Applied Arts Index

Excellent resource for scholarship on design topics, including interior design, furniture, metals, ceramics, industrial design, product design, landscape architecture, and related topics in the the applied arts.

LexisNexis Academic

Full text of national and international news sources. Newspaper articles are an excellent resource for the study of contemporary architecture and design.

ARTstor

Over one million images of visual and material culture, covering all geographic areas and historical periods. VPN required for off-campus access.

Architecture & Planning Collection via CU Digital Library

Maintained by the College of Architecture & Planning Visual Resource Center, this collection of over 46,000 images focuses specifically on architecture, landscape architecture, and the built environment. VPN required for off-campus access.

Art & Art History Collection via CU Digital Library

Maintained by the Department of Art & Art History Visual Resources Collection. Provides access to a growing collection of high-quality digital images. VPN required for off-campus access.

AP Images

Search for images from the Associated Press. Useful for finding images from newspapers, magazines, wires, etc. Excellent source for photos of contemporary architecture. VPN required for off-campus access.

Aerial Photographs of Colorado

See the landscape of Colorado change over time via almost 1,700 digitized aerial photographs of Colorado taken by the U.S. Forest Service from 1938 to 1947.

The Map Library's collection of Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps are of particular value for architectural and planning research. These maps can be used to understand how urban and rural areas change over time, with particular emphasis on development, construction, land use, and property boundaries.

HABS/HAER/HALS - Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Collection

Images from the Historic American Buildings Survey, the Historic American Engineering Record, and the Historic American Landscapes Survey. Thousands of images documenting American architecture, engineering, and landscape design. New additions to the collections are contributed by the National Park Service's Heritage Documentation Programs.

Flickr & Flickr Commons

Useful source for images of architecture and historical sites. Note that user-contributed photos vary in quality. Flickr Commons contains images from photographic archives, museums, and libraries.

Google Image Search

Use the advanced search options to find larger, higher quality images.

The CAD/GIS and Document Management Office maintains records for all campus buildings and projects. If you need drawings and other materials for a campus building, the CAD Office is happy to help. They are located on East Campus. Directions are available here.

As a general rule, the thicker the book the more likely you are to find specialized architectural renderings included along with photographs and other illustrations. Once you've found a book on your architect or structure, make use of the table of contents, list of illustrations, or index to find what you need faster.

Looking for plans of Jefferson's Monticello? Find books on Jefferson, Monticello itself, or the architecture of the colonial United States. Here is an example of a book that will likely contain plans, elevations, sections, and other drawings of Monticello:

Thomas Jefferson, Architect: Original Designs in the Coolidge Collection of the Massachusetts Historical Society

Other commons sources of plans, sections, and elevations include:

• multi-volume sets on the "complete works" of a particular architect, for example Richard Rogers: Complete Works
• books focusing on a particular building type, for example Louis I. Kahn houses, 1940-1974

Depending on the influence and importance of the structure or architect you are studying, you might also want to try searching using the following keyword combinations:

• [name of building] AND plans
• [name of architect] AND plans

The Avery Index is the most comprehensive database for researching modern and contemporary architecture, and it is the only database that allows you to search for articles that include plans, sections, elevations, and other drawings.

To find plans, sections, elevations, and drawings, use the Advanced Search option. Select "physical description" from the drop-down menu, and enter the kind of material you're looking for (e.g. plans, sections, etc.).

Try a few different searches using the architect's name and/or the building's name to see what kind of results each yields. Once you've found articles that you're interested in, use the "Find it at CU" link to retrieve full text (if available).

ARTstor

Over one million images of visual and material culture, covering all geographic areas and historical periods. VPN required for off-campus access.

Architecture & Planning Collection via CU Digital Library

Maintained by the College of Architecture & Planning Visual Resource Center, this collection of over 46,000 images focuses specifically on architecture, landscape architecture, and the built environment. VPN required for off-campus access.

Time-Saver Standards for Building Materials & Systems: Design Criteria & Selection Data

Engineering Stacks TA404.5 .T56 2000 

Building Construction Cost Data

Engineering Reference TH435 .B84

Square Foot Costs

Engineering Reference TH435 .S78

Construction Materials: Their Nature and Behaviour

Engineering Stacks TA403 .C636 2001

or available as an e-book here [VPN required for off-campus access.]

Estimating Building Costs

Engineering Stacks TH435 .P67 2003

or available as an e-book here [VPN required for off-campus access.]

Sweets Network - http://products.construction.com/

product Data by McGraw Hill Construction

free online resource

A number of model codes developed by the International Code Council form the basis of local codes for building, energy conservation, fire, mechanical, plumbing, zoning, and other systems. The most recent editions of these model codes can be found in MADCAD.com. VPN required for off-campus access. Please note that we have a limited number of users for MADCAD. If you are turned away, try again later.

Prior editions of model codes are available in print in the Engineering Library.

International Building Code

International Fire Code

International Mechanical Code

International Plumbing Code

Building Code Reference Library

Want to know which relevant codes are in effect for a given state or municipality? This site provides information for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and major US cities.

Municode Library

Municipal codes for a selection of roughly 1,000 US cities.

Codes for the City of Boulder

Includes all city codes, such as building, electrical, energy, fire, housing, etc.

Researching a contemporary architect or firm? Their own website can be a valuable source of information. For example, Zaha Hadid provides an overview of built works, recent publications, press releases, and much more.

The Pritzker Architecture Prize site provides basic information about laureates, as well as the full text of their acceptance speech.

archINFORM

Information about famous buildings and architects. Treat it like Wikipedia--a place to start, but not the most authoritative resource on your topic.

Great Buildings

Images and basic information about buildings and places. Treat it like Wikipedia--a place to start, but not the most authoritative resource on your topic.

cadyou.com

Creative Commons licensed 2D and 3D objects, CAD blocks, and textures.

Google 3D Warehouse

3D objects for use with Google SketchUp and other tools.

3dfilter

Meta-search for models and textures from many different sources. Not all images are free; legalese varies by source.

So you've found a website, and it looks like it might be useful. But how do you know if it is trustworthy? Scott Rosenberg has written an excellent guide to evaluating websites. The instructions below are adapted from his "In the context of Web context: How to check out any Web page."

What is the site's top-level domain?

Is it an educational site (.edu)? A government site (.gov)? Or a commercial site that anyone can produce (.com, .info, .net, etc.)? While a .edu or .gov domain does not guarantee trustworthy content, it can give you an indication of who authored the site or is maintaining it.

Does the site have ads?

Are the ads the primary focus of the site? Are they for products and services related to the site's content? Generally, the more ads you see, the less authoritative the website is.

Can you find out who is responsible for the site?

Is an author listed anywhere? Is there contact info or a feedback form? Does the author claim any credentials? Do those check out if you search for more info on the author?

Does the site contain references, sources, or links?

Do those references point to reputable sites? Or questionable ones?

Is the content unique? And does it make sense?

Google a chunk of text. Does it show up word-for-word on other sites? This could be a cause for concern. In addition, if the content is little more than a pile of disconnected keywords, the site might be just link bait.

For information about citing print and electronic sources in a range of styles, see “How to Cite a Source.”

Using MLA Style? See the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. Using Chicago Style?  See the Chicago Style Quick Guide or the full version of the Chicago Manual of Style.

Writing a longer paper and need to keep track of citations? RefWorks allows you to save citations and retrieve them later using "Find it at CU" buttons. Citations from most databases can be easily exported directly to RefWorks. RefWorks can also create bibliographies in virtually any citation style, and can be used with Microsoft Word to format footnotes and endnotes correctly. Zotero is a similar tool that is available for free.

Wondering if you're citing something correctly? Or maybe you need help with structuring your paper? Take advantage of the CU Writing Center. Making an appointment with a consultant at the Writing Center allows you to receive one-on-one help with your writing.

Want to speak with a librarian right now? You can contact us in person, via the phone, or even over IM. Use the Ask Us page to chat with a librarian even if you're away from campus.