Architecture

Finding Books

Searching the catalog for books on architecture:

Try a keyword search:

Try a subject search:

Or browse the stacks by call number:

Try these recommended databases first:

Avery Index – ELECTRONIC
The Avery is the largest database devoted to architecture and design journals. All architects should be familiar with this database.
Art and Architecture Complete — ELECTRONIC
Art and Architecture Complete offers indexing and abstracts for more than 630 academic journals, magazines and trade publications as well as for over 150 books with full-text coverage of more than 250 of the periodicals. Subject coverage includes antiques, art and art history, interior and landscape design, and much more.
JSTOR — ELECTRONIC
Includes full-text of all articles. Architectural journals include Perspecta, Journal of the Society of Architectural Historians, Journal of Architectural Education, Grey Room, Design Issues, Assemblage plus 7 more. Note that JSTOR employs a “moving wall” of publication dates. Therefore, the most recent years are not included.
Proquest– ELECTRONIC
Provides searching platform for a number of periodical databases covering Business, Science, Humanities and Social Sciences. Delivers more than 4,000 full-text publications from over 3,000 publishing partners.

Need more? Continue with these:

Architectural Index — ELECTRONIC
Covers 19 periodicals in architecture (mostly American). Searchable or browseable by subject categories, building type, architect/designer’s name, combination of architect/designer and/or location and/or magazine.
BuilidingGreen.com – ELECTRONIC
This electronic resource includes articles from Environmental Building News as well as GreenSpec, a convenient way to search for environmentally conscious building materials.
Places — WWW
Places, Forum of Design for the Public Realm, is a peer reviewed journal that incorporates writings from a variety of fields in design, the arts and social sciences. It is published by the Design History Foundation. You can browse each issue or use the search box to search for your topic across multiple issues.

ARTstor — ELECTRONIC
ARTstor is an image database that includes art and architecture. Free Registration is necessary for saving images on ARTstor, but not for searching the collection.

Search the catalog — ELECTRONIC
Search by the name of the building or architect. There may be an entire book on your building. If not, broaden your search to look for monographs on the architect, and then check that book’s index for the building you are interested in.
Avery Index — ELECTRONIC
Again, search by keyword for the name of the building or architect.
A View on Cities — WWW
The building facts pages show info about the buildings such as the name of the architect and the year it was built.
Philadelphia Architects and Buildings — ELECTRONIC
If you are searching for a building in Philadelphia or its surrounding areas, try using the Philadelphia Architects and Buildings (PAB) database. You can search by building or architect name, or by street for historical information on local buildings. The database helps you locate drawings and images at local archives, including the University of Pennsylvania’s Architectural Archives. You can access the database at http://www.philadelphiabuildings.org/pab/. You can register for a free account, or search as a guest.

Architectural Graphic Standards — PRINT
This publication includes general planning and design data. See Section 20 for Building Types and Space Planning. The print copy is found in Reference, call number NA 2840 R36x 2007.
Building Type Basics Series — PRINT
This series includes 12 different building types and provides a good overview of their spatial and programmatic requirements.
Time Saver Standards for Building Types — PRINT
This book includes planning guidelines, criteria and standards for a large range of building types. It covers program and square footage requirements as well as sample space planning configurations.

Try these recommended resources first:

Materials ConneXion — ELECTRONIC
Material ConneXion houses over 1,400 new and innovative materials representing eight categories: polymers, glass, ceramics, carbon-based materials, cement-based materials, metals, natural materials and natural material derivatives.
PLEASE NOTE: Access to the Materials Database is only available off-campus by creating a free Personal Account. A Personal Account can also be used on campus and offers certain benefits and advanced features. Follow this link to create a personal account. A valid drexel email address must be used as a username.
Architectural Graphic Standards — PRINT
This publication includes specific details for construction. The print copy is found in Reference, call number NA 2840 R36x 2007.
Building Construction Illustrated — PRINT
call number TH146 .C52 2001

Need more? Continue with these:

1001 traditional construction details — PRINT
call number TH151 .M68 2001
Architectural details : classic pages from Architectural graphic standards, 1940-1980 — PRINT
From the same publisher as Architectural Graphic Standards – a “best-of” collection.
Detail : Review of architecture and construction details — PRINT
This is a print journal that you will find in the Current Journals section of the library, by the Reserve Desk. This journal, published in Germany but with English text, provides excellent images of and corresponding details for recent buildings.

Try this recommended resource first:

MadCad – ELECTRONIC
MAD CAD is a reference database online, containing building codes, knowledge-based design solutions, and guidelines to meet the codes. MAD CAD will provide you access to cross-referenced collections of building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire, and maintenance codes including BOCA, the UBC, the SBC, and IBC. It also includes state codes for Virginia and Maryland.

Need more? Continue with these:

International Buildng Code 2003 — PRINT
Call Number REF KF 5701 I58 2002
The print version of the IBC. Available in the Reference Section on the first floor of Hagerty Library. Note, however, that the 2006 edition is available in MadCad (see above)
Building Codes Illustrated: A Guide to Understanding the 2000 International Building Code — PRINT
Call Number TH 420 C49 2003
A great explanation of building codes by Francis D.K. Ching.