I hear, I forget.
I see, I remember.
I do, I understand.
--Chinese Proverb
The ideas and methods in this course have been strongly shaped by my experiences working on a series of workshops on seismic design sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and organized by AIA Research. Working alongside Chris Arnold and Eric Elsesser has given me many valuable insights, and Christine Theodoropoulos has been particularly influential in shaping my ideas about teaching and design. Chris Arnold deserves special recognition; he co-taught the first course I took in seismic design in 1979, and his work on building configuration had a remarkable impact on the development of seismic building codes during the 1980s; I think that no other architect has approached Arnold's influence on engineering thought and practice. Chris's teaching partner in 1979 was Jim Axley, and my long experience working with Jim also shaped my thinking, teaching, and career.
Many of the lab exercises, demonstrations, and lecture examples use the RISA-3D program, developed by RISA Technologies. The program is an extremely useful teaching tool, particularly in linking structural theory with the visual thinking and learning style of architects.
UVa's Teaching and Technology Initiative (TTI) and Lilly Teaching Fellowship programs also deserve recognition. They have not directly supported the development of this course, but the ideas, skills, and equipment to produce the course arose from their support of the Arch 324 Introduction to Structural Design course that precedes it. The TTI and Lilly programs are now getting a two-for-the-price-of-one deal, to the benefit of all involved. My thanks go to Marva Barnett, Jude Reagan, and all the other fellows who make those programs so worthwhile.
Finally, this course is dedicated to the memory of Kristen Finnegan, and the thousands of students whose lives she would have touched and curiosity sparked. For the students that pass through my classroom, I hope I can keep alive Kristen's enthusiasm for learning, and wish I could offer it with comparable wit.
Kirk Martini
Charlottesville, Virginia
November 16, 1997