The Architect’s Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design (6th Edition)

By Edward Allen & Joseph Iano

The Architect’s Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design, Sixth Edition is the definitive quick-reference guide for architects and building designers. It distills complex engineering and environmental design principles into practical rules of thumb that support fast, informed decisions during schematic and early design phases.

Designed for rapid use at the earliest planning stages, this book helps architects coordinate structural systems, mechanical integration, environmental performance, and sustainable design without slowing down the creative process.

What This Book Does

This book provides reliable preliminary design guidance—rules, tables, and simplified calculations—so designers can quickly evaluate options for structure, systems coordination, layout efficiency, and energy performance before detailed engineering begins.

Key Features of the 6th Edition

• Rules of thumb for structural systems (steel, concrete, timber, and hybrid)
• HVAC coordination guidance and ceiling plenum planning
• Environmental strategies including passive design and daylight optimization
• Layout rules for spans, bay spacing, and economical building proportions
• Updated sustainability and high-performance building strategies

Who Should Use This Book?

• Architects and designers in schematic and conceptual design stages
• Architecture students and educators
• Design-build and construction management professionals
• Anyone seeking fast, reliable architectural design guidance

Why It’s Essential

• Speeds up early-stage decision-making with trusted design heuristics
• Improves coordination between structure, mechanical systems, and layout
• Supports sustainable and energy-efficient design from day one
• Widely used in practice and architecture programs worldwide
• Excellent value with free worldwide shipping from BooksGoat

Design smarter from the start with the architect’s most trusted preliminary design guide.
Order today from BooksGoat and plan with confidence.

Product Details

• Title: The Architect’s Studio Companion: Rules of Thumb for Preliminary Design
• Edition: 6th Edition
• Authors: Edward Allen, Joseph Iano
• ISBN-13: 9781119826798
• Format: Paperback
• Pages: 512
• Availability: In Stock
• Price: $51.99 (Free Worldwide Shipping)

Why Buy from BooksGoat?

• Best market pricing
• Free worldwide shipping
• Authentic editions sourced from authorized distributors
• Eco-friendly packaging
• Secure international delivery

Table of Contents (Highlights)

• Structural System Selection: Steel, Concrete, Timber
• Building Layout: Spans, Bays, Heights, and Proportions
• Mechanical Integration and Ceiling Space Planning
• Environmental Systems: Daylighting and Passive Strategies
• Sustainability: High-Performance Envelopes and Net-Zero Concepts
• Coordination Notes for Digital and Parametric Workflows

FAQs

• Does this book include equations and calculations? Yes, simplified formulas and tables for quick estimations.
• Is it suitable for students? Yes, it is widely used in architecture curricula.
• Does it cover sustainable and energy-efficient design? Yes, including updated low-carbon and high-efficiency strategies.