Research Guides: Architecture Research Guide: Finding Websites

Google: Finding websites and more

What is Google?

Google is a powerful Internet search engine.
Google searches the web for content posted on the Internet, usually in the form of websites.
Since anyone post content on the Internet, you'll want to make sure you're using credible websites in your research. (Review the "Evaluating sources" section of this guide to learn how!)

Google Search Tips for Research

Tips covered in the above tutorial include:

Using quotation marks " " around a phrase to search an exact word order
Using capital OR to search for synonyms or related terms
Using the minus sign - to remove a search term
Using site: to search within a website or top-level domain

Helpful Google Research Tools

Google Books: Use Google Books to browse portions of electronic books found on the open web.
Google Images: Use Google Images to find images, charts, graphs, and statistics. Don't forget to cite the original source!
Google Scholar: Use Google Scholar to find peer-reviewed scholarly articles on the open web. Check our Google Scholar guide to see how to incorporate our library database links!

Recommended Architecture Websites

Recommended Websites

Architects

International Archive of Women in Architecture
Virginia Tech's International Archive of Women in Architecture documents the global history of women's contributions to the built environment.
Pacific Coast Architecture Database
PCAD features information about architects and other professionals contributing to the built world in California, Oregon, and Washington.

Buildings

ArchDaily
Up to date architectural news focused on the latest projects, products, and trends worldwide.
Architectural Record
One of the longest running architectural magazines in the U.S., Architectural Record was founded in 1891 and offers news & commentary about noteworthy architectural works. Its "Buildings by Type" project features detailed case studies of buildings of various kinds, including photos, drawings, specifications, descriptions, and design solutions.
Archnet
This open access collection includes images, videos, and many other resources regarding Islamic art and architecture.
Building Technology Heritage Library
Building Technology Heritage Library is searchable collection of architectural trade catalogs, house plan books, and technical building guides published prior to 1964. These primary documents provide insight into historical design and construction practices.
Cities and Buildings Database
The University of Washington's Cities and Buildings Database collects digitized images of cities and buildings from around the world for use by the academic community. Search by city, country, style, architect, date of construction, and more.
Historic American Buildings Survey
This collection of images from the Library of Congress documents achievements in architecture, engineering, and landscape design across the U.S.
SAH Archipedia
Organized by the Society of Architectural Historians, SAH Archipedia is a free online encyclopedia containing histories, photographs, and maps of more than 20,000 buildings, artworks, monuments, and other architectural projects from across the United States.

Maps

American Geographical Society Digital Map Collection
This searchable collection hosted by the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee contains more than 14,000 maps from around the world.
USGS Historical Topographic Map Explorer
This tool displays historical topographic maps from the U.S. Geological Survey. Select a location to view a timeline of available maps of that area.

Materials

ARCAT
ARCAT is a directory of detailed information (including CAD, BIM, and specifications) about a wide variety of building products as well as manufacturer catalogs, green reports, and more.
Sweets
Sweets provides detailed information about a wide variety of building materials. You can search by product category, manufacturer, and/or keyword to find product information from multiple manufacturers in one location.

Professional Organizations