Illustrated Architecture Dictionary

Belt course
Also called stringcourse

A molding or projecting course running horizontally along the face of a building

Course: a continuous row or layer of stones, tile, brick, shingles, etc., in a wall

Emphasizes the junction between floors.

Water table: A projecting stringcourse, molding, or ledge placed so as to divert rainwater from a building.

Found in Renaissance, Federal, Georgian Revival, Italianate, Italian Renaissance Revival, Colonial Revival, Beaux Arts Classical, Second Empire, styles

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Examples from Buffalo architecture:

• Illustration above:  Joseph Church House
  
  
• Hotel Touraine
  
  
• Martin House
  
  
• 3 Chapin Parkway
  
  
• Charles W. Goodyear House
  
  
• Dorsheimer House and Robert Adam House
  
  
• Bennett Apts.
  
  
• Federal Court Building - Greek key used as course
  
  
• Saturn Club
  
  
• Jefferson Avenue Shul
  

Other examples:

• The Belfry, Bruges, Belgium
  

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Photos and their arrangement © 2002 Chuck LaChiusa
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