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Module

ARC3013 : Architectural Technology 3: Integrated Construction (Inactive)

  • Inactive for Year: 2024/25
  • Module Leader(s): Dr Neil Burford
  • Lecturer: Mr John Kinsley, Professor Ben Bridgens
  • Owning School: Architecture, Planning & Landscape
  • Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters

Your programme is made up of credits, the total differs on programme to programme.

Semester 1 Credit Value: 5
Semester 2 Credit Value: 5
ECTS Credits: 5.0
European Credit Transfer System

Aims

The main aims throughout the lecture series are to:
*Introduce the principles, techniques and technologies associated with the construction of non-domestic and larger scale buildings of increased programmatic and spatial complexity covering a range of structural, environmental and tectonic strategies.
*Highlight the role that architectural technology can play in achieving efficient, appropriate and ‘sustainable’ buildings;
*Introduce ideas of 'choice' in so far as they relate to architectural project design and specification, with a view to enabling students to understand the value of buildings, materials and constructions, with a particular emphasis on energy and waste reduction;
*Enable students to conceptualise structural forms and to develop an integrated approach to structural design within the wider design process;
*Encourage the integration of both ‘strategic’ and ‘detailed’ approaches to building technology and to further examine the extent to which ‘detail’ and ‘constructional’ design can convey and complement a wider architectural intent;
*To build on the role of low or zero carbon technologies and net zero energy building design on future building construction practices as it relates to medium to large-scale buildings.
*To enable students to understand the role of relevant legislation, codes of practice and issues surrounding fire safety, and design and constructional health and safety.
*Enable students to understand building technology as being an integrated ‘strand’ of the iterative process of design from inception through to completion, rather than something which is ‘bolted-on’ or considered ‘at the end’ and to encourage each student to develop a personal response to a range of more complex issues;

The module builds on the foundations established in Stage 2 and seeks to directly complement the on-going Stage 3 Studio projects.

Outline Of Syllabus

The course contains two principle components, namely: a lecture series that focuses on principles of construction, structure and environment and broader theoretical concepts in building technology and secondly lectures and workshops that focus on the application and integration of technology from a conceptual to detail level within the Stage 3 Thesis Design:

The lectures cover a number of interrelated topics, namely
*Sustainable Building Design, including: Construction Reduction, Reuse and Recycling - particularly in relation to resources, materials, components, assemblies and entire buildings.
*These are all considered in relation to the broader issue of ‘value’ (societal, personal, monetary and ethical)
*Sustainable building assessment methodologies - including the architect’s role, and an awareness that, in many cases, the demonstration of a certain standard of performance is not a neutral act;
*The construction of medium to large-scale buildings, including: Environmental Strategies, Substructure and Framed Structures, Floor, Roof & Facade design technologies;
*Net zero energy building concepts and energy strategies;
*Space for services including building case studies;
*Low Embodied carbon design
*Fire Safety
*Technical representation

The engineering mini-symposium and supporting practical demonstrations introduce more in depth issues in relation to the core topics delivered in lectures covering various interrelated issues that govern the design of buildings and their technical resolution. The integration of these topics within the Stage 3 Thesis Design is supported by workshops and applied practicals delivered in collaboration with specialist consultants. This element of learning is designed to further emphasise the importance of junctions and the process of assembly, not just in a constructional sense, but with a focus on tectonic intent.

Teaching Methods

Teaching Activities
Category Activity Number Length Student Hours Comment
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesLecture31:204:00Live synchronous lectures
Structured Guided LearningLecture materials191:2025:20Recorded lectures in blocks of 20 minutes (non-synchronous). Students are expected to engage with
Guided Independent StudyAssessment preparation and completion115:1015:10The assessment is a semi- portfolio format, compiled from 3x separate submissions.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesPractical60:303:00Practicals of worked examples delivered by specialist practitioners to support engineering symposium
Guided Independent StudyDirected research and reading62:0012:00Guided reading, research and creative design work in relation to developing strategies and solutions
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesSmall group teaching61:006:00Small grp wrkshop sessions in support of the portfolio coursewrk assessmt.PiP or (Plan B)sychron on
Guided Independent StudyStudent-led group activity40:302:00Student-led small group working, including discussions and peer review and formulation of individual
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesDrop-in/surgery31:003:00‘Open’ online meeting allow drop-in for post-induct questions & clarification and Q&A s Pip/synch
Guided Independent StudyStudent-led group activity40:302:00Student-led small group working, including discussions and peer review and formulation of group ques
Guided Independent StudyIndependent study125:0025:00Independent research and development work in relation to developing strategies and solutions.
Scheduled Learning And Teaching ActivitiesModule talk50:302:30Bi-weekly overview of semester 2 lecture material blocks coordinated with ARC3001 Graduation Pr
Total100:00
Jointly Taught With
Code Title
ARC3001Architectural Design 3
Teaching Rationale And Relationship

Teaching is primarily by means of a-synchronous lectures which establish a framework for learning. A mixture of scheduled and structured activities, including recorded mini lectures, reading and skills based tasks to be carried out individually and in small student groups around a fortnightly theme replace a chronological lecture based module, in order for students to build their knowledge of architecture and develop the skills to locate and evaluate information independently. These are supported by directed reading and skills practice between module activity days, and towards the end of the semester 2 by an Interim Technical Review and assessment preparation. Students are encouraged to undertake independent research within an area of personal interest drawing from material introduced in lectures in the formulation of the report. The students’ learning is supported by synchronous activities such as short module talks, 3 surgeries, 3 practicals and seminars.

Present in person provision will be delivered at the programme level, via academic mentoring on assigned ‘PiP days’.
Synchronous v Non-synchronous Hours: While there is both synchronous and non-synchronous learning and teaching activity for all modules, across the programme the structured guided learning is weighted towards non-design modules and the scheduled learning and teaching activity hours are weighted towards Architectural Design modules. The latter is a reflection of a) design studio pedagogy, which is centred on a dialogic and responsive approach to students’ own research and creative work and b) student feedback and high student attendance at weekly online Architectural Design Stage briefings (module talks) during the period of lockdown teaching in Spring 2020.’ Architectural pedagogy is reliant on a high proportion of independent learning to support the design process. The MOF hours are consistent with this approach.
Summary of ‘Plan B’ – i.e. fall back position in the event of future lockdowns: PiP activities will move to become online synchronous.

Assessment Methods

The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners

Other Assessment
Description Semester When Set Percentage Comment
Report2M100Coursework involving the development of a technical report focusing on integrated technical design within the GRADUATION PROJECT ARC
Assessment Rationale And Relationship

The Coursework involving the development of a technical report focusing on integrated technical design within the GRADUATION PROJECT ARC3001. Graphical report of about 1000 words and 30 pages in length formatted in relation to the graduation portfolio.

In the light of the intended knowledge and skills outcomes the 100% coursework assessment allows a strong linkage between technology understanding and the personally developed design work in the studio and fosters an integrated approach to the synthesis of design and technology.

If a student fails the assessment, they will be required to resubmit and achieve a passing mark at the second attempt in order to pass the module.

Reading Lists

Timetable