Architectural Design and Technology with Foundation Year

This module is designed to equip you with a set of skills, knowledge and personal attributes that ensure the student is likely to be successful in their chosen route of academic study on a course within the School of the Built Environment. You will develop the ability to understand what and how they are learning, and to review, plan and take responsibility for your own learning.

This module will introduce you to the range of sectors and professions involved in the built environment sector. You will also gain an understanding of the role of the different professions, and begin to explore the concept of health and safety in industry.

The aim of this module is to provide you with an appreciation and understanding of architectural design and the factors that influence it. You will gain an understanding of architectural design in the context of the overall building procurement process, and be introduced to the role of ICT as an essential tool in built environment professional practice. Through this module you will begin to develop your expertise in commonly used built environment design representation software applications.

This module introduces the process of client/architect/engineer design briefs, and particular specifications in relation to a building’s internal environment, with particular attention paid to the specification of thermal, visual, acoustic and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) design variables. Building on the theory learned in the Introduction to Building Science module, this module moves on to the design and practical application of environmental design criteria based on the previously developed understanding of environmental comfort.

You will research into, and select, various design variables during the creation of project Room Data Sheets (RDS), used by engineering consultants to design passive and active approaches to the creation of an optimum internal environment for occupant comfort and wellbeing. The module then moves on to the determination of actual environmental conditions in numerous rooms and spaces in a variety of building types via the physical use of measuring equipment. By comparing theoretical and actual design values, you will then undertake observations and Post Occupancy Evaluation (POE) surveys to determine real occupant opinions and perceptions as to their working environment, with the goal of assessing those areas of design with poor feedback and the proposal of corrective measures.

With a focus on 'learning by doing', the module is delivered as a studio-based framework, where a series of small exercises will encourage you to add experimentation and innovation to your projects.  You will complete a design project, which combines guided learning/tutorial and independent study. The outcome of the project will vary depending on the purpose of the design brief. We will also use the Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) to enhance your learning experience.

A range of assessment methods will provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate your skills. This will include summative assessment of the projects based on the predefined criteria and formative assessment through design critic.

This module aims at providing a fundamental understanding of the design principles and behaviours of structural forms, elements and systems in buildings. You will be introduced to nature as a generator of structure. You'll explore the relationship between shape, material, structural performance, loads, assembly methods and construction technology through modelling, analysis, and case studies. You will be able to understand the mutual dependencies between architectural design, structural performance and manufacturing technologies in the past and present through the knowledge of historical and contemporary structural forms and materials. The module also enables you to investigate the implications of nature, people and technology in the design of architectural structures.

This module will introduce you to construction technology, and how this is described, detailed, and specified as part of the architectural design process. Using the domestic house as a framework, module lectures start from the bottom-up covering foundation and ground slab design, and progress to explore wall, roof, stairs, windows, and doors, first floor construction, plus internal elements in terms of forms of construction, materials and performance.

The module is delivered using lectures and seminars, and is assessed using coursework that will include detailed drawings, specifications, and detail models.

This module will introduce you to Computer Aided Design, hand drawing and model making, as techniques for communicating the design and construction of buildings. You will learn how to use draughting and rendering software, the basics of Building Information Modelling, sketching, model making, and the production of scale drawings and details, by hand.

The module content is delivered in our architecture studio and workshop. Assessment will require you to submit physical models, hand drawings and computer renderings

You will develop your knowledge and understanding of the interactions between a building and its internal and external environments. You will learn about the principles involved in building heat transfer, occupant thermal comfort, illumination and acoustics. You will explore the need for mechanical and electrical engineering services in the building envelope and develop an understanding of typical building services systems technology.

You will be introduced to English Law and relevant statutory requirements for studying for vocational qualifications in the construction and property professions. You will e-learn about the workings of the English legal system, to the law relating to contracts and to the regulatory framework affecting the use, management and development of land, in particular, planning, building control and the CDM regulations.

Explore the history of architecture and construction. This module provides insight into historic construction, along with an understanding of how ideas and technology have changed and continue to change the design of buildings. The module narrative starts in Salford at the beginning of the 19th Century with the ‘shock city’ of the Industrial Revolution, and moves through 20th century modernism, to cover emerging 21st century ideas of sustainability, ecological design, and off-site manufacturing. Having this contextual knowledge will give you a greater understanding when working with, or integrating into, a historic environment, how conservation and re-use can be informed by an understanding of architectural history. It will also provide insight into how technology and ideas develop. 

We deliver the module using lectures and seminars, and use a final essay for assessment.  In this module, we will also introduce library skills in research and referencing (delivered by the University’s library team).

A fundamental element of an Architectural Technologist’s role is to communicate the building design and construction information in specifications, schedules, drawings and contract documents. In this module, We will teach you specification writing using the National Building Specification (NBS), and material and component specification using reference to British Standards, Codes of Practice, and BREEAM Certification. We will also explore software for preparing design and construction programmes, and the use of BIM in preparing construction contract packages.

The module is delivered using lectures, seminars, and software demonstration. You will be assessed through a design report that will include all aspects of construction documentation– specification, programme, contract documents and Health and Safety – in a design project.

Building on your knowledge and skills, this module will further develop your understanding of technological innovation in architecture integrating the parallel strands. You will consider more advanced construction techniques, systems and assemblies for non-domestic buildings. Through this, you will extend and develop your technical vocabulary and grasp of building physics for more complex building forms in terms of scale, storeys, and medium and long clear spans.

This module focuses on aspects of the statutory and regulatory context within which architectural technologists operate. Topics includes building regulations, inclusive design legislation, environmental laws, planning legislation. A particular focus is on the application of the regulations to a particular project and the assessment is based on an analysis and graphic explanation of the regulation as applied to a building design.

The module is delivered using a combination of lectures, seminars and studio projects.

This module enables you to explore and differentiate the principal types of procurement systems and associated contracts used in the UK, you will also explore the fundamental procedures related to contract administration.

This project will provide you with an opportunity to work in multi-disciplinary teams and to enable them to perform in a role/discipline in the context of a team based project. It will promote reflection on individual and team working and the multi-disciplinary nature of built environment projects. You will practice and further develop both discipline based and generic key skills required by a built environment professional. It encourages self-reflection and enable you to further your personal development plan, that aligns the learning needs and career aspirations and the requirements of the business sector and the professional institutions. You will also further develop written/oral communication, team working and inter-personal skills.

You will develop an holistic understanding of tectonics for local and global environmental challenges. You will assess the impacts of building performance on the built environment. You'll apply the principles of technological engineering systems in sustainable design and construction processes to a design solution. You will also apply technical regulatory factors that impact build, sustainability and environmental performance within broad societal concerns.

This module incorporates the final design project of the course - an opportunity to pull together and demonstrate all the skills and knowledge you have acquired in a single medium sized project with a brief and site of your own choosing. The assessment will require the submission of a comprehensive package of design and construction information including a physical and historic site analysis; a brief; plans, sections, elevations, selected details, and renderings of the proposed building and site context (including a physical/computer model of the building).

Delivered using our design studio, in this module, you will prepare a design for the conversion of an existing building (on the University Campus), including a measured and condition survey of the building. The module is taught in the design studio. You will be assessed through a design project which includes a brief for the project, together with plans, sections, elevations, selected details, and renderings. of the building as existing and as proposed. You will also complete a design report describing how the building performance will be improved whilst preserving the historic aspects of the building.

This module provides you with knowledge of Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and an introduction to a range of MMC techniques. Through a focused series of lectures, we will reveal the role of offsite manufacture, platform thinking, generative design, robotics, intelligent building, kinetic architecture, logistics and sustainable considerations.

In this module, you will use an existing model of a proposed medium-sized building to undertake a range of performance evaluation and provide an illustrative report about how the building performance maybe improved. Delivered using our architectural design studio, the module activities will help you to become aware of the current range of performance modelling analytical tools.

You will learn to write and deliver an extended and coherent study on a design related topic. On completion, you will demonstrate competency in research skills in support of future learning development. This module will help you to develop the skills of reflective practice through engagement with contemporary architecture and urbanism.