CAO Code : DT175
Programme Description As a technical designer, the Architectural Technologist plays a co-ordinating technical design role at the centre of the building design process. They should have an appreciation of the conceptual nature of the architectural design process and should be able to work alongside the architect in applying technical design principles in the development of an architectural design. They will play a lead role in overseeing and co-ordinating the input to the design process of consultant structural and services engineers and of specialist sub-contractors. Career Opportunities In an architectural practice the architect relies on the technician/technologist to develop planning application CAD drawings based on the architect’s architectural design concept. The technician/technologist plays a lead role in developing the design to meet the detailed technical requirements of the building regulations and in preparing an application for a fi re safety certifi cate. The technician/technologist also plays a lead role in developing detailed drawings for tender purposes and is actively involved in inspecting the works on site, playing a critically important co-ordination role between the design team and design sub-contractors. Project work is undertaken against the background of lectures, critiques, one-to-one tutorials, seminars, group work and construction skills classes. Studio project work acts as a focus for the development of skills in three-dimensional problem solving. These skills include freehand drawing, hard line mechanical drawing, pencil overlay drawings and model making. Studio project work also allows the development of skills in CAD to produce both 2D hard line working drawings and 3D renderings. The studio format offers fl exibility for students to attend project related site visits and fi eld trips away from the college environment, thereby widening their understanding of the context of their project work. These experiences are supplemented by industry and professional presentations, specialist structural engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering design workshops and visits to building exhibitions. |
