AA2IPR: Industry and Practice: the Realisation of Projects

Module code: AA2IPR

Module provider: School of Architecture, School of Built Environment

Credits: 20

Level: Level 2 (Intermediate)

When you'll be taught: Semester 1

Module convenor: Mr Arjun Rajah, email: a.d.rajah@reading.ac.uk

Module co-convenor: Mrs Louise Humphreys, email: louise.humphreys@reading.ac.uk

Pre-requisite module(s):

Co-requisite module(s): IN THE SAME YEAR AS TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST TAKE AA2STC AND TAKE AA2DS3N AND TAKE AA2HTC AND TAKE AA2DS4N (Compulsory)

Pre-requisite or Co-requisite module(s):

Module(s) excluded:

Placement information: NA

Academic year: 2024/5

Available to visiting students: No

Talis reading list: Yes

Last updated: 12 September 2024

Overview

Module aims and purpose

To be effective in the workplace, architects need to understand the business and realisation of projects – including the project-based nature of construction; current project management and procurement practices; the prevailing legal and contractual frameworks for construction and architecture. It will also cover wider aspects of the construction industry including government policy, the changing role of the architect, concepts of professionalism and professional institutions in both descriptive and analytical terms supporting an understanding of how it functions with regards to the nature and role of the key participants.

Module learning outcomes

By the end of the module, it is expected that students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of the complex nature of project work, and how different organisations come together (in the form of ‘temporary multi-organisations’) for design and construction;
2. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of the wide range of ways in which projects can be procured, organised and managed, and of some of the different theoretical treatments of, and practical approaches to project procurement and management;
3. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of the contractual frameworks for construction, and an awareness of the forms of construction contract commonly in use, with specific focus on the roles and responsibilities of architects, and a deepening understanding of the role of an architect within the design team and construction industry, recognising the importance of current methods and trends in the construction of the built environment; GC6.2; GC6.3.
4. Demonstrate, via written assignments, a deepening understanding of the legislative framework governing construction, and in particular an understanding of current planning policy and development control context, and of the building control framework, including social, environmental and economic aspects, and the relevance of these to various stages of construction project, GC4.3
5. Demonstrate, via written assignments, the fundamental legal, professional and statutory responsibilities of the architect, and the organisations, regulations and procedures involved in the negotiation and approval of architectural designs, including land law, development control, building regulations and health and safety legislation; GC 11.1
6. Demonstrate, via written assignments, the professional inter-relationships of individuals and organisations involved in the procuring and delivering architectural projects, and how these are defined though contractual and organisational structures; GC 11.2
7. Demonstrate, via written assignments, the basic management theories and business principles related to running both an architects’ practice and architectural projects recognising current and emerging trends in the construction industry. GC 11.3
8. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of the significance of the construction and property sectors in social, economic and environmental terms through the use of a range of descriptive and analytical frameworks;
9. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of property development, and of construction and building maintenance processes in terms of the purpose and nature of demand for construction, and the identities and roles of the key participants.
10. Demonstrate, via written assignments, a basic knowledge of current planning policy and development control legislation including social, environmental and economic aspects, and the relevance of these to design development
11. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of the importance of construction and architecture in policy terms, and an awareness of some of the potential implications of current and recent policy initiatives (e.g., in 2013/14 the Construction to 2025 industrial strategy, and the Farrell Review of Architecture and the Built Environment);
12. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an understanding of the role of the architect within the design team and construction industry, recognising the importance of current methods and trends in the construction of the built environment, and of the duties of architects to clients, users, constructors, co-professionals and wider society, including concepts of professionalism and their relevance in contemporary society and the business world.
13. Demonstrate, via written assignments, an awareness of the role and status of relevant professional institutions and organisations.

In addition to the above, students will gain:

• An enhanced awareness of the collaborative nature of building design and construction.
• An ability to create well-structured pieces of written work.

Module content

• The role of the architect – concepts of professionalism and professions; the duties of architects to clients, users, constructors, co-professionals and wider society;
• The social, economic and environmental significance of the construction industry.
• The implications and importance of planning policy and development control legislation for architecture and the built environment.
• The ethical responsibilities of the architect and to what extent these are supported by policy frameworks.
• The challenges facing the industry now and in the future.
• The role of the professional institutions and organisations (ARB and RIBA) and how they shape the industry; with contemporary debates on professionalism.
• The concept of a project – the project environment; project teams, the need for project management; different theories and models; common approaches; architects’ roles. Construction contracts – common approaches and types; typical roles and responsibilities of key parties (including architects).
• Project procurement – what it means; overlap with models of project organisation; different procurement models and their implications for design and construction processes, roles and responsibilities;

Structure

Teaching and learning methods

The module will be structured across four strains of teaching:

1. In person lectures on thematic approaches and critical underpinning to module, including aspects of theoretical approaches and an overview of key concepts. Delivered by academic staff, and practice professionals form the Contruction Industry.
2. Seminars provide opportunities to discuss and debate topics taught and support the delivery of submission requirements.
3. Workshops where practical application of key concepts are addressed and explored.
4. Tutorials and feedback sessions to help steer and define the strategies and direction of the output.

Study hours

At least 50 hours of scheduled teaching and learning activities will be delivered in person, with the remaining hours for scheduled and self-scheduled teaching and learning activities delivered either in person or online. You will receive further details about how these hours will be delivered before the start of the module.

Please note the independent study hours above are notional numbers of hours; each student will approach studying in different ways. We would advise you to reflect on your learning and the number of hours you are allocating to these tasks.

Semester 1 The hours in this column may include hours during the Christmas holiday period.

Semester 2 The hours in this column may include hours during the Easter holiday period.

Summer The hours in this column will take place during the summer holidays and may be at the start and/or end of the module.

Assessment

Requirements for a pass

Students need to achieve an overall module mark of 40% to pass this module.

Summative assessment

Penalties for late submission of summative assessment

The Support Centres will apply the following penalties for work submitted late:

Assessments with numerical marks

• where the piece of work is submitted after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): 10% of the total marks available for that piece of work will be deducted from the mark for each working day (or part thereof) following the deadline up to a total of three working days;
• the mark awarded due to the imposition of the penalty shall not fall below the threshold pass mark, namely 40% in the case of modules at Levels 4-6 (i.e. undergraduate modules for Parts 1-3) and 50% in the case of Level 7 modules offered as part of an Integrated Masters or taught postgraduate degree programme;
• where the piece of work is awarded a mark below the threshold pass mark prior to any penalty being imposed, and is submitted up to three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline), no penalty shall be imposed;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension to the deadline): a mark of zero will be recorded.

Assessments marked Pass/Fail

• where the piece of work is submitted within three working days of the deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): no penalty will be applied;
• where the piece of work is submitted more than three working days after the original deadline (or any formally agreed extension of the deadline): a grade of Fail will be awarded.

The University policy statement on penalties for late submission can be found at: https://www.reading.ac.uk/cqsd/-/media/project/functions/cqsd/documents/qap/penaltiesforlatesubmission.pdf

You are strongly advised to ensure that coursework is submitted by the relevant deadline. You should note that it is advisable to submit work in an unfinished state rather than to fail to submit any work.

Formative assessment

Formative assessment is any task or activity which creates feedback (or feedforward) for you about your learning, but which does not contribute towards your overall module mark.

Formative feedback provided informally in tutorial and workshop sessions.

Reassessment

Additional costs