If you are a creative person who enjoys drawing and design, mixed with problem solving and IT skills, then architectural technology is the course for you.
Edinburgh Napier's undergraduate degree in Architectural Technology covers a range of modules that will help you develop your hand-sketching skills, working with specialist software for modelling using computer-aided design. You’ll also get access to exciting equipment including laser scanners, drones and virtual reality kits to bring your ideas to life.
Throughout your studies, you will be able to enhance your team working and project management skills through interdisciplinary design projects working with other construction and surveying students. This course connects you with practitioners through our strong links with the industry. We offer our students the opportunity to apply their learning to real projects through external visits to iconic buildings and construction sites.
In year one you will learn building design and technology, which is construction of small-scale buildings like individual housing units.
Year two expands on this and you'll learn about large-span buildings and multi-storey structures.
In year three you'll learn about modern methods of construction and what the future of construction may look like such as robotics, building information modelling and modern methods of construction.
The knowledge gained in first to third year are all brought together in fourth year for your final year design project.
When you study design you will work on designing spaces for living by focussing the following active verbs: Live; design a living space for a client paying attention to their specific needs. Learn; design a learning environment such as a Kindergarten. Work; design an office where you have to pay attention to detail like access, parking, meeting rooms. Play; this is usually recreational like galleries and museums.
On the technology side, you start off with an introduction to Computer Aided Drafting along with property and construction business law. You also cover building engineering, 3D drawing and look at contractual issues, building control, fire engineering and construction management.