Architectural Technology
Architectural technology is the discipline concerned with the technical design, specification, and delivery of buildings. While architects focus on the creative and spatial conception of buildings, architectural technologists develop the detailed technical knowledge that turns designs into reality, working with building regulations, structural systems, environmental performance, materials, and construction methods. The discipline is increasingly central to the delivery of complex, high-performance buildings.
At the University of Bedfordshire this four-year full-time programme includes a foundation year, providing a grounding in the mathematical, scientific, and design foundations you need before engaging with the technical content of the main degree. The foundation year makes the programme accessible to students who are coming from non-traditional backgrounds or who need to consolidate their technical foundations before tackling degree-level study.
In the main degree you will study building technology, structural principles, environmental systems, building information modelling, building regulations, materials science, and project management. You will learn to produce detailed technical drawings and specifications, to model building performance, and to understand the legal and regulatory framework within which construction takes place. Design projects and technical challenges are central to the assessment structure, developing your ability to produce professional-level technical documentation.
Graduates go on to careers as architectural technologists and technicians in architectural practices, construction companies, local authorities, engineering consultancies, and project management firms. The Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists provides the professional framework for the career, and many graduates work towards Chartered Architectural Technologist status. The degree also provides a strong basis for further study in architecture, construction management, or building engineering.