New add-on honours degree in Architectural Technology

Author: Press Office

Date Article Written Monday 13th June 2011

GMIT School of Engineering is delighted to announce a new one-year honours degree programme in Architectural Technology will commence at GMIT Galway this September.

The announcement was made at the opening of the annual exhibition of project-work by some 80 first, second and third year students on the B.Sc. in Architectural Technology degree programme.

Graduates from this programme will have the opportunity to progress to a further year of study to achieve an honours degree. This is the only such programme available in the Western region.  

“The students have excelled this year with the production of complex project work using the latest design software," says Denise Dillon, Programme Co-ordinator for Architectural Technology.

"They have also produced Virtual 3D models of their project work using Revit Architecture, a process which produces a 3D digital database that tracks all elements that make up a building. The information can include technological details, building performance properties, surface area and volume, thermal properties, room descriptions, costing information and specific product information.”

Architectural Technology students at GMIT use a variety of media to produce the high quality 3D coloured drawings, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) through the use of Revit software and AutoCAD. The project-work on show uses new and emerging technologies for building design and performance solutions. It combines the use of the latest software technologies to produce the drawings as well as more traditional media such as model making and free-hand drawing.

Commenting on the exhibition, Head of the Department of Building and Civil Engineering Mary Rogers, says: “The Department ensures its students are steeped in the use of new technologies required to provide performance and efficiencies within the field of building and design.  Across the broad range of disciplines within the department - Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying and Property Studies, we aim to use Building Information Modelling as a tool for inter-disciplinary projects.”

“GMIT has committed significant funding to the training and equipment required by students in their learning. The potential of both the students and the technology to meet the needs of industry into the future is evident at this exhibition.” adds Ms Rogers.

The exhibition will remain open to the public during office hours at GMIT’s Dublin Road Galway campus until Monday 20th June.