Architectural Technologist – AT University open days

The AT course at Birmingham City University held their open day yesterday 25th May, to display the final year student work, I was invited and duly arrived to find three lecture rooms full of excellent work. Modfels, working drawings, day diary’s, sample boards, and videos of the highest quality.

I spent over an hour talking to students and lecturers on the work displayed, getting their take on the course, their hopes for the future, work and how they felt. Why, well if the disaplin of AT, and CIAT in general, then we as the old timers, must show some interest, see what they have achived and give some encouragement, help them make that last great step, to define them selves and look for work.

CIAT as always have been tireless in promoting our degree courses, checking on them, and refining the cource, but and as always there is a but, we need to get the students to join and partake, and get through there pops to achieve chartered member status. We the older and in some cases founders, are getting on, we are thinning out, we need the youth to take over and expand the Discipline of AT.

So back to the work, I was impresses, the quality of models, the designs and detailing that they showed was first rate, and the display or presentation was in the most part, eye catching, and thats what counts, was I drawn to certasin stands, yes,, why, it caught my eye, colour, the model, the poster on the back drop, all contributed to the feel and look of each students stand. Also the use of a day book, you know my feelings on the use of this paper book, for jotting notes, feelings and details we see in daily life, well, guess what the students at Birminghasm are encouraged to use a day book, excellent, and some of these were laid out as part of their display, excellent, I hope the habit is now in their blood, because its a part of being an Architectural Technologist.

As always each stand had a video walk through of their cad drawings, and all were just excellent, most if not all concentrated on the overall feel of the building, and reminded me of a School of Architecture, and I must remind every one, we are not Architects, but Technologists, design is a daily part of being a Technologist, but there is and always will be a clear line between the Architect and a Technologist, I feel that sometimes we cross this line, it’s hard not to, given the training and close procimity to Architects, but in reflection of the work I saw, there was a nice balance between understanding the need to look at designing a building on one hand and our role of the detail and product design and use, making it work within the law on the other was well balanced.

Birmingham City University must be congratulated on the work shown, its of the highest quality, but they are only one of many universities offering AT as a cource, and in two weeks I travel to Northumbria to act as an External examiner of their work, I know the standard will be high, I saw their mid term work and was impressed, so Im looking forward to the trip..

Todays photo was one of many I took, the rest are on my Flickr account and I hope on my Google+ blog, take a look, the students deserve some recognition for their hard work. As I left the University, all to early to attend a client meet, I could not help feel satisfied, the students talked well about their work and hopes for the future, but I am afraid the current climate is not being or will be kind to them, they have to up the game plan to attain work, my be even go sideways into another disaplin, but the training and skills they have acieved will stand them well, it has for me.

CPD is there, it is the reflection of the students training, reflection on your training and the need to continue, researching, keeping your day book, and above all, that constant need to improve.

Don’t forget, I will host a tech hangout every Friday at 3 pm, call in to chat, moan,find out something, anything to do with Architectural Technology. follow me on Google + “+stevescaysbrook”

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