BSc (Hons) Environmental Sustainable Architecture

Program Overview

The Sustainable Architecture Engineering program at the British University in Egypt prepares students for careers in environmental design and sustainable architecture. The curriculum emphasizes environmental sustainability, building information modeling (BIM), and computer-aided design, and students complete summer internships and a graduation project. Graduates are equipped for careers in architecture, engineering, and green building certification organizations.

Program Outline

Degree Overview:

The Sustainable Architecture Engineering program at the British University in Egypt (BUE), housed within the Faculty of Energy & Environmental Engineering, aims to cultivate a new generation of environmentally aware engineers and designers. The program's vision is to achieve international recognition as a leading school in environmentally-sustainable architecture, leveraging digital technology in environmental design and renewable energy. The curriculum incorporates the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to address challenges like climate change and its impact on the built environment. The program's mission is to equip graduates with the ability to quantify the environmental and energy impact of their designs, promoting sustainability. The program emphasizes critical thinking and student-centered learning through a studio-based, interdisciplinary curriculum integrating theory and practice. The handbook itself serves as a guide for students throughout their four years in the department, familiarizing them with the department's structure, staff, and programs, guiding them through required modules, and providing additional helpful information. The program is described as a commitment to shaping the future of the built environment responsibly, efficiently, and forward-thinkingly, addressing global challenges related to energy consumption, carbon emissions, and resource scarcity.

Outline:

The program covers topics and skills including: Environmental-Sustainable Architectural Design, Sustainable Tectonics, Eco-design, Interior Design, BIM (Building Information Modeling), Landscape Architecture, Computer Applications in Sustainable Architecture, Building Construction and Working Drawings, Environmental Design and Control Construction Project Management, and Civil Engineering-based modules. A graduation project is included to instill various career skills, encouraging both independence and teamwork, and providing flexibility to apply knowledge to other fields. Students learn basic environmental-sustainable architectural design engineering and theoretical concepts through mandatory and optional modules in various specialization areas. These include Sustainable Architectural Design, History of Architecture, Theory of Architecture, Building Construction, and Building Services and working drawings. The modules are structured according to levels reflecting UK Higher Education Qualifications Framework (HEQF) standards.

Assessment:

The BUE uses a GPA system on a 4.0 scale to evaluate student performance. Assessment combines attendance, participation, projects, tests, midterm exams, and final exams, with the final grade being a weighted average of these components. Percentage marks are converted into letter grades (A: Excellent, B: Very Good, C: Good, D: Pass, F: Fail) corresponding to grade points. Students completing programs validated by UK partner universities receive two degrees and two sets of award classifications and transcripts. Students must complete summer training internships (office and site placements, one month each in year 2 and year 3) as a pass/fail requirement for graduation.

Teaching:

The department comprises two full-time lecturers and five part-time lecturers, along with support staff including teaching assistants, assistant lecturers, laboratory assistants, a lab engineer, and an administrator. The department has two laboratories for academic experiments, including a VR lab. The teaching approach emphasizes hands-on learning, collaboration with industry professionals, and the use of cutting-edge tools like BIM and energy simulation software. Real-life case studies and sustainable design challenges are incorporated into the curriculum. A summer school in Rome is mentioned, offering lectures and a group project competition focusing on parametric design, simulation, generative forms, kinetic responsive design, digital fabrication prototyping, and incorporating environmental and human sensors. The teaching methods are described as studio-based and interdisciplinary.

Careers:

Graduates are prepared for careers in architecture firms, engineering consultancies, green building certification organizations, and design development agencies. It also lists the academic staff (full-time and part-time), teaching assistants, and available resources and facilities (laboratories, workshops, library resources, and databases). A summer school in Rome is described as a program element.