Outline

Overview

This unit introduces students to the fundamental principles of architectural technology, focusing on the analysis of building components, structural systems, and construction methods. It emphasizes the integration of technical design requirements and solutions and their relation to the production of architecture. Through drawings and models, students will develop foundational skills in observation, drafting, and 3D modeling to effectively analyze and communicate the technical, structural, and constructional aspects of buildings. This unit will also introduce students to design principles related to the environmental performance of building components. Case studies, technical drawing production, and model-making will serve as the primary means for students to demonstrate their understanding of key technical aspects of building envelopes, structures, and construction processes as they relate to the design of an architectural proposition.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Architecture
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	BDES1023 and BAEN1001
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Paolo Stracchi, paolo.stracchi@sydney.edu.au

Assessment

The census date for this unit availability is 31 March 2026

Details
Criteria

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length	Use of AI
Creative work	Task 3: Integrated Technological Study (Digital and Physical Modeling) Submitted report includes the analysis of one case study, to be selected by the student group (maximum two students).	30%	Formal exam period Due date: 11 Jun 2026 at 23:00	5-6 A3 page report + Cover	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Task 1: Early Feedback Task: Structural Design Small continuous assessment + Submitted work for a total of 5 drawings	10%	Week 03 Due date: 12 Mar 2026 at 23:00	7 A3 pages	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
Creative work	Task 2: Technological Studies (Axonometric Drawings) During the weekly tutorials, students will analyze technological and structural components and adopted construction materials of provided case studies.	60%	Week 09 Due date: 27 Apr 2026 at 23:00	6 A3 pages + Cover	AI allowed
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ? = early feedback task ?

Early feedback task

This unit includes an early feedback task, designed to give you feedback prior to the census date for this unit. Details are provided in the Canvas site and your result will be recorded in your Marks page. It is important that you actively engage with this task so that the University can support you to be successful in this unit.

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Task: Structural Design (Diagrams)

Small continuous assessment + Submitted work for a total of 5 drawings. During the first three weeks, students will produce a set of 5 hand-drawn drawings focusing on and detailing the structural systems, components, and connections of provided case studies. Three drawings will be completed in class during the tutorial time and submitted at the end of each tutorial. Two drawings will be completed at home and submitted in weeks 2 and 4 as per the UoS schedule.

Task 2: Technological Studies (Axonometric Drawings)

Submitted work will include the analysis of a total of 3 case studies.

During the weekly tutorials, students will analyze technological, structural and architectural components, including facade and envelope components, structural systems, and adopted construction materials of provided case studies. Through the development of detailed hand-drawn axonometric drawings, completed with a textual and graphic legend, the task challenges students to effectively and comprehensively describe the internal design relationships and assembly logics of various medium-complex architectural technologies.

Task 3: Integrated Technological Study (Digital and Physcial Modeling)

Submitted work will include the analysis of 1 case study which will be selected by the students.

During the weekly tutorials, students will work in TEAM of TWO (or individually if you wish, group of 3 are not permitted) to analyze a building system informing a moderately complex example of contemporary architecture. Through the elaboration of 3D digital and physical models, completed with a textual and graphic legend, the task challenges students to effectively and comprehensively describe and present technological, structural and constructional logics of a medium-complex work of architecture.

Attendance: Students should be present and engaged in their learning during classes. Late arrival/early departure will be deemed as an absence. Students who do not meet the minimum 90% threshold, who have approved special consideration may be offered the opportunity to sit an alternative assessment to pass this unit.

Detailed information for each assessment and case-studies can be found on Canvas

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a high distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit	65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass	50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail	0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see sydney.edu.au/students/guide-to-grades.

For more information see guide to grades.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

You can use generative AI tools for open assessments. Restrictions on AI use apply to secure, supervised assessments used to confirm if students have met specific learning outcomes.

Refer to the assessment table above to see if AI is allowed, for assessments in this unit and check Canvas for full instructions on assessment tasks and AI use.

If you use AI, you must always acknowledge it. Misusing AI may lead to a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

Yes

Academic integrity

The University expects students to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

Our website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. This includes advice on how to avoid common breaches of academic integrity. Ensure that you have completed the Academic Honesty Education Module (AHEM) which is mandatory for all commencing coursework students

Penalties for serious breaches can significantly impact your studies and your career after graduation. It is important that you speak with your unit coordinator if you need help with completing assessments.

Visit the Current Students website for more information on AI in assessments, including details on how to acknowledge its use.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Support for students

The Support for Students Policy reflects the University’s commitment to supporting students in their academic journey and making the University safe for students. It is important that you read and understand this policy so that you are familiar with the range of support services available to you and understand how to engage with them.

The University uses email as its primary source of communication with students who need support under the Support for Students Policy. Make sure you check your University email regularly and respond to any communications received from the University.

Learning resources and detailed information about weekly assessment and learning activities can be accessed via Canvas. It is essential that you visit your unit of study Canvas site to ensure you are up to date with all of your tasks.

If you are having difficulties completing your studies, or are feeling unsure about your progress, we are here to help. You can access the support services offered by the University at any time:

Support and Services (including health and wellbeing services, financial support and learning support)
Course planning and administration
Meet with an Academic Adviser

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Unit introduction. Structures: Structural Hierarchy	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	In-class drawing: Portal Frame & Structural Hierarchy	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 02	Structures: Structural Fundamentals	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	In-class drawing: Portal Frame & Structural Fundamentals	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 03	Structures: Structural Connections	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	In-class drawing: Structural Connections	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 04	Intro Task 2 / Concrete in Architecture 1/2 (Theory)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	In-class analysis: Detailed Axonometry A 1/2	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 05	Concrete in Architecture 2/2 (Analysis & Demonstrations)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	In-class analysis: Detailed Axonometry A 2/2	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 06	Steel in Architecture 1/1 (Theory)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	In-class analysis: Detailed Axonometry B 1/1	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 07	Plastic and Glass in Architecture (Theory)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	In-class analysis: Detailed Axonometric C 1/1	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 08	Intro Task 3 / Mass Timber in Architecture 1/3 (Theory)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Pre-submission review	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 09	Mass Timber in Architecture 2/3 (Theory)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	In-class analysis: 3-Dimensional Study (digital and physical model)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 10	Mass Timber in Architecture 3/3 (Analysis & Demonstrations)	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	In-class analysis: 3-Dimensional Study (digital and physical model)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 11	Green Living Systems in Architecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	In-class analysis: 3-Dimensional Study (digital and physical model)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 12	Guest Lecture	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	In-class analysis: 3-Dimensional Study (digital and physical model)	Tutorial (3 hr)
Week 13	What We've Learned	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	In-class analysis: 3-Dimensional Study (digital and physical model)	Tutorial (3 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Students must attend 90% of this unit's timetabled activities to satisfy attendance requirements, or risk failing the unit. Late arrival or early departure will be deemed as an absence. Students who are unable to attend class due to illness or misadventure must provide reasonable evidence to support their absence to be considered for an exemption from the attendance threshold. In this case, students may be offered the opportunity to complete an alternative assessment to meet the pass requirement for the unit. Students are expected to be actively engaged in their learning during class. This includes coming to class prepared (e.g. completed readings etc) and making respectful and appropriate contributions to class discussions. Students should refer to the School of Architecture, Design and Planning resolutions for specific information relating to attendance and participation.

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

It is expected that you conduct your own research, including sourcing appropriate materials and undertaking library visits to gather data to substantiate your knowledge.

Reading suggestions are listed below:

Modern Construction Handbook by Andrew Watts, 2016.
Construction Materials Manual by Hegger Manfred, 2006.
Form and Forces: Designing Efficient, Expressive Structures by Edward Allen, 2009.
The Structural Basis of Architecture by Bjorn Sandaker, 2011.
Why Buildings Stand Up by Mario Salvadori, 1981.

Magazines:

The Plan
Detail

Website:

Divisare.com

Canvas

The Canvas e-learning site will be used in this Unit of Study to distribute course material— including written notes from the weekly lecturers and pdf of reading material; to update you on developments via the email function; and for all your submissions, including text and design-based submissions as well as Turnitin submissions.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Understand the functional requirements and basic performance of the building envelope
LO2. Identify a building’s structural system and understand how an integrated structural solution can both inform and respond to architectural forms and concepts.
LO3. Recognize building envelope systems, parts and assembly logics, and understand how technical considerations can both originate from and enhance architectural concepts.
LO4. Describe building’s construction methods, and understanding how construction methods can both originate from and enhance architectural concepts.
LO5. Prepare competent technical drawings and models at appropriate scales to document a building’s structural system, construction methods, and technological solutions.
LO6. Present information clearly and succinctly in both written and oral form using technical terminology.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

The unit has been adjusted to improve alignment between its content and assessment tasks and to incorporate the revised calendar dates.

Additional information

Additional costs

Please note that this unit of study involves additional costs for model-making and printing. The extent of this additional cost depends on the project.

Disclaimer

Important: the University of Sydney regularly reviews units of study and reserves the right to change the units of study available annually. To stay up to date on available study options, including unit of study details and availability, refer to the relevant handbook.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Task: Structural Design (Diagrams)

Task 2: Technological Studies (Axonometric Drawings)

Task 3: Integrated Technological Study (Digital and Physcial Modeling)

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

BADP2004: Architectural Technology and Construction

Semester 1, 2026 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Early feedback task

Assessment summary

Early Feedback Task: Structural Design (Diagrams)

Task 2: Technological Studies (Axonometric Drawings)

Task 3: Integrated Technological Study (Digital and Physcial Modeling)

Assessment criteria

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI)

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Additional information

Additional information

Additional costs

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links