Outline

Overview

This unit of study explores future trajectories in the field of building envelope design, looking at new materials, cutting-edge technologies, innovative fabrication techniques, advanced construction methods and smart systems integration. Students will gain the ability to critically approach current challenges in the field of facade design and construction sector sustainable development. Specific topics to be covered in this unit include high-performance facade technologies, envelopes performance requirements and design integration, sustainable use of materials and resources, industrialised facade systems and considerations about construction site logistic, design for manufacturing, assembly (and disassembly). The unit consists of a series of seminars/lectures where both theoretical and applied design concepts will be transferred to students by experts across different disciplines. Tutorials will be run in conjunction with industry partners where students can apply the acquired knowledge in the field, working on the development of a new prototype for: (a) new facade components or systems, (b) new design, fabrication or construction methods, (c) a mix of both.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Architecture
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	MARC5300
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	Students should be familiar with architectural sketching and drawing, 3D modelling, building technology and construction process fundamentals, sustainable design principles
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Eugenia Gasparri, eugenia.gasparri@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Eugenia Gasparri, eugenia.gasparri@sydney.edu.au
Tutor(s)	Henry Wong, henry.wong@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Presentation	RESEARCH PITCH group project pitch	30%	Week 01 Due date: 07 Jul 2024 at 23:59	to be determined
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	FAÇADE SKETCH advanced facade technical detail	20%	Week 02 Due date: 14 Jul 2024 at 23:59	to be determined
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	POSTER & PROTOTYPE group project showcase	50%	Week 04 Due date: 22 Jul 2024 at 23:59	to be determined
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

Students will work individually and in groups to conceptualize, design and develop an innovative design solution that could respond to the UN SDG 13 Climate Action and, at least, two others of choice. Please refer to https://sdgs.un.org/goals

The assignments are designed to scaffold upon the knowledge and case studies discussed in class and tutorial, and to guide students toward a holistic and reliable design solution.

The assignments will help students develop the skill set necessary to understand facades’ technological design process and complex systems, useful in their future careers when liaising with specialists and consultants. The assignments will also enhance students’ research skills and ability to understand where innovation is headed, allowing them to be at the forefront of architectural technologies.

Assessment criteria

Grade	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 guide to grades.

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:

As per University Policy

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

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. Construction Innovation.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Rethinking Building Skins. Exemplars.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Research Methods. Research @usyd.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Reflecting on SDGs. Group formation.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project references. Imagining future facades.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Crafting the Story. Elevator Pitch.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	Project idea presentation. Research Pitch.	Presentation (2 hr)
	Façade Design & Sketching.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Façade Design & Performance.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Project development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project development. Façade Sketching.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	Sustainable & Circular Design.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Fabrication & Prototyping.	Workshop (2 hr)
	Q&A session.	Lecture (2 hr)
	Project development.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Project development. Prototyping.	Tutorial (2 hr)
	Prototyping.	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Projects showcase. P&P session.	Presentation (2 hr)

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.

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. Students will identify and make sense of transformative technologies in the field of façades
LO2. Students will apply research fundamentals and approaches to shape their projects
LO3. Students will understand building envelope design principles and regulatory requirements
LO4. Students will design innovative envelope solutions, responding to present major challenges
LO5. Students will be able to apply theoretical principles into practice and transform their inventive ideas into working prototypes (digital or physical)

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.

No major changes to the course structure. Students feedback and suggestions will be taken into account in the course delivery.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

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

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

MARC5340: Advanced Building Envelopes

Intensive June - July, 2024 [Block mode] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Support for students

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links