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ARCT30090

Academic Year 2024/2025

Building Renovation and Energy Retrofit / Architectural Technologies III (ARCT30090)

Subject:
Architecture
College:
Engineering & Architecture
School:
Architecture, Plan & Env Pol
Level:
3 (Degree)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Ms Eibhlin Ni Chathasaigh
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
Blended
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module looks in detail at retrofit to enhance building performance and enable energy efficiency.
It introduces the student to renovation projects and methods of facade retrofit for improved energy and comfort performance.
It introduces building simulation software for the analysis of building performance.
It introduces the student to the building regulations (L & F) for environmental standards to which contemporary buildings should be designed, as well as alternative best practice standards (nZEB, Passivhaus).
It introduces the student to tools available for building performance evaluation. It particularly discusses how these can be used in the design process to assess performance at early stages and through design development.
Site, solar, daylighting, energy and thermal performance will all be assessed (using Sefaira).

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

On completion of the module the student will be expected to:

- Demonstrate advanced theoretical and conceptual knowledge of the building envelope.
- Demonstrate understanding of how to choose and use appropriate materials and technologies to realise sustainable design ideas.
- Demonstrate the ability to develop solutions for envelope retrofit and methods to improve energetic performance.
- Demonstrate understanding of design choices on a range of global and building environmental matters including resource depletion, carbon intensity, indoor environmental quality and occupant comfort.
- Display knowledge of relevant building regulations.
- Understand and participate in current discourse within the area of building energy efficiency and building renovation.
- Demonstrate an ability to apply sustainable concepts and knowledge to future design projects.

Indicative Module Content:

Over the course of twelve weeks the module will investigate the building envelope, with particular emphasis on the envelope in the context of building energy efficiency retrofit. The lectures and technology studio classes will further focus on building performance analysis, the impact of building, designing to building regulations and designing for low operational and embodied energy. A number of case studies will be evaluated.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Autonomous Student Learning

32

Lectures

16

Practical

16

Studio

48

Total

112


Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
active/task-based learning; lectures; reflective learning; enquiry & problem-based learning; student presentations.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations

Not applicable to this module.


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Not applicable to this module.
 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: Brief 1 Re-use / Renovation / Precedent Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
25
No
Group Work Assignment: Brief 2 - Performance Based Analysis and Design Week 5, Week 6, Week 7, Week 8 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
25
No
Individual Project: Brief 3 – Development of Proposal Week 9, Week 10, Week 11, Week 12, Week 14, Week 15 Standard conversion grade scale 40% Yes
50
Yes

Carry forward of passed components
Yes
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring No
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment
• Peer review activities

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Feedback will be given on a regular basis in Technology Studio - it is the student's responsibility to attend studio and request a review meeting with the Technology Studio Tutors. Feedback will be given orally after presentation of work - it is the student's responsibility to take note of this feedback and the student may be asked to repeat the feedback on next meeting with module staff.

Pelsmakers, S., The Environmental Design Pocketbook

Rowley, E., More than Concrete Blocks Volume 2 1940-72

DePlazes, A., Constructing Architecture. Materials Processes Structures.

Cody, B., Form Follows Energy. 2017

DETAIL Magazine

Name Role
Mr Tiago Faria Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Damien Hannigan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Jonathan Janssens Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Assoc Professor Oliver Kinnane Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Ms Eibhlin Ni Chathasaigh Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Thomas O'Brien Lecturer / Co-Lecturer
Mr Daniel Sudhershan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 09:00 - 10:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Tues 14:00 - 15:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Wed 10:00 - 12:50