Construction Project Design Course

Lesson 1 • Roles and Responsibilities in Design

Defines the professional roles involved in project design and their interdependencies. Clarifies accountability structures students will operate within.

Lesson 2 • Project Lifecycle Overview

Maps the phases from project conception through closeout. Connects each phase to specific design responsibilities and deliverables.

Lesson 3 • Core Design Principles and Constraints

Introduces fundamental design principles including function, safety, and sustainability. Frames the constraints that shape every design decision.

Lesson 1 • Climate and Environmental Analysis

Teaches analysis of climate data and environmental factors that influence building orientation and systems. Directly informs energy-efficient design strategies.

Lesson 2 • Site Investigation Methods

Covers geotechnical, environmental, and topographic investigation techniques. Provides the data foundation required before any design work begins.

Lesson 3 • Zoning and Land Use Regulations

Explains how land use regulations govern what can be built on a site. Students learn to read zoning documents and identify design constraints.

Lesson 4 • Programme Development and Space Planning

Guides students from client needs to a written building programme. Translates qualitative goals into quantifiable space and performance requirements.

Lesson 1 • Schematic Design Documentation

Covers the drawings and narratives required in a schematic design submission. Establishes documentation standards students will use throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Schematic Floor Plan Development

Teaches layout of spaces, circulation, and structural grids at the schematic level. Connects spatial decisions to structural and MEP system implications.

Lesson 3 • Design Ideation Techniques

Introduces structured methods for generating and evaluating design concepts. Builds creative problem-solving skills grounded in project requirements.

Lesson 1 • Structural Integration in Design Drawings

Teaches coordination of structural elements within architectural drawings. Ensures students can produce structurally coordinated floor plans and sections.

Lesson 2 • Foundation Systems and Soil Interaction

Covers shallow and deep foundation types and their relationship to soil conditions. Connects geotechnical data from site analysis to foundation design decisions.

Lesson 3 • Structural System Types and Selection

Surveys major structural systems and the criteria used to select them. Connects system choice to building type, span, height, and budget.

Lesson 1 • HVAC Systems and Thermal Comfort

Introduces heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system types and their spatial requirements. Connects system selection to building type, climate, and energy goals.

Lesson 2 • Plumbing and Fire Protection Systems

Explains plumbing supply, drainage, and fire suppression system layouts. Highlights vertical chase and horizontal routing coordination challenges.

Lesson 3 • Systems Coordination and Clash Detection

Teaches methods for coordinating multiple building systems to avoid conflicts. Introduces clash detection workflows used in professional practice.

Lesson 4 • Electrical and Lighting Systems

Covers electrical distribution, lighting design, and low-voltage systems. Addresses spatial and coordination requirements within the building design.

Lesson 1 • Drawing Set Coordination and Quality Control

Teaches internal coordination across disciplines and quality control review. Reduces errors and omissions before documents are issued for construction.

Lesson 2 • Specifications Writing Fundamentals

Introduces the structure and purpose of project specifications. Teaches students to write clear, enforceable specification sections.

Lesson 3 • Architectural Drawing Production

Covers the full suite of architectural drawings from plans to details. Builds competency in producing construction-level documentation.

Lesson 1 • Budget Management Through Design

Covers strategies for maintaining budget alignment as design evolves. Teaches reconciliation between design intent and cost reality.

Lesson 2 • Cost Drivers in Building Design

Identifies the design decisions that most significantly affect construction cost. Empowers designers to make cost-conscious choices during design development.

Lesson 3 • Value Engineering Process

Teaches the structured value engineering methodology for improving project value. Distinguishes value engineering from cost cutting.

Lesson 1 • Design Schedule and Workflow Management

Teaches planning and tracking of design phase schedules and team workflows. Ensures students can manage deliverables across multiple disciplines.

Lesson 2 • Contractor Procurement and Bidding

Covers the procurement process from bid package preparation through contractor selection. Connects document quality to bid accuracy and contractor performance.

Lesson 3 • Project Closeout and Lessons Learned

Covers closeout documentation, as-built drawings, and post-project review. Establishes a continuous improvement mindset for future projects.

Lesson 4 • Construction Administration Responsibilities

Defines the designer's role during construction, including submittals, RFIs, and site visits. Builds skills for maintaining design intent through the construction phase.