Overview
Architecture 655: Architectural Practice Management integrates the study of management practice within the context of architecture as a profession. This course provides the necessary skill sets that architects use in the development of a successful practice. It challenges the graduate student to consider management practice issues that architects must consider and promotes strategic evaluation of project design and process.
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to
- apply various management techniques to the successful operation of an architecture practice, including marketing, financial planning and accounting, risk management, and quality management.
- determine appropriate fees for a specific project and prepare client-architect agreements.
- manage architecture projects properly and efficiently from predesign to takeover and commissioning.
- administer construction contracts.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ARCH 655, you must achieve a course composite grade of at least 67%, including a grade of at least 50% on the final project (Assignment 5). You must also complete all five assignments.
Note: Students who wish to be certified by the CACB must achieve and maintain a final grade point average of at least 2.3.
The weighting of the course composite grade is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1: Finding and Managing Work | 20% |
| Assignment 2: Project Management and Delivery | 20% |
| Assignment 3: Services and Procurement | 20% |
| Assignment 4: Construction Administration | 20% |
| Assignment 5: Final Project | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
You must visit a construction site as part of an assignment in this course, and your safety is of paramount importance. To complete Assignment 4, you must document information about a construction site. It is recommended that you do this from outside the perimeter of the site itself; you are NOT required to enter the actual work site to obtain pictures of the construction work. However, if you receive permission to enter the site and choose to do so, please understand that you enter it at your own risk and are entirely responsible for your own safety. Athabasca University does NOT have insurance coverage for accidents that might occur during visits to construction sites.
Materials
Digital course materials
Links to the following course materials will be made available in the course:
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. (2020). Canadian handbook of practice for architects (3rd ed.). https://chop.raic.ca/