Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

An understanding of the construction and operation of commercial and high-rise buildings is fundamental to the practice of a property professional. This unit is a foundation unit which provides essential knowledge and skills to work as a property professional and having an application of the importance of commercial building construction, operation and management.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to develop your understanding of the principles of commercial construction methods and materials and to introduce you to the principles of building economics, with partuicular focus on commercial building operation and management.

Objectives

By the completion of this unit you should be able to demonstrate the following discipline specific capabilities at beginning level:

1. Demonstrate knowledge of site establishment, site preparation, site investigation and assessment, building construction types and construction planning;
2. Analysis and understanding of the concepts, principles and construction procedures related to the construction of low-rise, commercial and high-rise buildings (commercial and residential);
3. Recognise and critically understand commercial building operations in elemental terms to facilitate across-industry information usage; and
4. Understand and be able to utilise the techniques associated with value management and life cycle costs.

Content

General topics in construction include: site preparation and management; construction plant, equipment and labour; site establishment; various building construction methods and materials for commercial, industrial buildings (low and high rise) and high rise residential buildings; services co-ordination; high-rise construction and internal fitout.

General topics in commercial building operations include: gross and net lettable floor area definitions and measurement; cost versus value concept; understanding the integration of building services and property operations; linking building construction and service provision to leasing and ownership issues; market conditions and tendering influences on building costs and development; value management principles and life cycle costing.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

Teaching Mode:
Lectures (normally 3 hours/week) and
Tutorials (normally 1 hour/week).

Lectures will be the place where the key concepts will be discussed whilst tutorials are where you will apply the key concepts and develop your ability to understand construction and to prepare cost planning and estimate of construction project.

Learning Approaches:

• Problem based


• Self-guided learning


• Individual learning

Assessment

QUT's Assessment Policy is located at MOPP C/5.1.The assessment will comprise formative assessment (to help you find out how your work is progressing) and summative assessment (to grade your work against expected outcomes). Written feedback will be provided on Assessments.

The lecturer will be available to discuss issues that relate to assessment in lectures and through the emails and Blackboard. Tutor will be available in tutorials to answer questions from students on the tutorial questions and provide guidance.

Assessment name: Problem Solving Task
Description: A mathematical calculation of a GFA and net lettable areas for a range of commercial and industrial building applications.
Relates to objectives: 2 & 3
Weight: 20%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 4

Assessment name: Project (applied)
Description: A comparative report assessing the impact of various building designs and construction on the on-going operations, management and life cycle of low and high rise commercial buildings and high rsie residential buildings.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 30%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Group
Due date: Week 8

Assessment name: Examination (Theory)
Description: A combination of multiple choice and short answer questions.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4
Weight: 50%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End of Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Web based resource materials will be provided throughout the semester.

On-Line: QUT Blackboard

Additional Costs:

There are no additional costs associated with this unit.

Risk assessment statement

There are no out of the ordinary risks associated with this unit. Students are required to visit construction sites and must have a current Site Safety Card and safety equipment.

Health & Safety Inductions
Students are required to complete the following Induction / Certificates:
1. General Safety Induction (Completed On-Line)
2. General Safety Induction (Construction Industry) Card - WHITE CARD (this will facilitate Students attending external construction worksites)

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 02-May-2012