Enrollment in the Graduate Diploma in Architecture (GDA) program or referral from the Canadian Architectural Certification Board (CACB) for individuals with a professional degree in architecture from a university outside Canada.
For students interested in pursuing a career as a registered architect, this course contributes to the RAIC Syllabus Diploma.
Credit may be transferred for previous work considered equivalent.
Overview
Architecture 645: Architectural Practice in Canada is intended for students in the GDA program or for those international architecture graduates referred by the CACB. It examines both the theoretical and practical aspects of architectural practice in Canada.
You will become familiar with the various stakeholders involved in the design and construction of buildings (such as builders, authorities having jurisdiction, consultants, owners, and clients) and their relationship to the architect. The course includes the current context in which architects practice and the laws and regulations that govern their practice in Canada. It also looks to the future and the position of the architect in society and around the globe.
Outline
Unit 1: The Legal Context, Part I
Unit 2: The Legal Context, Part II
Unit 3: The Ethical Context
Unit 4: Architects as Leaders in the Construction Industry
Unit 5: The Regulatory Context
Unit 6: The Architect and Sustainable Design
Unit 7: The Architect as Leader Beyond the Building Project
Unit 8: Architectural Practice Around the World
Unit 9: Forms of Architectural Practice in Canada
Unit 10: Architecture as a Career Path
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
describe the general purpose and content of the Architects Act and its regulations of the jurisdiction in which you work.
apply codes of ethics in everyday practice.
develop a personal conviction on the role of the architect in society.
nurture appropriate professional relationships and administer the contractual role of the architect with others in the design and construction industry (e.g., clients, authorities having jurisdiction, consultants, and building product manufacturers).
apply building codes, standards, and other regulations to the design and construction of buildings.
analyze how architectural practices may be organized and know the regulations governing the formation of a practice.
discuss potential new leadership roles for architects.
Evaluation
To receive credit for ARCH 645, you must complete all five assignments, receive at least 50% on the final project (Assignment 5), and achieve a final grade of at least 67%.
The weighting of the final grade is as follows:
Activity
Weight
Assignment 1: Regulation and Ethics
20%
Assignment 2: The Construction Industry and the Fundamentals of Architectural Practice
20%
Assignment 3: The Practice of Architecture and Canadian Civic Politics – Understanding Architectural Practice in Canada in Relation to Other Countries
20%
Assignment 4: The Business of Architecture and Setting Career Goals
20%
Assignment 5: Final Project
20%
Total
100%
Materials
Royal Architectural Institute of Canada. (2020). Canadian handbook of practice for architects (3rd ed.). https://chop.raic.ca/ (Online)
Note: You are responsible for obtaining the following two documents that are specific to the jurisdiction in which you will work or where you intend to register as an intern architect:
Building Code
Internship in Architecture Program (IAP), Fourth Edition (available from provincial/territorial association)
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized study counterparts.