Architectural Technology students showcase their work in GMIT

An extensive exhibition of project work by Architectural Technology students in GMIT has opened in the GMIT Dublin Road campus and will run until Wednesday 20 June.

The exhibition showcases work from students in each year of the four year honours degree programme which was accredited by the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) last year (2011). This is the first year of the new B.Sc (Hons) degree programme in Architectural Technology in GMIT, the only such programme in the western region.

The students use a variety of media to produce high-quality 3D coloured drawings, including Building Information Modelling (BIM) through the use of Revit software and AutoCAD. The project-work on show uses new and emerging technologies for building design and performance solutions. It combines the use of the latest software technologies to produce the drawings as well as more traditional media such as model making and free-hand drawing.

Head of the Dept of Building and Civil Engineering Mary Rogers says "Our students are steeped in the use of new technologies required to provide performance and efficiencies within the field of building and design. Across the broad range of disciplines within the department - Architectural Technology, Civil Engineering, Construction Management and Quantity Surveying, we aim to use Building Information Modelling as a tool for inter-disciplinary projects."

"GMIT has committed significant funding to the training and equipment required by students in their learning. The potential of both the students and the technology to meet the needs of industry into the future is evident at this exhibition. We invite you to come along and view the students' work." adds Ms Rogers.

Lecturer Denise Dillon, Programme Co-ordinator, says the students have excelled this year in the production of complex project work using the latest design software.

"The project briefs provide for student learning relevant to the current construction climate. The fourth year student projects are two live retro-fit and extension projects, one based in Maree, Co Galway and the other in Kilkishen, east Clare. The students have undertaken in-depth research and analysis of the building fabric through the use of a variety of current software programmes. Much of the project work is carried out using Revit Architecture. This is a process which produces a 3D digital database that tracks all elements that make up a building. The information can include technological details, building performance properties, surface area and volume, thermal properties, room descriptions, costing information and specific product information."

The GMIT Architectural Technology Exhibition will remain open to the public during office hours at GMIT's Dublin Road, Galway campus, until June 20th. The exhibition is located in the campus' Union Square.

Pictured on the homepage are fourth year students Stephanie Niland (left) from Maree, Clarinbridge, and Nicole Barrett from Athboy, Co Meath, both studying the B.Sc. (Hons) in Architectural Technology.

Have a look at the final year students' building information modelling projects, click on the link below: