Overview
This programme aims to provide students with skills to act as an Architectural Technician for client contact, research and design, contracts and construction.

COURSE OUTLINE

Year One
Communication Skills: Unit standards: 11095, 1307, 9685

• Write a variety of business correspondence to convey ideas and
  information.

Documentation 1: Unit standard: 10164

• Prepare architectural working drawings for timber framed Building
• Prepare in AutoCAD and manual drawings.

Design Documentation 1: Unit standards: 9663, 10161

• Identify the limitations of a site, including Council restrictions and the site’s natural attributes or limitations
• Identify client requirements for a site.

Construction Systems: Unit standards: 9671, 9663

• Describe construction methods for timber framed buildings, include
  foundations and sub-structure, outside envelope and interior.

Services: Unit standard: 9667

• Explain purposes of services in small buildings.

Materials: Unit standard: 9669

• Explain the characteristics and physical properties of materials and finishes used in buildings.

Building Law: Unit standard: 9664

• Identify key aspects of the New Zealand legal structure
• Learn aspects of New Zealand law relating to the building industry.

Environment: Unit standard: 9670

• Identify environmental aspects of building construction and services
• Evaluate techniques that may apply to the built environment. 

Year Two
Documentation: Unit standards: 10165, 10166

• Prepare architectural working drawings for multi-storey buildings
• Present both manually and with Computer Aided Drawing
• ArchiCAD – 3D modelling, rending and fly through.

Contract Administration: Unit standards: 9659, 9661

• Establish communication protocols
• Compile relevant tender and contract documentation
• Invite, select and obtain tenders.

Design Documentation 2 and 3: Unit standards: 10162, 10163

• Establish the client’s requirements, site restrictions and initial site
  design possibilities
• Present a preliminary design to a client
• Understand process for Resource Consent for a building project
• Develop a design concept into a building concept.

Design Context and History: Unit standard: 10167

• Apply design principles to architectural projects
• Appreciate the history of architecture
• Explain the difference in design across cultures.

Construction Technology: Unit standard: 9672

• Determine and describe the foundations, structure, exterior envelope and the interior of a large multi-storey building of specific
  design.

Career Options

• Engineering Technician – Draughting
• Project Technician
• Kitchen Design
• Architectural Design

Further Study

• Project Management Level 6
• Bachelor in Architecture
• Degree in Construction Management

Admission Information
Applicants under 20 years of age must have a minimum of 36 credits at Level 2 in three NCEA subjects or NZQA unit standard equivalents.
 

Mature students will be assessed on an individual basis.

Applicants for whom English is not their first language require a minimum IELTS score of 6.0.

Qualifications Gained:

National Diploma in Architectural Technology (Level 6)

Successful students of the National Diploma also receive the:

• Northland Polytechnic Certificate in Architectural Technology
• Northland Polytechnic Diploma in Architectural Technology