Duration
17h Th, 35h Pr, 1d FW, 45h Proj.
Number of credits
| Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Architectural Engineering | 5 crédits |
Lecturer
Language(s) of instruction
French language
Organisation and examination
Teaching in the first semester, review in January
Schedule
Units courses prerequisite and corequisite
Prerequisite or corequisite units are presented within each program
Learning unit contents
The course "Sustainable Building Construction Techniques III: Networks" addresses technical building systems, their specific characteristics, their interactions, and their integration into a comprehensive architectural concept. It covers technical, constructional, and material aspects in relation to the principles of sustainable architecture.
The course is structured around a building design project based on the sustainable integration of technical building systems, aiming to achieve functional, constructional, and performance objectives.
The course addresses four questions that structure the discussion on the role of architecture in responding to climate change: should architecture prioritize low-tech or high-tech approaches? What should we do in response to climate change? How can buildings respond to heat waves and apply the hierarchy of cooling strategies, or cooling ladder? Which systems and technical installations should be selected for buildings?
The theoretical component introduces technical criteria and the construction and material concepts of sustainable buildings, as well as the challenges associated with integrating technical networks into the design process. Group discussions are conducted around reference case studies to give a practical dimension to the theoretical concepts.
In parallel, students explore different technical building systems through the study and production of execution drawings for a sustainable house. Particular emphasis is placed on spatial and technical coordination, the integration of equipment, and the appropriate use of sustainable technologies. The drawings describe the house and its main technical systems, including plumbing and drainage, heating, ventilation, electricity, and lighting. The case study is a real, modest-scale dwelling for which graphical information and preliminary design drawings are provided.
The course provides an in-depth study of sustainable building technologies, technical networks, and the principles for integrating these systems into a comprehensive architectural concept.
The course content includes sustainable construction and building life cycle assessment; spatial and technical coordination and the principles of building system integration; plumbing and drainage, including system design and planning, drainage, wastewater treatment, water distribution and discharge, and rainwater recovery; heating and domestic hot water, including the design approach, system selection, renewable energy, and heat distribution; cooling and ventilation, including system design and selection, building air renewal, ventilation and air conditioning, and heat recovery; electricity, lighting, and photovoltaics, including their design, sizing, and integration; and fire protection, safety, and security.
This version now combines the current myULiège engagement with the complete latest TCDBIII source, rather than simplifying it. The latest document also confirms that the course is now based on continuous project assessment, jury, and final submission, with no exam session, which we should correct when we reach the assessment sections.
Learning outcomes of the learning unit
By the end of this course, students should be able to read professional texts on different topics related to technical building systems, analyze them, and synthesize the relevant information.
Students should be able to analyze the constraints associated with integrating different technical building systems into an architectural project, particularly in terms of safety, noise, energy, and environmental impacts.
Students should be able to apply and propose architectural measures that ensure the spatial and technical coordination of different building systems and equipment.
Students should be able to design technical building networks and systems, particularly plumbing, heating, ventilation, and electrical systems, and determine their operating principles, sizing, and planning.
Students should be able to perform preliminary sizing of the main technical building systems using appropriate tools, including BIM tools, in order to integrate and visualize them within the architectural project.
Transversal skills
Students should be able to coordinate a team to develop, agree on, and deliver a work plan.
Students should be able to access, select, and critically evaluate appropriate sources of information.
Students should be able to persevere despite difficulties or initial errors in order to identify and develop an optimal solution.
Students should be able to document and clearly communicate a project and its underlying technical choices.
Students should be able to plan activities and organize the work to make the best use of the available time.
Prerequisite knowledge and skills
Mandatory prerequisite courses
Sustainable Building Construction Techniques I: Elements.
Sustainable Building Construction Techniques II: Envelope.
Key concepts to master
Students should have a basic understanding of heat transfer, thermal storage, the greenhouse effect, electrical circuits, heat pumps, and natural light.
Planned learning activities and teaching methods
The practical work focuses on the design and integration of technical building systems, the development of technical details, and preliminary sizing calculations related to the energy and technical performance of the building and its systems.
The theoretical lectures introduce the concepts, methods, and design principles associated with the different topics. At the end of the sessions, group discussions are conducted around a reference case study to give a practical dimension to the theoretical content.
The integrated project enables students to progressively apply this knowledge to the design and production of execution drawings for a sustainable house. The different building systems and networks are introduced progressively, increasing the complexity of the project and developing a comprehensive approach to their architectural integration.
The work is carried out both individually and in teams. This organization aims to stimulate interaction between students, strengthen self-directed learning, develop coordination skills, and enable a broader range of technical issues to be addressed.
Learning activities include theoretical lectures, case studies, practical work, the integrated project, feedback and peer-review sessions, and construction site or project visits.
Mode of delivery (face to face, distance learning, hybrid learning)
Face-to-face course
Further information:
The course is delivered exclusively face-to-face.
The course follows a blended learning approach, combining different teaching methods to achieve the learning objectives.
From September to December, teaching combines theoretical lectures, case studies, practical work, an integrated project, feedback sessions, and construction site or project visits.
The theoretical lectures introduce the knowledge and methods required for the design of the different technical building systems. Practical work and the integrated project enable students to progressively apply this knowledge to a concrete architectural project.
Learning also relies on teamwork, peer review, and regular feedback from the teaching staff. This approach progressively guides students from the initial design decisions to the integration of the different technical systems into the execution drawings.
Course materials and recommended or required readings
Other site(s) used for course materials
- G-Drive (https://shorturl.at/vJm1C)
Further information:
Required references
Énergie+: a decision-support resource for building energy efficiency.
Publications of Buildwise, formerly the Belgian Building Research Institute, particularly the Technical Information Notes addressing residential ventilation and sanitary installations.
Additional references are provided in the instructions for the different practical assignments.
The source document still uses the former CSTC designation , so this is one point where the pedagogical commitment should be modernized rather than copied literally.
Written work / report
Continuous assessment
Further information:
Overall assessment
Practical work accounts for 100 percent of the final grade.
The course is designed to be interactive. Active participation in the sessions is therefore essential. Attendance is mandatory during theoretical classes and construction site or project visits and will be recorded. Points may be deducted from the final grade in the case of an unjustified absence. The same applies to an absence that negatively affects the work of the team during practical sessions.
All students are required to attend the entire final presentation before the jury in order to benefit fully from the feedback provided.
All practical assignments must be submitted in both paper and digital formats. Failure to submit the paper version of an assignment may result in a grade of zero.
Grade distribution
TP1 Plumbing and drainage: 25 percent.
TP2 Ventilation: 20 percent.
TP3 Heating and domestic hot water: 20 percent.
TP4 Photovoltaics: 10 percent.
Intermediate submissions: 5 percent.
Quality of the final report: 10 percent.
Quality of the oral defense and responses to the jury's questions: 10 percent.
Total: 100 percent.
Assessment criteria
The work is assessed in particular on the spatial and technical coordination of building systems; the design quality and sizing of plumbing, heating, ventilation, and photovoltaic systems; the integration of fire protection and safety requirements; the completeness and accuracy of drawings and reports; the graphical quality, description, and annotation of technical networks; the quality of the final presentation; and compliance with submission dates and deadlines.
All submissions are graded and receive collective and/or personalized feedback. The final submission is presented before a jury.
Work placement(s)
Organisational remarks and main changes to the course
Students must be enrolled in the course.
The course is organized around a design project focused on the production of execution drawings for a sustainable house. Students develop execution drawings through a sequence of stages that progressively integrates the different technical building systems and networks while increasing the complexity of the project.
The work is carried out both individually and in teams. Students work in teams of three or four members on the same base project. Team members share certain tasks, discuss their design approaches, develop different options for the technical networks, and participate together in feedback sessions. Nevertheless, the design option developed remains specific to each student. This organization aims to stimulate interaction, strengthen self-directed learning, and enable a broader range of technical domains and issues to be addressed.
The main performance domains are progressively integrated into the design process following the sequence of the theoretical course. Construction aspects of the house are developed in parallel to produce a proposal that complies with relevant performance requirements and applicable Belgian or European standards while remaining realistic in terms of construction and technical detailing.
The project is developed through three successive phases.
Phase 1. Concept design. This phase develops an initial overall vision of the project and the organization of the technical networks.
Phase 2. Project development. This phase introduces a more quantitative approach based on the analysis, sizing, and progressive application of the different performance domains and construction aspects. Each topic is introduced through theoretical teaching and subsequently applied to the project.
Phase 3. Execution drawings. This phase finalizes the project by coordinating and integrating the different systems and networks into a comprehensive architectural concept validated by the teaching staff.
The objective of this progressive organization is to avoid treating technical building systems as a succession of independent problems. Students are expected to understand their interdependencies and develop a comprehensive approach to the technical and architectural design of the building.
Contacts
Aurélie Piette
Civil Engineer Architect, Part-Time Teaching Assistant
ARGENCO, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Liège
Building B52, Office 0/441
13A Allée de la Découverte, B52/3, Polytech 1 District
4000 Liège, Belgium
Tel.: +32 490 25 81 43
Email: aurelie.piette@uliege.be
Shady Attia
Civil Engineer Architect, Professor
ARGENCO, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Liège
Building B52, Office 0/542
13A Allée de la Découverte, B52/3, Polytech 1 District
4000 Liège, Belgium
Tel.: +32 4 366 91 55
Email: shady.attia@uliege.be