Sustainable Building Design and Construction 2008

About the Course

Fleming College’s Sustainable Building Design and Construction program is unique in the world. It is the only program that combines the theory of sustainable building with participation in a complete building project. The students of SBDC are given full responsibility for the completion of a large, public building from breaking ground to handing over the keys to the finished structure.

The course is designed so that each student is given the responsibility of leading a team in one phase of the building project, and acting as an assistant in two other areas. These building teams are divided into three categories: Structural, Mechanical and Administrative. Each student is involved in one team from each category. This, combined with shared theory classes and workshops in all aspects of the building, give each student a well-rounded experience in the process of building more sustainably.

The class has one, full-time lead instructor and one full time assistant instructor. Specialty instructors are brought in to teach about particular aspects of each build, including renewable energy, electrical, plumbing, wastewater treatment, heating systems, ventilation, indoor air quality and particular product representatives. All of these instructors are leading practitioners, and give students valuable knowledge as well as contacts within the industry that can be drawn upon in their subsequent careers.

The program also includes an intensive design stream, in which each student completes a building design for a real-world client. This experience allows the students to put their new skills to use in new contexts, and allows them to more fully understand the complete design/build process. Many of these designs go on to become paying projects after the completion of the course, giving students an opportunity to move directly into the workplace.

Our graduates move on to many different careers after the course. From government jobs in the housing sector and design consultants to builders and labourers, there are many routes to be followed from the SBDC experience.

To find out more about the curriculum for the course, please see the course web site at www.flemingcollege.com/sustainablebuilding and learn more about admission requirements and our past projects.

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