Construction of Buildings

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

120 hours

Admission to MC-CONMG3Y Master of Construction Management (300 points).

ABPL90292 Construction Principles

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

This subject provides an introduction to the construction of buildings with an emphasis on residential and multi-unit residential low-rise construction. The key functions and performance requirements for the main elements are discussed in relation to material selection, structural design and construction methods. The aim here is to expose students who are coming into the construction program without a cognate degree to appreciate how construction techniques, contemporary practice, building legislation, developments in sustainable design principles, advancements in materials technology are interlinked and all come together to influence the construction of buildings. The subject also includes an introduction to services within a residential context, and discusses various topics related to building pathology and maintenance.

To develop the ability to understand building and construction terminology.

To provide a fundamental understanding of the regulations pertaining to the planning and construction of buildings.

To provide a comprehensive understanding of the activities involved in the construction of a building from site works, builders plant, substructure, superstructure, internal construction and finishes, up to and including domestic services.

To provide an introduction to building maintenance and pathology, and an understanding of the basic principles of sustainable design as applied to a residential building.

• Assignment 1 (20%), due early in the semester (equivalent 1500 words).
• Assignment 2 (20%), due mid-semester (equivalent 1500 words).
• End of semester examination (3 hours, 60%).

Students are required to achieve a mark of at least 40% in the exam in order to pass the subject.

• Chudley and Greeno, Building Construction Handbook, Seventh Edition, Butterworth-Heinemann.
• Wikie, Building Your Own Home, New Holland.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.

At the completion of the subject, students should have developed the following skills and capabilities:

• Ability to read and interpret construction drawings.
• Ability to communicate construction solutions by means of sketches and drawings
• Clear and succinct understanding of all the planning, construction and operational aspects of residential construction
• Ability to understand the choice of structural system, and to propose and evaluate alternative systems.