Dr Abigail Hathway, Lecturer in Architectural Technologies, throws light on how important engineers are in bringing the buildings we inhabit to life and that more young people are needed to take up this vital role.
With buildings contributing over 40% of carbon dioxide emissions in this country it is essential we change the way we design and build. However, buildings are so much more than a shell and an energy meter. We spend on average 90% of our time in buildings; good light, good temperature and good ventilation can all contribute towards us having a good day. Get these wrong and our ability to think and learn can rapidly deteriorate, gets these badly wrong and we can get sick. To get these things right, to achieve the architect’s vision, to create a wonderful space and not screw up the planet in the process takes excellent engineers.
With buildings contributing over 40% of carbon dioxide emissions in this country it is essential we change the way we design and build. However, buildings are so much more than a shell and an energy meter. We spend on average 90% of our time in buildings; good light, good temperature and good ventilation can all contribute towards us having a good day. Get these wrong and our ability to think and learn can rapidly deteriorate, gets these badly wrong and we can get sick. To get these things right, to achieve the architect’s vision, to create a wonderful space and not screw up the planet in the process takes excellent engineers.
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| Yr4 AED trip |
Unfortunately we don’t have enough talented young people wanting to enter this area of engineering (or knowing the route to take to do so), and particularly not females. It isn’t surprising when the role of the building services engineer is so unknown outside the profession. Do you think about how much engineering has gone into making you feel good in a building? It is after-all the engineering you can’t directly see and can merely feel.
The reason I applied for my Lectureship at Sheffield
University was for the chance to deliver the degree programme in Architectural Engineering Design to
engage more young people in this profession. This is one of a growing number of
courses to provide the skills for graduates to engineer low impact buildings,
and the only course in the country to be dual accredited by both the
Institution of Civil Engineers and Mechanical Engineers. The degree programme
spans the traditional disciplines of Structural
Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Architecture in order to educate
students with both hard engineering skills relevant to building performance
alongside a social awareness and an understanding of Architectural design. This
provides an understanding of the underlying physics of a building, enabling our
graduates to help Architects achieve their vision with limited environmental
impact.
Students also learn about Architecture history and theory, studying alongside Architecture students. This is important because it means that when they graduate these students can communicate with Architects to understand their vision, and work alongside the architect to create a beautiful and well-functioning building. Maths and Physics is important for building design, but it isn’t the only component, the ability to communicate and work well in a broad team is also crucial.
Do you think about how much engineering has gone into
making you feel good in a building?
Students also learn about Architecture history and theory, studying alongside Architecture students. This is important because it means that when they graduate these students can communicate with Architects to understand their vision, and work alongside the architect to create a beautiful and well-functioning building. Maths and Physics is important for building design, but it isn’t the only component, the ability to communicate and work well in a broad team is also crucial.
Part of my role is running a one year Masters programme in Architectural Engineering Design. This is a
conversion course allowing students from a variety of backgrounds to gain the
skills in this area. Many of our students come from a Civil Engineering background
who are keen to use their knowledge of maths and physics to create better buildings.
Many of them tell me they wish they had known about this area when they were
seventeen. We also have girls coming from outside of engineering, such as
Architects looking to change career direction to a more technical field. We
have had architects take our MSc who are now working out in industry carrying
out complex energy modelling of buildings, then liaising with clients and
architectures about achieving their visions for the building in a low impact
way.
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| Dr Abigail Hathway |
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