Architectural Technology Program (T109)

Program Description

Program Overview

Our three-year Architectural Technology advanced diploma program opens the door to the world of architectural innovation. As an architectural technologist, you'll transform design concepts into technical construction documents, creating practical and sustainable solutions. We'll prepare you to enter the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry as you master the skills needed to perform technical tasks and collaborate with professionals and tradespeople. From conceptualization to construction management, you'll be a key player in shaping the built environment.

Full Description

As our natural and built environments change, we need good design and technical solutions to better our world. In our three-year Architectural Technology advanced diploma program, you'll gain practical skills in our interactive studios while using up-to-date equipment and software. We'll give you the tools you need to work on projects ranging from new construction to alterations and renovations in the residential, commercial, industrial, and high-rise sectors of the Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry.

This exciting program prepares you to apply the current practices of the AEC industry, including:

  • building design
  • environmentally conscious and sustainable design
  • materials, methods, and components
  • sustainability
  • building codes and regulations
  • building science
  • practice management
  • technical writing
  • specifications
  • cost planning
  • digital project delivery
  • digital technologies
  • computational design

Not only will you develop a solid knowledge base and technical understanding of how buildings are designed and made, you'll also learn about the digital tools, platforms, and processes used in the industry, like Computer-Aided Drafting (CAD), Digital Project Delivery (DPD), Building Information Modelling (BIM), and 3D Visualization and Digital Modelling.

With your project-specific Studio courses, where you apply all your knowledge and skills to a large-scale project, you'll practice one of the top skills industry leaders look for: collaboration. In Studios, you'll work in teams within a simulated office environment to complete projects involving proposals, designs, and construction documents for both new and existing facilities.

Note: If you enrol in the program in January, you must complete semester 2 in the summer (May to August) of the same year to continue into semester 3 in the fall.

Your Field Education Options

Upon completion of 4th semester, a Co-operative (co-op) Work Placement experience component in the Architectural Technology program is available for a selected number of students. The intake for this co-op program is limited, and all applicants must meet program criteria, will participate in a competitive process and final approval by the School of Architectural Studies academic department.

Those who enter the program will complete semester 5 from May to August, and co-op placement will take place from September to December. The sixth and final semester will be offered through a blend of in-class and online studies, allowing students to graduate in April of their final year of study. It will also allow students the opportunity to continue part-time work while completing their final semester of studies.

More details are available through the department and all interested students can attend a co-op information session in early December.

Career & Postgraduate Study Opportunities

Career Options

Opportunities for architectural technologists vary within the Architectural, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.

As a graduate of this program, your career options may include:

  • architectural technologist
  • architectural assistant
  • technologist within an engineering and/or construction form/company
  • self-employed designer and/or contractor
  • project director/coordinator
  • job captain
  • municipal plans examiner
  • building inspector
  • architectural document production
  • specification writer
  • property developer
  • property manager
  • architectural technologist with builders/developers
  • site supervisor
  • technical representative for building/equipment suppliers

Educational Pathways

Eligible graduates of the School of Architectural Studies (SAS) Architectural Technology program have the opportunity to continue in an architectural-specific academic career and apply course credits completed at George Brown College (GBC) to earn a Master of Architecture Degree with either Boston Architectural College (BAC) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. or The College of Architecture and Design (CoAD) at Lawrence Technological University (LTU) in Southfield, Michigan, USA. Or the Bachelor of Science – Architectural Major (Post Diploma) at Athabasca University in Alberta, Canada. These opportunities are the result of Articulation Agreements signed between GBC and BAC, LTU and Athabasca University.

Eligible candidates also have the opportunity to apply to a 1-semester Exchange program with the Copenhagen School of Design and Technology (KEA) in Denmark during their second and/or third year of study. The Copenhagen School of Design and Technology offers practice-oriented higher education for the business community in the form of both business academics and professional bachelor programs.

Qualified graduates may be eligible for advanced standing in the George Brown College Honours Bachelor of Technology (Construction Management) degree program. Bridge courses may be required for advanced standing. For more information, see the T314 program webpage.

Alumni Impact

We are immensely proud of the contributions of our alumni in Toronto and around the globe.

From Michelin-starred restaurants to major construction, entertainment, community and financial organizations, our graduates are truly making an impact across a range of industries.

Latest Alumni Stories

"I am thankful that George Brown College provided portfolio classes. Having a portfolio is something that a lot of industries stress over and I think this class has helped me a lot in preparation for the interviews I had to go through before graduating. I got my first job right after graduation working as an Architectural Technologist on the Design Team at Q4 Architects Inc. I had considered going into university instead of college but what interested me more is being able to have the hands-on application that is given to you in college."

Kimberlyn Lei
Ontario College Advanced Diploma

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