COVENANT UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT: ARCHITECTURE
COURSE CODE: ARC. 855
COURSE TITLE: ARCH PRACTICE & CONTRACT ADMIN
UNITS: 3
SEMESTER: ALPHA, 2017/2018SESSION
COURSE LECTURER: DR. I.C. EZEMA & DR. E. B ADUWO

COURSE DESCRIPTION
The course is a continuation of Professional Practice & Ethics. The focus is on the architect as manager of
human and material resources. The course examines other necessary skills that the architect must possess
apart from specific professional skills.

COURSE OBJECTIVES
At the end of the course, students are expected to:
 Demonstrate understanding of the management side of architectural practice.
 Develop the right attitude to managing complex human and material resources.
 Understand how to manage the financial resources of the organisation.
Develop a deeper understanding of the architect’s role in building contract administration
LECTURE DELIVERY
Guided Instructions
Interactive Classroom Sessions
Assignment

GRADING SYSTEM
Continuous Assessment: 30%
Examination: 70%

COURSE OUTLINE
Week 1 Types of Architectural Practices
(i) Sole Proprietor
(ii) Partnership and its variants
(iii) Limited Liability Companies
(iv) Public Companies
(v) Group Practice
(vi) Consortium Arrangements

Week 2: Management principles

(i) Objectives
(ii) Leadership
(iii) Communication
(iv) Delegation
(v) Motivation
Week 3: General Office Practice
(i) Introduction
(ii) Telephone, Fax, E-mail
(iii) Information Technology
(iv) Letter Writing
(v) Report Writing
(vi) Correspondence & Reports/Filing Methods
(vii) Meetings
(viii) Computer-Aided Design
(ix) Presentation
(x) Reproduction
(xi) Work Programming
Module 4: Financial Matters
Weeks 4 (i) Introduction
(ii) Profit & Loss Account
(iii) Balance Sheet
(iv) Assets & Liabilities
(v) Fee Invoicing
(vi) Annual Accounts/Auditing
(vii) Tax Matters
(viii) Insurance Matters

Module 5: Managing Human Resources

Weeks 5 (i) Employment Matters
(ii) Job Description
(iii) Hours of Work
(iv) Overtime etc.
(v) Professional Activities
(vi) General Employment Conditions

Module 6: Miscellaneous Topics

Weeks 6 (i) Design Management
(ii) Project Management
(iii) Competitions
(iv) Marketing of Architectural Services
Module 7: Building Contract Administration
Week 7 Definition of Contract
Building Contracts and Procedures
Stakeholders in a building contract
Types and Forms of Building Contracts
NIA Standard Form of Building Contract

Week 8 and 9 Clause by Clause consideration of NIA form of contract

Week 10 Site Reports and Records

Site Inspections and Site Meetings
 Week 11 Architects Instructions
Architects Certificates

Week 12 Contract Completion Activities

Practical Completion
Handling of Defects
Final Accounts
Arbitration

Week 13 Revision

RECOMMENDED TEXTS
Chappell, D & Willis, A (2000), The Architect in Practice, 8th Edition, Oxford. Blackwell Science
Ltd.
Green, R. (Latest Edition) The Architects Guide To Running a Job. London: The Architectural
Press
Thompson, A. (2005) Architectural Design Procedures 2nd Edition Oxford: The Architectural
Press.
RIBA Publication,The Architects and His Office
All Recommended Texts for ARC822