Diploma in Sustainable Building Technology Okanagan College - Penticton Campus, Canada

The Sustainable Building Technology two-year curriculum provides students with the foundation needed to prepare, inspire, and mobilize the next generation of building technologists. This program covers the principles, concepts, and practices of project design to completion through whole systems thinking and multidisciplinary approaches which collectively enables students to deliver sustainably built environments that enhance human well-being.

The program is organized through five core streams which were developed by the Sustainable Building Technology faculty and through consultation with industry representatives. These allow for specialized education within the field of sustainability and the built environment and include the Sustainability, Building Design, Building Science and Systems, Construction Management, and Service Course streams. Together, these courses provide our graduating students with the ability to pursue careers in the (re)design, management, and execution of existing and new building projects. Specifically, the program learning outcomes include:

1. Communicate a fundamental understanding of construction concepts, practices and regulations for new and existing structures;
2. Measure and assess the sustainability performance of construction projects including embodied and operational carbon, energy savings, and overall human experience;
3. Perform effective communication with clients, contractors, building professionals, and municipal authorities through Integrated Project Delivery practices;
4. Define, describe, and discuss major theories and concepts within the field of building science;
5. Illustrate how to work independently and interdependently as part of multidisciplinary project teams;
6. Apply a whole systems thinking approach to design and construction activities to enable greater project potential; and
7. Effectively realize design intent in executing construction through a proficient understanding of constructability and hands-on construction experience.

Practical learning experiences are incorporated throughout the program through site visits, real project case studies, hands-on building opportunities, and capstone projects. These experiences enrich the program and bridge the gap between the academic courses and the practical skills required by the students upon graduation. During the summer term break between years 1 and 2, the students also have the opportunity to further their practical experience through participating in a paid co-op program.

In addition, the students benefit from a blended learning format where courses are delivered face-to-face and through an online platform. This allows the students to actively participate in courses on the Okanagan College, Penticton Campus, and conveniently from home. Specifically, one day a week is devoted to online classes, three days a week are spent on campus, and the fifth day is set aside as a student group work and study day (with the exception of Term 1).

The College intends to obtain certification with the Canadian Technology Accreditation Criteria (CTAC) for Architectural, Building and Construction Technologist.