Architect US (Architecturally Useful Scholarly) Resource
ArchitectUS (Architecturally Useful Scholarly) Resource seeks to develop innovative nationally recognised Open Educational Resources (OERs) for teaching, learning and research in the Built Environment. ArchitectUS also means Architect in Latin!
This is a diverse and innovative primary source digitisation and generic OER initiative featuring modern (20th century) and post-modern (1980s to date) 2d and 3d architectural designs and structural plans/drawings/models of buildings and developments of iconic, award winning and world-wide renown or infamy such as football and Olympic stadia, Fort Dunlop and the Birmingham Bullring.
There is currently a gap in e-content provision of very accurate and high resolution examples of these, suitably licensed and readily accessible, for scholarly re-use and re-purposing utilising open industry standards and platforms. This is frequently due to commercial sensitivities, IPR and protective practices.
This unusual collaboration and extensive partnership seeks to create not just qualitative re-usable and licenced in-perpetuity digital assets, but OER good practice tools to improve 'real world' employability skills and enhance the quality of the student learning and research experience. The OERs will then be embedded into teaching and learning activity design and practice across architecture, landscape design, construction, planning and quantity surveying to ensure project sustainability.
The project is led by CELT (Centre for Enhancement of Learning & Teaching) at Birmingham City University. Partners include the Birmingham Institute of Art & Design School of Architecture (part of Birmingham City University), University of the West of England, Birmingham & Five Counties Architectural Association Trust (RIBA West Midlands), Council of Heads of Built Environment Departments (CHOBE), Tekla Corporation and many leading commercial UK architectural practices.