Module Aims:

This course provides a foundation and understanding of the management of built assets, including infrastructure. It aims to give an overview of the building lifecycle, specifically highlighting the post occupancy phase, and covering maintenance, renewal, refurbishment and disposal.

It links asset management with the existing and emerging information systems available to the building industry.

It also provides a foundation in the strategic practice of organisations in corporate decision-making around built assets, including analysis of risk and scenario planning.

Objectives: 

The module provides the student with core knowledge in the key areas of Built Asset Management, from organisation, measurement and change management, to sustainability. Students will be provided with:

Awareness and understanding of the practice of Built Asset Management
	An understanding of building life cycle, highlighting the post-occupancy phase and its relationship to building performance
	Background knowledge in the practice of Asset Life Cycle Management, relating to maintenance, renewal and building refurbishment, with consideration of adaptability and retrofitting
	Understanding of the importance and principles of sustainable practice in Asset Management
	A foundation in the strategic practice of organisations in corporate decision-making around built assets, including analysis of risk and scenario planning
Learning Outcomes: 

Understand the practice and context of Built Asset Management and its relationship to Facilities Management
	Be aware of the principles, methodology and tools used in measuring building performance and Post- Occupancy Evaluation
	Have knowledge of the principles and practice of building maintenance, refurbishment and retrofitting
	Understand the principles and context of feedback loops for continual improvement in the building lifecycle
Module Content:

During the course, we will introduce you to sources of information, basic definitions, principles and context will be given. We will explore the concept of the building life cycle understanding that a built asset should ideally not form part of linear life cycle of construct, occupy and demolish, but be part of a circular life cycle where end of one serviceable life forms a platform for some form of future use. We will explore methods by which an asset’s performance may be optimised within its lifetime and how a better understanding of building performance may also be used to inform future projects.

We will build upon knowledge gained within the sustainability, technology and building services courses to better understand how building performance may be optimised such that user comfort is enhanced in domestic and work contexts. Building energy management systems, user needs evaluation, incorporation of daylight, levels of user activity and accessibility are amongst areas which will be considered and discussed. Building assets frequently under perform when compared to the ‘as-designed’ concept, and this performance gap is recognised in the ‘as-built’ and ‘as-used’ stages and this challenge is one built environment professionals and government are currently looking to address. The value of post occupancy evaluation (POE) will be considered, alongside the use of occupant satisfaction information, condition and performance data, performance measuring and monitoring and the application of key performance indicators (KPIs).

Resource constraints, carbon management and reduction are common threads that will be considered alongside means of asset lifecycle management (ALM). Building accreditation schemes, such as: LEED, BREEAM and the more recent Well Building Standard, will be evaluated in terms of their benefits for the building owner and occupier. Careful planning in terms of waste and energy management may lead to higher ratings within these respective rating systems and may contribute to positively addressing issues of resource constraints and climate change. We will also look at how the layout of the workplace, types of office space, modes of working, access to natural light, inclusion of plants etc. can impact on people’s enjoyment of their surroundings and contribute to productivity, reduced churn rates as well as health and well-being.

Once construction is complete buildings require maintenance and with large estates, such as hospitals or universities, this can include dealing with buildings of varying ages and complexity. Facilities management (FM) is therefore an important aspect of the ongoing operational needs and we will look at different aspects of hard and soft FM, alongside how these may be procured and managed, the place of backlog maintenance and operational modelling, meeting the necessary regulatory requirements and how operational carbon can be reduced if an estate is sustainably managed. New development, expansion and/or redevelopment requires a business case and depending on scale, development planning, master planning and portfolio management. We will also consider the part varying stakeholders play and the role of stakeholder and community engagement.

Building Information Modelling (BIM) has an increasingly important place within the building life cycle and we will consider the principles of coordinated information/knowledge management in design. BIM is an evolving area and therefore its history of use, the role of government and debates about design liability and the barriers to adoption and integration will also form topics of learning and discussion. BIM provides interesting challenges in terms of supply chain management and its benefits will be considered through the examination of case studies.

Many of our built assets last of hundreds of years but as needs change the building may become obsolescent and so there is a need for refurbishment and/or retrofitting. We will address the challenges of building for adaptability and the use of Open Buildings and loose-fit systems. Building and managing assets involves risk and therefore risk identification, risk assessment and control will all be considered; this should complement your study of risk elsewhere in the programme.