Welsh School of Architecture’s first MDA students join this year’s DPP cohort for an intensive and dynamic four-day course.

Last week saw this year’s first short course for the Master of Design Administration and the Diploma Professional Practice (Part 3), exploring topics key to both programmes, with spirited input by the students and interactive and insightful presentations by the invited experts.

The week included a day long feasibility study workshop with shorter workshops and seminars on a range of current topics related to development control, practice management and professional services.

It was run by Programme Leader, Professor Sarah Lupton, together with the School’s external expert consultants, Manos Stellakis (Lupton Stellakis) and Rob Firth (ActionCOACH Global), and tutors Katherine Jones (Katherine MG Jones: Artist and Architect), Chloe Sheward (Purcell), Bianca Dumea (GFA) and Oliver Steels (Errand).

Other contributors gave a range of seminars on a variety of topics including:

• Towards energy performance contracts with Professor Ian Knight (WSA),
• Acoustics regulations with Mike Hewett (AECOM),
• Fire regulations with Tim Roberts and Gareth Richards (ARUP Fire),
• Impact of VAT on development with Simon Merry (Berthold Bauer VAT Property Consultants),
• NPPF – housing delivery and viability with Tony Mulhall (RICS),
• Social and environmental value in council-led development with Helen Evans (LB Newham/Public Practice),
• Design review panels with Jonathan Braddick (Design Review Panel),
• Employment law with Mared Griffiths (Eversheds),
• Corporate social responsibility with Nick Hodges (Fielden Clegg Bradley Studios),
• Building design teams with Angela Dapper (Grimshaw),
• Liability, risk and insurance with Madeleine Jordan (Geldards LLP) and
• Copyright with Gosia Evans (Geldards LLP).

Professor Lupton said:

“It was exciting to welcome the new MDA and DPP students to the School. Running the shared modules allowed for a wide mix of backgrounds and experience, enabling lively debate and a cross fertilisation of ideas.”

For all enquiries on the programmes please contact Professor Sarah Lupton at Lupton@cardiff.ac.uk.