(BAS) Conservation & Sustainability
The Bachelor of Architectural Studies (Conservation & Sustainability) program offers a specialization unique among all undergraduate architecture programs in Canada. Since 2009, this stream has focused on the conservation of historic architecture, paired with a study in the principles of sustainable design.
A growing proportion of architectural work – particularly in sustainable design – involves renovations with sustainability upgrades, or the adaptive reuse of existing buildings. Following the Understanding, Planning, and Intervening method set out in the Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places, students in this program learn to study and assess existing architecture so that they can formulate creative and compatible design solutions for historic built fabrics. Conservation studio projects are founded on strong historical and social understanding, along with deep knowledge of conservation theories.
Benefiting from collaborative course delivery between the School of Architecture and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, students in the BAS Conservation and Sustainability program receive in-depth technical education on integrated building systems, architectural materials and assemblies, green building techniques, and hands-on practice with heritage documentation. Through the study of conservation theory, ethics, and best practices, students also learn to research and analyze existing architecture.
The grid below displays the suggested course sequence for (BAS) Urbanism students for the 2024-25 year. Please note that Core and Free Electives may be taken in any order. To see the complete grid for your own calendar year, click on appropriate link at the bottom of this grid.
First Year
(for students who entered the Conservation & Sustainability program in the 2024/25 year)
Fall
- ARCS 1005 Drawing
- ARTH 1200 History & Theory of Architecture: Prehistory to 1500
- ARCH 1000 Introduction to Architecture
- ARCN 2106 Introduction to Multimedia
- ARCC 3502 Introduction to Architectural Conservation
Winter
- ARCS 1105 Studio 1 (1.0 credit)
- ARTH 1201 History & Theory of Architecture: 1500 to Present
- ARCN 2105 Introduction to Computer Modeling
- ARCC 1202 History of Structures
Second Year
(for students who entered the Conservation & Sustainability program in the 2023/24 year)
Fall
- ENVE 1001 Architecture and the Environment
- ARCH 2300 Introduction to Modern Architecture
- ARCC 2202 Architectural Technology 1
- ARCN 4100 Historic Site Recording & Assessment
- FREE ELECTIVE
Winter
- CDNS 2400 Heritage Places & Practices in Canada
- ARCS 2302 Conservation Studio (1.0 credit)
- CIVE 2005 Architectural Technology 2
- FREE ELECTIVE
Third Year
(for students who entered the Conservation & Sustainability program in the 2022/23 year)
Fall
- ARCS 3301 Conservation Studio 2 (1.0 credit)
- ARCC 2203 Architectural Technology 3
- CIVE 2200 Mechanics of Solids 1
- ARCH 4200 Architectural Conservation Philosophy & Ethics
- COOP 1000 Co-op Preparation (0.0 credit)
Winter
- ARCS 3302 Conservation Studio 3 (1.0 credit)
- ARCC 3202 Architectural Technology 4
- ARCN 4200 Building Pathology & Rehabilitation
- FREE ELECTIVE
Fourth Year
(for students who entered the Conservation & Sustainability program in the 2021/22 year)
Fall
- ARCS 4301 Conservation Studio 4 (1.5 credit)
- ENVE 4105 Green Building Design
- FREE ELECTIVE
Winter
- ARCS 4302 Conservation in Practice 4 (1.0 credit) or 2x CORE ELECTIVES
- ARCC 4207 Advanced Building Assessment
- ARCH 4002 Canadian Architecture
- ARCC 4500 Design Economics
Course requirements have changed over time. For a complete layout of course sequencing for your entry year, please choose the appropriate link below. For course grids for students who entered the BAS prior to 2020, please email architectureundergrad@carleton.ca.
Course Requirements
First Year Students
Certain courses include TUTORIALS – in which you must also register when registering for the course. Please be aware that the system may not allow you to register in the LECTURE component of the course without also registering in an associated TUTORIAL (or vice versa).
When registering for the lecture component of your fall term Art History course (ARTH 1200 — CRN 30260), you must also choose a Tutorial from CRN 30291 to CRN 30300. When registering for the lecture component of Architecture ARCN 2106 (CRN 30233), you must also choose a Tutorial from CRN 30234 to CRN 30239.
When registering for the lecture component of your winter-term in Art History course (ARTH 1201 – CRN 10277), you must also choose a Tutorial from CRN 10278 to CRN 10287.
Please consult the 2022 Course Calendar below for the latest list of approved Conservation & Sustainability Core Electives.
2021 Students and Earlier
ARCU 4600 Post-WWII Urbanism is no longer required as a core course. Students who entered the program in 2017 for whom this course is a requirement should take a Core Elective in its place.