Building technology entails technology based procedures to plan, design, refurbish and construct physical facilities such as; houses, buildings and other architectural structures. It is a sub-field of architecture and civil engineering, although it sometimes viewed as an independent field. In this article, we will examine the building course, requirements, colleges and more

Building technology course

As a technical course, building course aims to equip students with the skills they need to construct, deconstruct, reconstruct, renovate, alter, demolish, repair or maintain building and construction projects of varying magnitudes. It is an important field ensuring greater precision in building foundations and structural integrity.

Offered at post graduate, degree, diploma, certificate and artisan levels, building courses deal with various aspects necessary to bring architectural ideas and concepts to life. The programs equip learners with skills required to plan, design, build and manage different building components. If you’re passionate about construction, you’ll find building construction exciting.

Building and construction are closely related field with a notable difference. While the two fields help actualize architectural and structural plans, the difference between building and construction relate to the kind of projects performed. Construction is broad and may constitute any project such as buildings, roads, bridges, dams, etc. Conversely, building denote construction of house related projects such as; houses, business parks, hotels, schools, and more.

The following are some of the building related courses offered in colleges and universities in Kenya.

1. Artisan in building tech
2. Artisan in building construction technology
3. Craft in building and civil engineering
4. Craft in building construction
5. Certificate in building and construction technology
6. Certificate in building construction technology
7. Certificate in building
8. Diploma in building and civil engineering
9. Diploma in building technician
10. Diploma in building tech’
11. Diploma in building
12. Diploma in building & construction
13. Diploma in building construction
14. Diploma in building construction technology
15. Diploma in building engineering technology
16. Bachelor of technology education (building construction)
17. Bachelor of technology education
18. Bachelor of technical education (building construction option)
19. Bachelor of education in technology (building & civil technology)
20. Bachelor of technology in building construction
21. Bachelor of technology in construction and property management
22. Bachelor of construction management

Entry requirements

Admission requirements for construction related courses depend with the course you want to study. For fresh KCSE graduates, the following are the minimum requirements.

1. Artisan courses: KCSE mean grade D- (minus) and below
2. Craft- certificate: KCSE D (plain) and above
3. Diploma: KCSE C- (minus) and above
4. Degree: KCSE C+ (plus) and above, with passes in respective cluster subjects

Colleges and universities offering building courses in Kenya

Building construction related programs are offered in many technical colleges and a few universities. The following colleges and universities offer the course.

1. Nuu technical and vocational college
2. Rukira vocational training centre
3. Ndia technical and vocational college
4. Sot technical training institute
5. Tindiret technical and vocational college
6. Kasarani technical and vocational college
7. Tharaka technical and vocational college
8. Kabete national polytechnic
9. Karumo technical training institute
10. Katito youth polytechnic
11. Wanga technical and vocational college
12. Mabera technical and vocational college
13. Meru university of science and technology
14. Technical university of Kenya
15. Technical university of Mombasa
16. University of Nairobi
17. Jomo Kenyatta university of agriculture and technology

Building technology jobs in Kenya

Many businesses and organizations have active departments dealing with building services. Thus, depending with the qualification you have, building and construction jobs in Kenya can be found in many areas. For instance, if you have a diploma in building tech’, the following job opportunities are available to you.

1. Building control surveyor
2. Building services technician
3. Building surveying technician
4. Construction management technician
5. Quantity surveying assistant
6. Architectural draughtsman
7. Technical tutor in building technology
8. Logistics and distribution technician
9. Site foreman
10. Clerk of works
11. Building technology entrepreneur

Final word

Building and construction technology is a crucial field in the establishment of buildings and other construction projects.  It is a sub-field of architecture and civil engineering, although it sometimes viewed as an independent field. Building & construction programs equip students with the skills they need to build strong projects. If you are passionate about architecture and allied field, a career in building construction would be nice. The field offers some of the best career opportunities.