Ian Shepherd

Ian has been involved with architectural practice on a professional level since qualifying in 1990. He was a one of the founding partners in Birmingham based D5 Architects LLP where he remained as a consultant from 2013 to 2017 when he became a full time academic at BCU. In addition to his commitment to architecture and the built environment through the practice, he is particularly interested in the symbiosis between education and practice and how best to equip students with the skills necessary to transfer the quality of design thinking and theoretical exploration into practice.

Through his practice background and industry connections he is also interested in developing in our graduates an understanding of the business of architecture, principally the processes and skills required to successfully manage an architectural practice and architectural projects.

He am also interested in the integration of technology and technical resolution, including environmental design, as part of the design process

Ian is the programme leader for the RIBA Part 3 course (PG Dip in Architectural Practice) as well as leading on several modules at both undergraduate and master’s levels.

He is also co-lead for the Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship (PGDip Architectural Practice/ EPA).

In addition to his BCU role Ian is a Part 3 Professional Examiner for various other Universities and an External Examiner at the University of Lincoln. This also includes several external roles as an End Point Assessment (EPA) Independent Assessor for the Level 7 Architecture Apprenticeship Programme.

Other roles:

• Association for Professional Studies in Architecture (APSA) – Committee Member
• Case Officer for student academic and non-academic misconduct and appeals (BCU)
• ARB (Architects Registration Board) – Independent Examiner for the Part 1 and Part 2 ‘Prescribed Examination’
• RIBA course validation panel member
• Co-opted secondary school governor