Course content

The course will elaborate on theories of Urban Facility Management (Urban FM) relevant for existing neighborhood area transformation. The main focus of the course will be to approach and assess various theoretical approaches to the value base of Urban FM. First Urban FM will be placed in the critical context of development with focus on understanding of smart and sustainable development from the perspective of approaching urban ecosystem as one where economic success creates societal improvements and well-being for people, commercial actors and society. Secondly, the focus will be to view existing neighbourhoods as potential solution drivers of transformative action through spatial, ecological and demographic initiatives being facilitated by Urban FM. From an urban perspective, many neighbourhoods are still lacking sustainable refurbishment of existing buildings, so the huge potential exist in environmental footprint reduction. This is studied from the: i) participations to the population's long-term social needs (life cycle social needs); ii) investments that citizens take a share of the increased market value in order to safeguard their investment needs (value orientation); iii) practices that facilitate interaction between communities and business, with the ambition to increase attractiveness for communities and improve competitiveness for business, and so ensure the value creation in a long time perspective (urban ecosystem). Finally, Urban FM model is used to design the co-creation of sustainable neighborhoods, culture and identity values.

Learning outcome

Through active participation and studies, also based on own background and Ph.D thesis subject, articulate and contribute to a diverse and deep understanding of the discourse behind the value-base Urban FM in different cultural and material contexts.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures in seminars with interactive discussions and groupwork. During the course the students will prepare a critical review of selected articles both in writing and for presentation. At the end of the semester an essay is required as the main basis for evaluation.

Specific conditions

Required previous knowledge

The course will be run if at least 3 students with relevant background wish to attend. If you wish to attend, please contact the course coordinator. Students not admitted to the PhD programme in engineering may be approved by the course coordinator. If so, once you have the course coordinator's written approval to sign up, forward it to the PhD coordinator, maren.grimstad@ntnu.no, and she will sign you up.