Live Durant Hall brief added to Northumbria University Interior Design Course Module.

Aptus is currently working with a group of Interior Design students from Northumbria University on an advanced live brief based on Durant Hall.

As part of the project, students are developing a detailed 3D and 4D BIM model of the building, responding to a real brief set within an active heritage refurbishment. The work forms part of their academic programme and mirrors the level of coordination and thinking required in practice.

The brief asks students to engage with:

• existing building constraints
• spatial planning within a listed structure
• phasing and sequencing considerations
• the relationship between design, programme and delivery

Students will present their models to the Aptus team in the new year, sharing how they have approached the brief and responded to the challenges of the building.

Alongside the student work, Aptus is supporting the project through structured engagement points, including a kick-off session, interim reviews and a final presentation. This mirrors real project workflows and provides students with direct feedback from industry professionals.

For Aptus, the value lies in creating meaningful engagement rather than one-off talks. Live briefs allow students to test ideas against reality, ask informed questions and gain confidence in how design operates within construction and delivery.

For the students, it offers exposure to a real project, real constraints and real expectations – helping bridge the gap between education and practice.