A Live Currency: introducing The SSoA Live Projects Handbook.

At Sheffield School of Architecture, with fifteen years of Live Projects, we are reflecting upon the value that Live Projects bring to our students' learning, skills and employability. The Live Projects Handbook is central to this, demonstrating to our students the relevance of Live Projects in contemporary education and practice. This paper describes the Live Projects Handbook, highlighting its key role communicating Live Projects as both complement to and critique of the design studio. Our students gain immediate learning from Live Projects, while using them as critical tools to reflect upon architectural education and practice. The Live Projects Handbook is an important addition to the support we offer our students in this reflective and critical process. Featuring past projects and contributions from clients and students, the Live Projects Handbook makes explicit how Live Projects can problematise and expand upon the roles of the design studio, the architecture student and the architect.