About Us

UNSW Built Environment (BE) is focused on research and education relevant to the design, delivery and management of the 21st century city and the elements within it. These include architecture, landscape, construction management, technology, property, planning, and urban design.  The unprecedented level of urban growth and associated urban issues of critical significance provides the global context and distinctive knowledge framework at BE.

A distinguishing feature of our student experiences comes from our capability to focus on design, research, teaching and learning from perspectives that place emphasis on the stewardship of the public domain and the interdisciplinary dimensions from which it is formed. The strategic direction of BE is based on a Faculty commitment to deliver high impact research and graduates equipped with the knowledge and practical skills required to realise sustainable urban environments of enduring cultural value.

The Faculty offers a comprehensive range of degree programs that is distinctive within Australia and the South Pacific Region. Our programs are led by a dynamic community of scholars, many of whom are recognised as being at the forefront of their discipline. Together, the broad range of programs provides unique research, teaching and learning opportunities tailored to undergraduate, postgraduate and post professional or research student cohorts in an environment which enables intellectual risk, choice and critical rigour to flourish.

Our programs are reviewed regularly in order to accommodate changing industry needs. Through such change and reprioritisation, we continue to build on our history and develop a life-long learning model that will benefit individuals, business, government and the community sector. (www.unsw.edu.au/about/pad/strategicintent.html).

The design studio is central to the curriculum of many of our degree programs. Our academics collaborate with leading design professionals to create learning experiences around issues of local and international relevance. Student work is often selected for public presentation and exhibition, enhancing the connection of our teaching and learning programs with real world experiences. These experiences contribute to the highly developed professional skills of our graduates, and help to foster future career opportunities.

International relations are of great importance to us and we provide opportunity for international engagement in our teaching, learning and research through established collaborative relationships with leading universities around the world. Our students often choose to undertake part of their degree program in another country through our established network of international relationships. Our worldwide alumni play an important role, providing points of contact for our graduates. We continue to foster our relationships with them through regular alumni events both at home and abroad.

Our flagship event, the Utzon Lecture Series, has featured many renowned national and international speakers, providing the BE community the opportunity to exchange ideas about issues of critical significance in the built environment in a public forum.

I welcome and invite you to explore this website to find out more about our learning, teaching, research and events at UNSW BE.

Professor Alec Tzannes
Dean
Faculty of Built Environment