COLLEGE OF BUILT ENVIRONMENTS

BE/ARCH/CM/LA/RE/UDP/PHD

The UW College of Built Environments is one of the few institutions where architecture, construction management, urban design and planning, landscape architecture, and real estate come together. Our mission is to teach students to be skilled practitioners, strong collaborators, who are conscious of the natural environment and cultures they work for. As researchers, we aim to understand the place and context that the built environments has in our world, address big questions, and come up with solutions that preserve our world, while also moving forward in a way that is equitable for everyone. As our work spans all areas of health, business, technology, design, sustainability, and policy, we work to act as mobilizers to the community and as experts in our professions.

Built Environments Innovation

iBE is a consortium of labs, research centers, and service learning programs that pursue innovative solutions to challenges facing communities, cities, and regions. The institute is the first point of contact for engagement by groups and agencies seeking assistance in addressing real world issues. Through the Institute, we are able to leverage the collective capacity of the College and University to bring together all areas of our expertise to solve problems and generate new ideas to serve the public good.

Commitment To Community

Leadership

Renee Cheng: Dean

Department Chairs & Directors:

Giovanni Migliaccio: Construction Management

Brian McLaren: Architecture

Christopher Campbell: Urban Design & Planning

Ken Yocom: Landscape Architecture

Steve Bourassa: Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies

Interdisciplinary Perspective

We bring together five interconnected disciplines to act as one consortium of experts committed to creative and innovative problem solving. We achieve our success through teaching and research collaborations, knowledge sharing and taking on real-world projects. Examples of our interdisciplinary practice include:

McKinley Futures Studio

Livable City Year Program

Runstad Center Affiliate Fellows Program

Integrated Design Lab

Design/Build Studios

Storefront Studio

Beyond skills in planning, design, building, and place making, it is critical that our students recognize their profession has a responsibility to provide people with healthy and safe places to live their lives. CBE students participate in service learning projects at all levels of their education. Some of our annual projects include:

17 municipalities have benefited from the Storefront Studiostudents work with small business districts to re-imagine their identity and revitalize underused spaces.

6 regions included in our Health Impact Assessment Course - studying the impact of environment and infrastructure in local communities.

20 years of Neighborhood Design/Build Studios - Multiple courses take on the planning and construction.

A.R.C. FELLOWSHIP

Through the ARC initiative, built environment firms with a presence in the Seattle area partner with College of Built Environments (CBE) graduate students and faculty for research that is targeted at the specific needs of the firms. Firms work with faculty to shape research priorities for the consortium based on their needs and the latest research in our fields. ARC then matches graduate student fellows with firms for multi-quarter applied research projects that directly relate to the firms’ current work. Faculty mentors and supervisors at firms work with the fellows, contributing to their academic and professional development in the program and ensuring that the projects fit with longer term research goals. Learn more about this unique program here.