In a landmark agreement announced today, The British University in Dubai (BUiD) will become the global academic partner of design and engineering consultancy Atkins as part of its international awareness programme on sustainability in construction.
The selection of a Middle East based institution to support such an important international program is particularly significant, given the rapid increase in construction the region has seen in recent years.
Both the construction and management of buildings are major contributors to carbon emissions and consumption of resources. The scheme aims to highlight methods of introducing key sustainability concepts into every aspect of building, including materials, design and structure.
Under the terms of the joint programme, experts from BUiD and Cardiff University, its UK partner, will advise and consult with Atkins engineers and architects on all areas of sustainability, and feed their findings into international research programmes.
“This partnership between one of the world’s largest design and engineering consultancies and the British University reflects the important contribution that universities and businesses can make to our wider society and communities,” said Dr Bassam Abu-Hijleh, Senior Lecturer and Head of BUiD’s Institute of the Built Environment.
“Aside from the ecological benefits and positive publicity that a sustainable design approach brings, many of industry’s leaders find that sustainability has become an invaluable vehicle for exploring ways to re-invent themselves and reduce costs, manage risks better and drive fundamental internal changes in culture, structure and quality of life,” continued Dr. Bassam.
Sustainability has become an increasingly important feature of modern building architecture and design, with companies positively reacting to climate change issues and consequently including sustainable design policies as part of their corporate social responsibility.
The new programme will make BUiD’s built environment team one of the first group of multidisciplined academic consultants in the world capable of advising on the delivery of large scale holistically, integrated sustainable design solutions for urban and built environments.
BUiD’s staff will travel to several of Atkins offices around the world to deliver the research which will be presented through small discussion groups, information packs, focus groups and online modules.
Atkins is one of the world’s leading design and engineering consultancies and is involved with every aspect of its clients’ projects such as conducting feasibility studies and impact analysis covering technical, logistical, legal, environmental and financial considerations.
“Atkins is proud to offer a wealth of services to our clients which combines cutting edge solutions with tried and tested technologies to design systems, processes, buildings and civil structures. It is here that BUiD’s advanced built environment research will be used to its fullest,” said Tim Askew, Managing Director, Atkins Middle East.
Through its five-sector specific institutes BUiD conducts research and offers a range of full-time and part-time Masters degree programmes in association with leading, research-based UK universities. Atkins is a leading sponsor of both BUiD’s Institute of the Built Environment and of a number of MSc research students.
