Gulf construction puts environmental design to forefront

Globally, environmental design is seen as a critically-important issue in the construction sector, both to minimize the environmental impact of building work and to ensure that sustainability is considered in the planning and design of new buildings.

Dr. Ahmad Okeil, admissions tutor for the course, commented, "The built environment is a major contributor to carbon emissions and the depletion of material resources today, so by teaching students an alternative approach to architectural and engineering solutions we are looking to support a more efficient approach in the future."

On a local level, this will be the first course of its kind to be designed specifically for the Gulf region, taking into account the impact of high temperatures on construction and the need to reduce dependence on the high level of power consumption required for air conditioning. In recent years, major projects like the Burj Dubai Tower in Dubai and the Pearl in Qatar have all incorporated environmental design considerations into their development processes.

The fully accredited post-graduate degree is offered in partnership with the prestigious University of Cardiff, whose course in Environmental Design has received the highest research rating in the UK. Designed for junior to mid-career professionals, executives at the University anticipate a strong response from professionals in the government, engineering and architectural practice sectors.

"By offering a pioneering course in this field, we will be enabling BUiD students to play a major role in helping to shape construction and development in the region. Environmental considerations are becoming increasingly important in architecture and building services design, and it's important that there are educational resources available within the region to support this trend," said Dr. Gisela Loehlein, course leader at BUiD.

Requirements of entry to the course, which can be studied on a full- or part-time basis, include a BA (Hons) degree or a Grade Point Average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. It is designed to support research-based education, allowing students to study modules on climate and comfort, passive design, skins and spaces and efficient building services, and to produce a year-end dissertation which will increase the body of knowledge on building design in the region.

The new course starts on 24 September and students may apply now. Executives at BUiD anticipate strong demand from across the region.

A number of scholarships are still available with a value of up to 50 percent of tuition fees. The University also is offering special scholarships to UAE nationals who hold degrees from Zayed University, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) and UAE University.