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The University of York is to establish a new Department of Architecture and the Built Environment, with a focus on sustainable and societally-informed design, and now seeks an inspirational leader.<\/h3>\nThe University of York is to establish a new Department of Architecture and the Built Environment, with a focus on sustainable and societally-informed design, and now seeks an inspirational leader.<\/h3>\n<\/p>\n
University of York writes:<\/p>\n
The University of York is to establish a new Department of Architecture and the Built Environment – with a focus on sustainable and societally-informed design…<\/p>\n
Offering BA and MA programmes, the new department will open in September 2025 and will eventually see up to 500 students enrolled.<\/p>\n
The aim is for all courses to be eventually validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).<\/p>\n
The new department will champion sustainable, solutions-based and environmentally responsible design that supports York\u2019s commitment to being a University for public good.<\/p>\n
The University is currently recruiting its first key role for the new department – the founding Professor and Head of Department.<\/p>\n
Vice-Chancellor Professor Charlie Jeffery, said: \u201cYork is well-positioned to become a leader in societally-informed design, so this is a really bold and exciting new chapter for the University.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur founding professor will help shape and nurture an interdisciplinary culture in the\u00a0 department, building on our research strengths in community, computation, environment and geography, heritage and social policy.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to broaden access into the professional community, championing diversity and inclusion in both our student body and our staff, as we train the next generation of architects.\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Ambrose Field, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, which will host the new department, added: \u201cThis new department will offer new and exciting opportunities to re-think the typical architecture student experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the chance to build an approach that is culturally-informed, inclusive, creative and sustainable from the outset. We will place an emphasis on teamwork and real-world engagement in how we teach, together with establishing a clear research agenda in responsible design\u201d.<\/p>\n
The new department will be located on the University\u2019s campus. It will act as a hub for collaboration across the wider University for teaching and research in architectural design and related disciplines.<\/p>\n
The transformational initiative will be guided by an external advisory board and early engagement with industry leaders.<\/p>\n
Ken Shuttleworth, Founder of Make Architects, welcomed the announcement, adding: \u201cIt is great news that another fantastic University is expanding to teach architecture.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is so much more that can be done to bring the topic to people in an inclusive manner. We have to keep talking, innovating, collaborating and inspiring.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo encourage more people to engage and participate in their built environment. We see this spirit of collective participation as fundamental to architectural education.\u201d<\/p>\n