School of Built Environment

The School of Built Environment is a global leader in teaching and research for quantity surveying, construction and facilities management, lighting, digital and sustainable built environments.

Overview

The School of Built Environment focuses on human-made environments and their impact on society. We examine innovative ways in which the built environment can improve quality of life and community wellbeing, from rural villages to mega-cities.

The school has an international outlook on teaching, learning, practice and research, particularly in digital built environments. We work closely with industry to ensure our qualifications include latest developments.

The expertise of our people, combined with our local, national and international partnerships, ensures our teaching and research serve the needs of communities, industry and government to improve the built environment.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Massey

We are deeply committed to being a Tiriti-led university, demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand as we uphold te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our nation, and its principles through our practice. We embrace this not just as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.

Te Tiriti o Waitangi ki Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa – The Treaty of Waitangi at Massey

Study with us

Choose from a range of qualifications in construction and the built environment, including our Master of Construction with a shorter 120-credit option for students with relevant experience or qualifications.

Explore by area of interest

Explore a selection of qualifications relating to your interests.

Study construction & the built environment

Get hands-on with commercial experience and practical assignments on the tools. Explore digital tech transforming the industry. Then graduate work-ready.

Four people in high vis inspect a laptop at a construction site Four people in high vis inspect a laptop at a construction site Four people in high vis inspect a laptop at a construction site Four people in high vis inspect a laptop at a construction site

Our people

Our people make us who we are.

Research

Our researchers work closely with government and industry to shape innovative solutions to actual needs in New Zealand society and internationally. The School's three research groups focus on:

  • building performance, services and facilities management
  • productivity in the built environment
  • resilience, innovation and climate change.

Research activities across all three groups are underpinned by our research competencies across:

  • digital built environment
  • zero carbon and energy
  • health, safety and wellbeing.

Research groups

Our research expertise and examples of how we create and share new knowledge.

Building performance, services and facilities management

Research themes include acoustics, housing reconstruction, ventilation and indoor air quality, and universal design to make built environments accessible for people in wheelchairs.

Projects include our lighting research programme, which explores:

  • effects of light and lighting on the natural and built environment
  • enhancing people's sleep-wake cycles
  • next-generation lighting technologies.

Productivity in the built environment

Research themes include digitisation, health and safety, off-site construction, and project management.

Research includes the flagship five-year programme Creating Capacity and Capability for the New Zealand Construction Sector. The aim is to boost:

  • investor confidence in delivery
  • stability of construction companies and resource planning
  • confidence for people seeking training and education to work in construction.

Research funding to address future needs of NZ

Innovation, resilience and climate change

Research themes include low-carbon building design, post-disaster reconstruction, and innovations in the digital built environment such as AR, VR and digital construction.

Our research includes projects with, or funded by, partners such as the:

  • Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE)
  • Earthquake Commission
  • BRANZ.

Consultancy

We often carry out research for partners outside Massey or work with partners on certain topics or as part of long-term relationships. Our consultancy makes the most of expertise from within the school and around the university, offering fresh thinking.

Research partnerships

BRANZ

BRANZ and the School of Built Environment collaborate on research to improve the performance of New Zealand's building system. Areas of interest include:

  • indoor air quality and ventilation
  • heath and safety for construction workers
  • matching infrastructure pipeline planning to industry capability
  • zero carbon buildings.

BRANZ

SiteSafe

SiteSafe provides health and safety advice, auditing and training to the construction industry. SiteSafe and the School of Built Environment collaborate on research and other opportunities to improve health and safety in the industry, and enrich students' skills and knowledge.

SiteSafe

Women in Built Environment

Women in Built Environment (WIBE) is a student-led organisation connecting successful women leaders from industry with our students through networking opportunities. While this group focuses on promoting female working professionals, it is not an exclusive female-only group. WIBE was founded in 2021 by students and is fully supported by the School of Built Environment at Massey University and its industry partners, including GIB and Southbase Construction.  

This year WIBE will be hosting several events including a 6-week Leadership Development programme in the second semester. Thanks to our continued sponsorship from GIB wall boards, who have provided funding for our events and merchandise. A new Scholarship award, sponsored by Southbase Construction, will also be presented at the end of the year in a Prizegiving ceremony following the Leadership Development Program.

Accreditations and rankings

Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS)

Massey's Bachelor of Construction is accredited by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors. This global professional body promotes and enforces international standards in the valuation, management and development of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure.

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New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS)

The quantity surveying specialisations in the Bachelor of Construction and Master of Construction are accredited by the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors for graduate membership.

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Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS)

The Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying major) is accredited by the Pacific Association of Quantity Surveyors (PAQS).

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IESANZ accreditation

Massey's Graduate Certificate in Science and Technology (Lighting) is accredited by Illuminating Engineering Society of Australia and New Zealand (IESANZ). Completing this qualification provides academic requirements for membership.

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QS Ranking - Architecture & Built Environment

Massey architecture and built environment is ranked in the world's top 150 universities by Quacquarelli Symonds (QS).

Conferences and workshops

Built Environment International Research Week 2023 (IRW 2023) is coming up on 26 November to 1 December 2023.

Graduate stories

“My employer encouraged me to further my study in construction. I chose Massey’s Master of Construction as it allowed me to study via distance and block courses while I worked, making for a manageable workload.”
Gareth Arnold

Master of Construction

“My study experience at Massey was a great mixture of enjoyment and challenge. It gave me a broad introduction to the processes and knowledge required to be successful in the construction industry.”
Jade Allen

Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying)

“Studying at Massey allowed me to both work and study full time. I am now much more advanced in my career than those of similar ages who either just studied or just worked.”
Ruan Malan

Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying)

Services

Massey offer services for the public, as well as research or training for staff, students and businesses.

Woman and man in photometric laboratory.

Photometric Laboratory

This state-of-the-art lighting laboratory includes specialist equipment to measure:

  • colour rending and colour temperature
  • dominant wavelength
  • luminosity
  • power, and more.

Professional services to industry

Our academic staff can offer advice and services relevant to construction and the built environment. Examples include:

  • advising the Ministry of Education
  • arbitration
  • drafting or reviewing construction contracts.

Contact Monty Sutrisna

Contact the School of Built Environment

School of Built Environment – Auckland campus

Location

Physical address
Quad A, 3rd floor
Albany campus
Massey University
East Precinct Albany Expressway,
SH17
Albany
Auckland 0632

Use our Auckland campus maps or find us on Google Maps.

Looking for a staff member? Visit our staff directory or use Expertise search.