ʹڲƱ Researchers Recognised
In 2024 ʹڲƱ Built Environment and City Futures Research Centre academics were once again recognised for their achievements and impact on a national and global stage.
In 2024 ʹڲƱ Built Environment and City Futures Research Centre academics were once again recognised for their achievements and impact on a national and global stage.
ʹڲƱ was named as the world-leading research institution in the field of Architecture by The Australian newspaper’s 2025 Research Magazine, as part of their annual review of high performing researchers. The same magazine also named from ʹڲƱ School of Built Environment as the world’s top researcher in the field of Architecture and Buildings.
In 2024, Anita Lawrence Chair in High Performance Architecture, , was also named as the number one researcher in the world in the field of Architecture over his lifetime by .
In addition, seven ʹڲƱ Built Environment and City Futures Research Centre academics were included in the world’s top two percent of cited researchers as computed by Stanford University in 2024 – , , , Scientia Prof. Matt Santamouris, A/Prof. Samad Sepasgozar, and .
was recognised with two international lifetime achievement awards in 2024. Firstly, in July, he was awarded the prestigious 2024 PLEA Lifetime Award for “outstanding achievement in advancing the fields of architecture, urban planning, sustainability and resilience”.
In December, he was announced as the .
was awarded a 2024 NSW Young Tall Poppy Science Award for her research and outreach in urban climatology. Run by the Australian Institute of Policy and Science (AIPS), the Young Tall Poppy Science Awards honour up-and-coming scientists who combine world-class research with a passionate commitment to communicating science.
A/Prof. Nazarian was also named as a Chief Investigator for the new , and selected as a Lead Author for the upcoming IPCC Special Report on Cities and Climate Change.
(along with collaborators Dr. Paolo Stracchi from Sydney University and Prof. Paolo Tombesi from EPFL) was awarded the , for the research project ‘Construction Heritage and the Missing Drawings of the Sydney Opera House’. This award celebrates excellence in conserving and recording heritage, documenting engineering accomplishments, and promoting awareness of engineering heritage. The team also won a in the Education and Interpretation category for the same project.
Dr. Cardellicchio was individually awarded the by the NSW State Library, which will allow him to undertake research exploring the history and technical evolution of plywood construction technology in the Australian post-war era.
At their 30th Annual Conference, was awarded in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the organisation over the years. Prof. Lee has also been named President Elect of the International Real Estate Society and will take over as President in 2026.
At the same event, ʹڲƱ Built Environment PhD student Albert Agbeko Ahiadu was awarded the (PhD colloquium), in recognition of his research and presentation skills.
Scientia Professor and Director of the City Futures Research Centre was elected as a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences for his research on city planning and digital technologies.
Head of School of the Built Environment was awarded an , in recognition of his “long-term significant contribution for the advancement of the profession, through education, architecture and public advocacy.”
Finally, Deputy Head of School was awarded an . Her citation read “Dr. Catherine Evans’s contributions to the ʹڲƱ School of Built Environment, her leadership and contribution to AILA, and her impactful research and teaching make her a prominent figure in the field of landscape architecture. Her work continues to influence the design and planning of sustainable urban environments, bridging the gap between academic research and practical application.”
has been named one of six , and the only artist from outside the United States. As part of the role A/Prof. Murray will lead a creative research project investigating patterns of use across the park’s campgrounds and methods of ‘claiming’ sites.
A/Prof. Murray was also named a in 2024, where she will creatively visualise and document the public’s encounters with new architecture at the Powerhouse, capturing multiple voices and perspectives while highlighting the less visible aspects of architectural space.
is a $2.24 million project funded by the Digital Restart Fund under the Smart Places Acceleration Program, and a collaboration between ʹڲƱ Built Environment, the University of Sydney and Regional NSW along with Parkes Shire Council, Lithgow City Council and Armidale Regional Council. Led by and at ʹڲƱ, the project creates resources and tools to enable equitable digital inclusion for communities across regional NSW.
The project was recognised with two major awards in 2024, winning both the and the Planning Institute of Australia Award for Technology & Digital Innovation.
was the winner of the at the inaugural Deans & Directors of Creative Arts Awards, 2024.
A/Prof. Zeunert’s research explores the dynamics between human activities, anthropogenic impacts, and landscape scale change over time. His work has contributed significantly to the field through his exploration of food, agricultural and landscape systems, acknowledging agriculture’s central role in making and remaking ecologies.
is an innovative Artificial Intelligence system designed to perform GIS tasks and spatial analysis through natural language processing, developed by the with Frontier SI. Utilising state-of-the-art Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative AI, this project has successfully developed a fully operational prototype, showcasing its practical applications for local government and industry.
MapAI won two prizes at the – the Innovation Award (Medium to Large Business), and the Technical Excellence Award.
ճʹڲƱ Women in Construction project received a High Commendation in the Research, Development & Technology category at the Australian Institute of Building (AIB) NSW Professional Excellence in Building Awards in June 2024.
ճWomen in Construction project is supported by a $2.3m grant from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Office for Women, under the Australian Government’s Women’s Leadership and Development Program. Led by Իthe project uses a lifecycle approach to engage high school students, women studying construction at universities, and women working in construction to promote in-depth understanding about the industry's diverse job opportunities, help women establish long-term career goals, and support them to progress their careers and obtain leadership roles.