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Study building design

The future of building is in sustainable optimisation

The industry requires a new type of professional – an expert with specialised skills in developing operationally efficient solutions without compromising occupant comfort.

What is building design?

Building designers use specialised skills to optimise new and existing buildings for the best design and delivery of services. A high-performance building is aesthetically and environmentally designed to maintain maximum indoor comfort for occupants, while achieving high operational efficiencies and minimising environmental impact.

At Sydney, you will have access to the latest equipment and facilities, such as our indoor environmental quality laboratory, where you can research the interaction of key factors such as temperature, humidity, air movement, ventilation rates, air quality, daylight, electric lighting, sound and acoustics. 

All core units are taught in block-mode intensives over several full days. Part-time study is available for Australian citizens and permanent residents.

The University is proud to work alongside peak industry bodies that share a common goal in delivering quality education in the areas of improved building performance and efficiency. Students who have completed the Operations and Facilities Management – Advanced program with the Property Council of Australia are eligible for six credit points towards the diploma or master’s degree in High Performance Buildings.

This course is open to graduates from a
 range of disciplines including the Bachelor of Architecture and Environments as well as science, engineering, architecture, building and planning.

This unique specialisation allows you to pursue a career in a wide range of areas, including the design and creation of building services requiring an architectural engineering solution, architectural practice, business, sustainable design, commercial development, property management and more.

Building design courses

Our Master of Architectural Science (High-Performance Buildings) is your pathway to an exciting and rewarding career in the built environment field. By bringing together the myriad streams of environmental performance, building economics and indoor environmental quality, this program produces built environment professionals who have a strategic grasp of the challenges of building design, service provision and operations.

Related courses

At the master’s level, this degree will take 1.5 years full time to complete (72 credit points). The program can also be taken at the level of:

Our inspiring students

Terrence Wong

Master of Architectural Science (High-Performance Buildings)
Graduate Engineer, Renzo Tonin & Associates

"Having a degree in the Masters of Architectural Science (High-Performance Buildings) has allowed me to become an acoustic consultant in one of the leading acoustic consulting firms in Australia.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to work on some of the largest building and infrastructure projects happening in NSW. These projects include Sydney Metro Northwest, Sydney Metro City and Southwest, WestConnex, Northern Beaches Hospital, Australian Technology Park and many more. Being part of these projects has allowed me to work alongside many multidisciplinary construction and design firms to provide best practice solutions.”