20School of the Built Environment School of the Built Environment In support of the School's philosophy of bringing professionals together, building information modelling is being generated to focus design and construction decisions; enabling architecture, engineering and construction to engage in an holistic approach to developing and managing the built environment. Research Facilities The School's Research Hub is based on floor 2 of the Wynne Jones Building. It comprises the offices of the School's Professors, The Sustainable Cities Research Institute, Research Students' Room, Graduate Tutors' Office, The Research Administration, and an open access space for postgraduate students. The Virtual Environment Suite is located in Ellison Building, and is open to all students. A dedicated staff of academics and technical advisers are available to assist research projects. Funding PhDs in the School are currently supported by the following organisations: . Arts and Humanities Research Council . Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council . Technology Strategy Board . Gentoo Group . North Tyneside Metropolitan Borough Council . Northumberland National Park Authority . Ryder Architecture and overseas governments Many areas of research activity employ the latest electronic media. Design and visualisation in particular have been greatly enhanced by computer- aided design and virtual reality techniques.

www. northumbria. ac. uk21 Research Assessment Exercise The School has participated in each submission of the Research Assessment Exercise since 1992, in the category of Built Environment, and most recently in Architecture and the Built Environment. In 2008, 90% of the School's output was judged to be world- leading, internationally excellent or internationally recognised. Primary Research Areas Architecture and Urban Design In architecture, research has concentrated on design methodology and quality assessment. The work originated with the analysis of methodologies used in multi- award- winning buildings. This developed into the concept of evaluating completed buildings as products and feeding back the data into the design process. One outcome has been the notion that to maintain user stimulation, the interior environment should be varied throughout the day. The urban design work has been based on the analysis of cities as combinations of space and buildings. Innovative electronic modelling is now enabling public spaces to be designed holistically. In addition to geometric parameters, qualities such as light, sound, temperature, wind and pedestrian movement can be built into design tools. The most recent investigations have introduced the possibilities of establishing a conceptual framework for placemaking. Building and Renewable Energy Systems This work takes place through three complementary topics. The modelling of renewable energy microgrids investigates embedded low carbon and renewable energy generation systems in relation to building energy demand patterns. The social impact and barriers to renewable energy technologies are also explored. Geothermal heat pump research is focused on the optimum correlation between different methods of ground coupling, and the demands of heating and cooling. Adaptive building energy control systems are aimed at regulating space heating and supplementing it with passive solar devices. Conservation and Heritage Liaising with the Council of Europe, audits of legislation, policy and institutional systems have been carried out in a number of countries. This has led to conservation policy, cultural heritage legislation and the development of integrated conservation systems linking heritage protection with spatial, regional and urban strategies, institutional and public authority reform. The introduction of sustainable concepts for the use of heritage for social and economic development has been an important innovation. Another aspect has been the analysis of funding systems, including grants, tax credits and support for re- using historic buildings as affordable housing. This activity has produced a good practice guide for built environment heritage.