Industry and community engagement
The School of Architecture and Built Environment maintains strong connections with industry and alumni through guest lectures, workshops, events, industry site inspections and other collaborative opportunities.
Construction and Architecture Social Hour (CASH)
The school of architecture and built environment held the first student and industry social hour in 2023. It was a wonderful event for SABE staff, local industry representatives and current students to build connections and look at opportunities for collaboration. Held in our beautiful precinct, Mr Barry Williams commenced the event with an Acknowledgement to Country, and then it was time to network. There was a great turnout with Architecture and Construction Management students and also our PhD candidates all engaging and enjoying the food, discussions and atmosphere. Since 2023, CASH has been a staple event for the school, we hold this event each semester, to give our students the opportunity to engage with industry partners and meet students from across our degrees.
Network and Nibbles
Network and Nibbles
Network and Nibbles
Network and Nibbles
Network and Nibbles
Network and Nibbles
Network and Nibbles
Visiting architects and experts
The Visiting Architects and Experts (VA&E) Program has been running since 2020 and is designed to bring nationally and internationally recognised experts into the Architecture Discipline at SABE. The VA&E is comprised of both on campus, embedded engagement opportunities and public facing events that bring together experts, students, industry and the general public in conversation and workshop.
The Open Architecture Talks are hosted by the School of Architecture and Built Environment at the University of Newcastle. These talks are free and open for students, practitioners, and the broader community to come together and ‘open up’ our shared places, practices and projects. This public programming is part of our Visiting Architects and Experts project, that draws in a diversity of voices and perspectives to discuss, workshop and critique the built environment.
Kerstin Thompson - Open Architecture Talk
Rory Hyde
Mike Hewson
Luke Russell - Big Wednesday Talk
FAST/SLOW
FAST SLOW is an innovative housing system by University of Newcastle Researchers Dr Sarah Breen Lovett & Dr Hugo Moline and Mudtec partners Kenney Le Mire & Will Eastlake.
FAST SLOW is made from FAST prefabricated eco-ply structural framing for infill with SLOW formed natural building materials such as hemp clay, straw clay or rammed earth. Prefabrication can make housing up to 60% more efficient to build, while natural materials have up to 80% lower embodied carbon, and lead to lower operational carbon in housing.
Without the FAST SLOW system, efficient, low-carbon housing is more difficult, expensive and time consuming to build. FAST SLOW is a unique offering on the Australian housing market which aims to ‘be more efficient and compliant to build than current natural building material housing, and more sustainable than current traditional build or prefabricated housing.
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Fast/Slow house build
Children’s University
Our School is extremely involved in educating and fostering a passion for the built environment in the next generation.
Our construction management team, including Kim Maund, Cameron Beard, Jessica Siva, Helen Giggins, Jamie MacKee, Maggie Tang, Sittimont Kanjanabootra, Thomas Johnson and Thayaparan Gajendran regularly participate in Children’s University Newcastle activities, holding events at Callaghan, NUSpace, Ourimbah and Taree, working with more than 400 primary school students.
Using craft materials, students were tasked with using teamwork to build a structure that could withstand forces associated with wind and load. Some amazing and innovative structures were created, and it was a wonderful opportunity to work with brilliant, enthusiastic young minds.
STEM Sparks for the Hunter: Bright Minds, Bright Harbour
Supported (Funding) by Port of Newcastle
STEM Sparks is a community-focused outreach initiative designed to inspire Hunter region students – particularly girls – to explore built environment and Port-related STEM careers. With Port of Newcastle’s support, the project has developed a series of small lessons and outreach that informs students about the breadth of opportunities in STEM.
You can access the STEM Sparks teachers resource booklet here.
STEM Sparks Digital Hub
Inside the teachers resource booklet, you are given the a guide to different lessons which can be completed in the classroom to help guide students through the different opportunities within the built environment which relate to STEM. The following lessons can also be downloaded from a QR code in the resource booklet
STEM Sparks School Pack
The STEM sparks school pack is produced by the School of Architecture and Built Environment and includes the following items sent to your school.
- Overview of the STEM Sparks program
- Poster/flyer with QR codes linking to digital resources, videos and career pathways.
- Activity sheets (those located in digital hub)
- 1–2 STEM-related books for each school library, leaving a lasting resource.
Need help?
For any assistance with STEM sparks, or if your school is interested in participating, please reach out to the team at archBE@newcastle.edu.au
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.