Master of Architectural Science - High Performance Buildings (Sustainable Design)

Overview

The Master of Architectural Science - High Performance Buildings (Sustainable Design) at the University of Sydney involves an approach to creating buildings that meets the world's need to reduce our impact on ecological systems. The built environment professions - including architects, engineers, urban designers and planners - are increasingly held responsible for the performance of their designs and projects, including accordance with promised environmental principles.  

Sustainable design skills are highly demanded by the construction and design industries, environmental consultancies, government agencies and in the day-to-day operation and management of commercial buildings. This program is tailored for design and related built-environment professionals who wish to improve their knowledge and skills in sustainable design. Our integrated approach to Sustainable Design provides you with the knowledge you need to address sustainability considerations without compromising building functionality or profitability. 

You will combine the aesthetic approaches to design with a thorough understanding of energy efficiency, analysis and performance metrics. You will be exposed to ratings systems, myriad testing methods and will come to understand energy and resource use from ecological, economic and governance perspectives, as well as the storage and release of energy and how to design for both performance and comfort.

Career Pathways

The Master of Architectural Science (High Performance Buildings) will prepare you to work in a specialised capacity in the fields of building services, architectural practice, business, sustainable design, commercial development, property management and more. Some graduates have used the degree as the foundation for a research degree in this field. 

The secondary stream will provide building design professionals and allied para-professionals with further knowledge and skills in the area of sustainable design. The knowledge and skills developed would be relevant to: urban planners in achieving sustainable development or sustainable cities; sustainable architects in order to reduce the collective environmental impacts during the production of building components, the construction process, or the lifecycle of the building; and those employed in design-related roles in the public sector or in a consultancy that specialises in public and non-profit client work.