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About BE

At the University of Washington College of Built Environments (CBE) we value the traditions of design and community building. We do this with a conscious perspective of positively advancing social and technological change. Our unique gathering of disciplines—architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate, and urban design and planning—provides a unique advantage and enables the College to truly define and excel in all areas of built environments. We believe in programs that meet the complex interconnected physical, cultural, and ecological systems in which we live, work and play.

Home to six research labs and four research centers, we join forces with non-profit groups, government agencies, schools, and development experts on research projects and find solutions to our communities growing needs and changing dynamics. As a result, the CBE community has a significant impact on our region’s future. Our thousands of graduates reflect our values and practice when they launch into their careers, meeting in the workplace to collaborate as professionals in every sector of the built environment.

 

Enrolled Students

2020–2021 Academic Year
Undergradute: 433
Graduate: 341

 

Scholarships

2020-2021 Scholarships
Funds distributed: $750,312
Number of recipients: 219
2019-2020 Research funding awarded: $2,452,229

 

Faculty

Full-time faculty: 56
Affiliate faculty: 153

As a college that embodies multiple perspectives on the creation and stewardship of built environments, we are at the forefront of a global discourse increasingly focused on the process of urbanization, globalization, and sustainable development. Our work has immediate and tangible impacts in the physical world and profound implications for urban systems, human health, environmental resilience, social equity, and economic vitality. As an academic community with a strong professional orientation, we are committed to the advancement of integrated planning, design, construction, development, and investment through teaching, learning, and research in the built environments. Our collective work as a college sits squarely within the broader mission of the University — to advance and disseminate new knowledge through scholarly exchange, creative practice, and public service.

Diversity:

The College of Built Environments is an open place for all students, faculty, staff, and community to be themselves and express their values. As a College tasked with launching professionals who will design, plan, build and sustain the infrastructure of our communities, we know it is our responsibility to work for all people. We are continually committed to preserving and expanding the diversity of our people, perspectives, and ideas to fulfill these needs. Read more about College and University resources on our CBE Equity page.

Builders begin with plans, designed by architects and landscape architects, part of bigger ideas developed by urban designers and real estate developers. As the fields in our College intersect with each other in the real world, we see it as our responsibility to prepare students for active and real collaborations. Through mixed discipline studios, travel programs, service learning projects, and research, we teach students to think about the whole process of a project and seek the consultation of others. The College offers a number of dual degrees allowing students to further build their expertise and expand professional opportunities.

Bachelor of Architecture/Bachelor of Landscape Architecture
Bachelor of Architecture/Bachelor of Construction Management
Master of Architecture/Master of Landscape Architecture
Master of Architecture/Master of Landscape Architecture
Master of Urban Design and Planning/Master of Policy Administration
Master of Construction Management/Master of Public Health

Carbon Leadership Forum
Center for Asian Urbanism
Center for Education and Research in Construction (CERC)
Center for Environment, Education + Design Studies (CEEDS)
Design Machine Group, Discovery Commons
Green Futures Research and Design Lab
Institute for Hazards Mitigation Planning and Research
Integrated Design Lab
Northwest Center for Livable Communities
Runstad Center for Real Estate Studies
SHARE Lab
Urban Ecology Research Lab
Urban Form Lab
Urban Infrastructure Lab