Our Research Centre offers expertise in sustainable construction and retrofit, advanced manufacturing, cultural heritage, intelligent product design, and built environment systems.
We have a rich and diverse academic base encompassing architecture, engineering, computing and design, geography, and the social sciences. Together, we address regional and global challenges, such as climate resilience, circular economy and urbanisation.
Working closely with industry, communities, policy makers and international partners, we offer practical solutions, cutting-edge technologies and impactful research that support the need for sustainable places, policies, products and practices within society and the built environment.
Our research groups
Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit
The Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit offers insights into the challenges of sustainability in the built environment.
Product Innovation and Intelligent Design
The Product Innovation and Intelligent Design research group drives global impact through AI-powered product innovation, sustainable design, and cutting-edge research for a circular economy.
BE:SMART
We bring together expertise in architecture, engineering, computing, design, and real estate economics to address urgent challenges in urbanisation, climate resilience, and digital transformation.
Cultural Heritage, Architecture, and Community (CHAC)
The research group, Cultural Heritage, Architecture and Communities (CHAC), brings together researchers engaged with and sharing interests in, the dynamic inter-relationships between cultural heritage (tangible and intangible), architecture and communities.
Advanced Design and Manufacturing Engineering Centre (ADMEC)
The Advanced Design and Manufacturing Engineering Centre advances engineering and circularity for sustainable buildings, production, and society with global research funding.
Our research community
Song Wu
Associate Dean for Research
School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment
Daizhong Su
Professor
School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment
Richard Bull
Deputy Dean
School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment
Amin Al-Habaibeh
Professor
School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment
Patricia Tzortzopoulos
Professor
School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment
Mike Robinson
Professor
School of Architecture Design and the Built Environment
Research at Nottingham Trent University
Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021
In the latest Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021, 86% of NTU's research impact was assessed to be either world-leading or internationally excellent. The overall quality of each Unit of Assessment NTU submitted to REF in 2021 also saw an improvement from the previous REF in 2014.
Research that dares to think differently
At Nottingham Trent University, research is about more than writing papers and proposing new ideas. It's about daring to think differently and disrupting the research landscape by finding the answers to the questions that really matter.
From ethics, innovation and entrepreneurship to behavioural science, we’re inspiring the brightest minds to rise up and find solutions to some of the most significant global challenges facing society today.
Discover our courses and research opportunities
Postgraduate study at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
Whether you're looking to progress from your current role, change industries, or simply explore the subject you're passionate about, we have a range of courses available to choose from.
Research degrees in Architecture, Design and the Built Environment
PhD Research degrees in Architecture, Design and the Built Environment