Published August 2022
Massey University has established the Master of Construction with a Specialisation in the Built Environment – a degree for construction sector professionals. With support and expertise from BRANZ, graduates will acquire knowledge and skills that equip them to become catalysts for change in the transition to a zero-carbon built environment.
Aotearoa New Zealand has set an ambitious goal of becoming a net-zero carbon economy by 2050. To meet this target, every sector must make a significant contribution.
The building and construction sector currently contributes almost 20 per cent of our national carbon emissions. BRANZ is aiming to help the industry transition to a zero-carbon built environment by 2050.
The transition will require a paradigm shift in how buildings are designed, constructed and operated. This will affect most processes, products and technologies across the sector. It will also require leadership from many, including building designers, contractors, manufacturers and end-users.
A BRANZ survey, undertaken as part of the Future of Work in Building project, found an appetite for knowledge of low-carbon construction in the industry. Most respondents rated understanding of climate change and carbon as important, but only two per cent were very satisfied with existing industry education and training.
BRANZ and Massey University’s School of Built Environment had already begun addressing that gap. A collaboration initially enabled seven Master of Construction students to undertake carbon-focused research projects relevant to the industry. It was hoped that through this initiative the students, who were also industry employees, would become industry change agents – catalysts to help the industry move towards a net-zero emissions future. Their projects included comparing tools used to calculate embodied energy in residential builds, and investigating how virtual reality can help building designers assess environmental impact.
The graduates demonstrated that they not only have the knowledge and skills to help the industry move forward but also the passion and drive that will help embed change over their careers.
Since graduating, the majority of students have reported good progress in their respective workplaces. Initiatives under way include using Building Information Modelling to accurately calculate carbon emissions, registering with the New Zealand Green Building Council to explore opportunities for carbon reduction, and embedding sustainability into project management.
Their high-quality outputs, which include papers in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations, have helped lay the groundwork for the new Master of Construction specialisation in the Sustainable Built Environment.
This is a professional degree, which means it is for students who are already working in building and construction and can put their learnings into practice immediately.
The collaboration is helping Massey University and BRANZ to further their own research objectives while supporting the next generation of industry professionals to put these findings into practice.