WELCOME TO THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT SOCIETY

Built Environment Society is a student-led society. We offer a platform where you can start your own projects relating to the built environment or join one which has already started. We champions the enrichment of the built environment through talks, trips & collaborative support sessions, which we call 'Student Scaffold.'

Motto

Learn, Lead and Innovate Together!

Mission Statement

A society for those interested in student-led activities relating to the Built Environment, enriching and enhancing their student experience and engaging with industry: 

• exploring the complexities of the built environment,
• exploring the latest research into innovative building technologies,
• developing skills and sharing knowledge relating to the process of sustainable construction,
• undertaking collaborative projects with international and community-based charities, aiming at progressing our responsibilities to future generations.

Planned Events & Activities

• Zero Carbon Framework:  ZCF is a student lead initiative providing certified extra-credit activities for architects, engineers, surveyors, and all other built environment professions. ZCF offers a choice of three depths of learning:
  - Level 1: Zero Carbon Aware (for all students, 20 Hours ZCF CPD Certificate)
  - Further levels, such as Zero Carbon Skilled and Zero Carbon Expert are in discussion, watch this space!
• Student Scaffold: Student Scaffold is a fortnightly session that is aimed to be an opportunity for collaborative study, where members from a variety of courses that relate to the built environment can work alongside one another to enhance the learning experience. Some soft drinks and snacks will also be available!
• External Trips and Events: Each year a select few members can attend trips to various locations and events, such as the FutureBuild and CIBSE Build2Perform expos in London. We also aim to arrange some site visits, giving you the opportunity to gain practical knowledge and ask questions of construction industry professionals!
• Informing Members About Relevant Events Throughout Bristol: Numerous groups in Bristol, such as Design West and CIBSE YEN, host a range of fascinating events. We aim to keep members in the know about these, and where possible provide subsidised prices for the events!

To participate in any of these activites and events, you'll need to buy your membership. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us: bes.uwe@outlook.com.
 

2025-2026 Committee 

PRESIDENT- James Lewis (left)

VICE PRESIDENT- Jamison Boll

TREASURER- Lee McNair (Top)

Gallery  

Group Photos From Past Events

CIBSE Build2Perform Expo, London 2024:

SHAPE Summer School Trip, Hong Kong 2025:

Site trip to Bristol Beacon, 2021:

Trip to The Barbican, London 2024:

Industry sustainability and networking event, Bristol 2024

Projects and Plans

ALL NEW PROJECT IDEAS ARE WELCOMED!

Student Scaffold sessions have now begun and run Tuesdays 16:00-18:00. If you are unsure if it is on this week, drop as an email or a message on Instagram! Student scaffold sessions are aimed to support students with queries as well as providing a shared space for likeminded Built Environment enthusiasts to study in together. 

Term 1 Social: We will be hosting a social towards the end of Term 1 to get to know each other and discuss the plans for the next Term in greater detail!

Collaborative Events With Other Societies: With many other societies relevant to the Built Environment, we believe it is important to support one another. In the spirit of this, we intend to collaborate on activities and socials with other societies to foster a diverse and collaborative experience.

Futurebuild: Futurebuild is an exciting annual event in London that is a great opportunity for extracurricular learning and networking opportunities, which we will be hosting a trip to.

Site Visits: We will be running several site visits to give society members a chance to gain practical experience and knowledge of the construction of the buildings that their choice of career paths might involve them in. These will mostly be situated in the Bristol area, but some might be further afield!

Working with Existing Design and Build Frameworks: A number of existing projects are run by faculty at UWE that provide unique experiences as part of the Built Environment. BES is looking to collaborate with faculty to participate in some of these projects, such as the Agaric project by Dr. Nick Drofiak. We hope these opportunities may also lead to new 

The BES Project Framework aims to help members to participate in a range of activities, where students take ownership of the learning, develop additional skills and work with people from outside their discipline. BES can streamline the administration process of dealing with the SU and the University, giving advice on funding, insurance, risk assessment, public relations and sourcing academic mentors, freeing up the time of members to concentrate on their core project objectives.

Previous Ideas

• Build Away Borders: Nepal – Year 3 of this successful project saw students focus on the post-earthquake rebuilding of areas of Nepal. They raised awareness exchanged knowledge and carried out various activities.
• Passiv-Haus: The team looked at entering with a low-carbon design into the UK Passiv-Haus conference.
• Thermal lab: This project examined the practical hands-on activities that can help designers become more aware of the science that underpins building operation. The project involved an examination of the design process of UWE’s new Engineering Building, currently underway.
• Real Estate Society: Joint project on social housing.
• Occupational Therapy Society: Joint project on Inclusive design for the physically impaired.
• Eco-Pod: The team built an outdoor classroom and designed outreach activities for students. 
• Wellness Hub Project: The team looked at creating an art community to help improve the well-being of students and provide a unique space on Campus to "zone out" from the standard student life, relax and meet new people. 
• Sustainable Water project: This project was a comparative study of the permeability of urban fabric and water management in buildings in Bristol and Hong Kong.
• Restoration of Old Buildings: A research project into retrofitting or restoring buildings to a Zero-Carbon standard or high-energy efficient alternative solutions. 
  + Point Cloud Scanning: Getting hands-on experience of using a point cloud scanner - device which outputs a space into 3D image model, a fantastic survey tool complementary to the RoOB project and more.
• Homeless Shelters: A student-led team aimed to design products or housing and organized events to help with the well-being of the homeless in our cities.
• Built Environment Handbook Guides: The production of student contributions to various topics in the ABE department subjects! Specifically essential guides and tips on various topics and sections that will help all students in need. These can be found in relevant channels on our teams page.

Previous Ideas On Hold/Discussion 

• Ashton Court Volunteering Project: Ashton court is currently managed by ArtSpace to open up the mansion house to the public while decisions are being made on its long term future. The BES student team will first evaluate the building through historical research and will then undertake a plan-dimensional survey to build a  physical model that can then be used by ArtSpace for future projects, proposals and fundraising.
• UWE Sustainability Plan Review: A research project aiming to find out if UWE is as sustainable as it claims to be. The objective is to have our study published in BABEL by the end of the second term, offering a critical and detailed review.
• Point Cloud Scanning: Getting hands-on experience of using a point cloud scanner - device which outputs a space into 3D data model.
• Input into new UWE Buildings: Engage with the University in representing the student voice in the project scoping for new buildings.
• Winter-Is-Coming Festival: Community tree planting day similar to Arbor Day Festival. 

Ideas from 2020 Workshops

• Community Workshops
• Temporary bus shelters for a different type of 'queue'
• Covid-Friendly Shopping Containers
• Re-use, Re-Build
• Feasibility of building a self-sufficient village
• Compost Loo Project
• Building with Water
• SNUG - Research
• Biologically Integrated Design
• Flood-Prone Areas Project