About College of Built Environments · Seattle
The College of Built Environments at the University of Washington in Seattle is an academic institution focused on education and research in architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate, and urban design & planning. It emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration to address how humans shape and interact with the natural world, with a focus on climate solutions, environmental integrity, equity, and social inclusion. The college serves students, faculty, and staff, and is known for its research, industry partnerships, and high graduate placement rates.
The College of Built Environments (CBE) at the University of Washington is a leading academic unit dedicated to shaping the future of built environments through education, research, and community engagement. It offers programs in architecture, construction management, landscape architecture, real estate, and urban design & planning, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to tackle complex challenges related to urban systems, environmental resilience, and social equity. The college is home to over 100 active researchers and 65 Principal Investigators across its departments, with research spanning topics from carbon sequestration to urban modeling. CBE emphasizes hands-on learning, with students gaining experience through internships — over 12,000 posted annually — and projects like designing and building community benches. The college is recognized for its innovation, ranking #1 in the world for innovation by Reuters in 2019, and boasts an 81% employment or graduate school placement rate within six months of graduation. It is located on the UW campus in Seattle, WA, with main offices in Gould Hall and Architecture Hall.
- Serves
- Seattle, WA (and beyond via student internships and research)
About the College of Built Environments
We all live in built environments. They are the spaces where we reside, work, gather, and travel. Within the College, students and faculty collaborate to address some of the most critical questions about how humans shape and interact with the natural world.
Life at CBE
At CBE, you’ll be part of finding innovative climate solutions and maintaining environmental integrity. You’ll belong to a culture of research that touches every part of our lives. And you’ll work in a campus community that values equity, diversity, and inclusion in built environments.
Interdisciplinary Vision
Every aspect of built environments is interconnected: Builders begin with plans, designed by architects and landscape architects, part of bigger ideas developed by urban designers and real estate developers. We teach our students to think about the whole process of a project and seek the consultation of other experts.
Research & Industry
The College of Built Environments is home to over 100 active researchers, and over 65 Principal Investigators (PIs) across the five departments. Topics ranging from arts and culture to carbon sequestration and historic presentation to urban modeling.