Projects per year
Personal profile
Research interests
Stephen Emmitt is an architect with industrial experience of implementing effective design management. His research and teaching interests cover the interface between design and construction and collaborative working. He has published widely with 24 books and over 150 peer reviewed articles and is Editor-in-Chief of Building Research & Information
He is also the Director of the Centre for Advanced Studies in Architecture (CASA).
Biography
Stephen studied architecture at the University of Brighton and worked primarily as a design manager in architectural practices in Hampshire and Greater Manchester before taking up an academic position.
As a design manager he was responsible for introducing process innovations at the business and project level to improve efficiency and effectiveness. This practical experience underpins his research and teaching interests in collaborative working and improving the interface between the design and realisation phases.
Stephen’s passion for architecture and interest in innovation led to a part-time PhD at the University of Manchester School of Architecture where he applied the diffusion of innovations model to construction, focusing on the uptake of innovative materials and products by architects. It was his passion for research that resulted in a career change to a full-time academic position.
He was awarded his first chair in 2003 at the Technical University of Denmark (Hoffmann Professor of Innovation and Management in Building, 2003-2007) before moving back to the UK as Professor of Architectural Technology at Loughborough University and then to the University of Bath in May 2014. As Professor of Architectural Practice he is leading the new PhD by Practice, a part-time pathway for mid-career professionals to complete a practice-led PhD in their chosen field.
Research
Stephen has developed a comprehensive research portfolio and forged two unique research areas – architectural management and architectural technology. Since 1994 he has been an active member of the CIB’s Working Group W096 Architectural Management and was a joint-coordinator of the network for five years.
In 1996 he initiated and has subsequently managed the Detail Design in Architecture (DDiA) international network, which focus on the importance of the architectural detail.
He has secured and managed research grants in the UK (EPSRC, TSB) and Europe (Erabuild) which include subjects such as the space between organisations, collaborative design management, lean construction and the industrialisation of construction. He is the author of 24 books covering design management and architectural technology, three of which have been translated into Chinese. Stephen’s work has been presented as keynote addresses at more than 20 international conferences.
The impact of his work was recognised in 2010 with the award of the Loughborough University enterprise award for a knowledge transfer partnership that delivered significant process and productivity improvements for a SME. Recent successful PhD supervisions have addressed lean construction, value creation in design projects, architectural management and architectural briefing.
Willing to supervise doctoral students
Interested in supervising students studying:
- Practice management
- Design management
- Collaborative working and BIM
- Architectural detailing and specification
- Innovation in process and product
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
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Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Projects
- 4 Finished
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Circular Biobased Construction Industry
Maskell, D. (PI), Allen, S. (CoI), Emmitt, S. (CoI), Shea, A. (CoI) & Walker, P. (CoI)
1/03/19 → 30/09/22
Project: EU Commission
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Colciencias-Colfuturo: A sustainable design approach to vaulted-type buildings by bending culms of bamboo & giant reeds
Cortes Paez, E. C. (PI) & Emmitt, S. (CoPI)
30/11/17 → 31/05/22
Project: Research-related funding
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Minimising Energy in Construction (MEICON)
Emmitt, S. (PI) & Copping, A. (CoI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
15/09/17 → 14/07/19
Project: Research council
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Minimising Energy in Construction (MEICON)
Orr, J. (PI), Copping, A. (CoI), Emmitt, S. (CoI) & Ibell, T. (CoI)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
1/06/17 → 30/04/19
Project: Research council
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Evaluating environmental impacts of bio-based insulation materials through scenario-based and dynamic life cycle assessment
Cascione, V., Roberts, M., Allen, S., Charbel, C., Maskell, D., Dams, B., Shea, A., Walker, P. & Emmitt, S., 28 Jan 2025, In: International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article › peer-review
Open Access -
Digitalization and automation in the built environment
Emmitt, S., 31 Dec 2024, In: Building Research and Information. 52, 1-2, p. 1-3 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Editorial › peer-review
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Social sustainability in architectural practice: Examining experiences of architectural offices in B-Corp certification in the United Kingdom
Keser Kursun, E., Albadra, D. & Emmitt, S., 10 Dec 2024, (E-pub ahead of print) In: Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Downloads (Pure) -
The Influence of Visitors on Heritage Conservation: The Case of the Church of San Juan del Hospital, Valencia, Spain
Galiano-Garrigós, A., López-González, C., García-Valldecabres, G.-V., Pérez-Carramiñana, C. & Emmitt, S., 1 Mar 2024, In: Applied Sciences. 14, 5, 20 p., 2065.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access2 Citations (SciVal) -
Thermal comfort in school children: Testing the validity of the Fanger method for a Mediterranean climate
Almagro-Lidón, M., Pérez-Carramiñana, C., Galiano-Garrigós, A. & Emmitt, S., 1 Apr 2024, In: Building and Environment. 253, 111305.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
3 Citations (SciVal)