Monash University has appointed building design innovation expert Professor Mathew Aitchison to lead its major new initiative to influence and transform the design, production and management of the built environment.
Directed by Professor Aitchison, ‘The Future Building Initiative’ is jointly hosted by Monash University’s Faculty of Art Design & Architecture and Faculty of Engineering. It will seek to develop innovations in construction at the intersection of architecture and engineering practice.
Professor Aitchison is thrilled to join Monash and lead a team in developing and delivering innovations in an industry that remains highly traditional and reliant on pre-industrial knowledge and processes.
“At Monash we’re in a position to formulate and supply the industry with intelligent and technology-enabled solutions that have the potential to transform the construction industry,” Professor Aitchison said.
Among the high-profile industry partners of the initiative, Professor Aitchison has worked for several years with Lendlease, the multinational construction, property and infrastructure giant who have made a substantial investment in the future direction of the industry.
“Our strong working relationships with our leading industry partners have given us a world-leading advantage to achieve the desired end-to-end innovations and transformation that the construction industry requires.”
Professor Shane Murray, Dean Faculty of Art Design & Architecture said Professor Aitchison’s appointment comes at a time when critical change in the construction industry is required.
“Professor Aitchison’s integrative approach to design and technology coupled with his extensive international experience places Monash in a strong position to tackle long standing challenges and deliver effective and transformative solutions in the construction sector,” said Professor Murray.
Professor Aitchison joins Monash University from Sydney University where he was Director of the Innovation in Applied Design Lab. His research is focused on the broad field of industrialised building, in particular, investigating models for prefabricated and modular construction and advancing manufacturing processes.
Join us and meet Professor Aitchison as he presents a talk about innovation in construction and the potential of integrated building ecologies that will transform the industry over the next decade.
Friday 8 February from 4-6pm, Monash Conference Centre, 30 Collins St, Melbourne.
