The
Faculty
Our Vision
To be an internationally acknowledged leader of education for professional excellence in Built Environment practice, culture and heritage.
Our Mission
To generate, disseminate and apply knowledge strategically and innovatively to enhance the quality of the nation's Built Environment practice, culture and heritage, and the prosperity of its people.
Building the Future,
Together.
The Built Environment (or Alam Bina in Malay) encompasses the diverse disciplines dedicated to shaping, constructing and managing the spaces in which we live, work and thrive. Although the term itself gained prominence in the 1980s, its essence is deeply rooted in human history. From the earliest stone tools and shelters to today’s vibrant cities and tomorrow’s sustainable communities, the built environment reflects humanity’s enduring ambition to create a better future.
At its heart, the built environment represents the collective outcomes of human ingenuity—past achievements, present developments and future aspirations. It comprises the buildings, landscapes, infrastructure and urban environments that support everyday life, serving as the foundation upon which communities grow and prosper. More than physical spaces, these environments shape how people connect, collaborate and contribute to society.
As an inherently interdisciplinary field, the built environment brings together a range of professions, each playing a vital role in transforming ideas into reality. These include Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Interior Designers, Town Planners and Landscape Architects, among others. While practitioners may belong to different disciplines, they share a common purpose: building the future together through thoughtful design, innovation and sustainable development.
The Faculty of Built Environment, UNIMAS, was established with this vision in mind—to nurture skilled, forward-thinking professionals who will lead and contribute to the built environment sector. Through excellence in education, research and industry engagement, the Faculty empowers future practitioners to collaborate across disciplines and create resilient, inclusive and sustainable environments for generations to come.
Our Story
Established in 2018, the Faculty of Built Environment at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) was founded in response to the growing need for specialised education and research that address the unique environmental, cultural, and developmental challenges of Sarawak and the wider Borneo region. Rooted in the aspiration to shape sustainable, context-sensitive built environments, the faculty emerged from a convergence of disciplines—architecture, quantity surveying, and related fields—integrated to produce graduates capable of balancing rapid urbanisation with ecological stewardship and local heritage. Since its inception, the faculty has steadily evolved into a vibrant academic community, strengthening its curriculum, expanding industry and community engagement, and contributing to regional development through research and design innovation. Today, it stands as a dynamic platform that nurtures future professionals and thought leaders, committed to creating resilient, inclusive, and culturally grounded environments for generations to come.
Before 2016
Formation
The establishment of Built Environment programmes at UNIMAS began as a vision that was realized through dedicated efforts.
Before 2016
September 2017
Bachelor of Science (Hons) Architecture First Cohort
Architecture was the first programme to be introduced, with its teaching, learning and studio activities initially conducted under the Faculty of Engineering. The programme welcomed its inaugural cohort of 20 students in the 2017/2018 academic session. To oversee and manage its academic and administrative affairs, the Department of Architecture was subsequently established under the leadership of Prof. Ar. Nurakmal Abdullah Goh as its founding Head of Department.
22 September 2018
Faculty of Built Environment Established
The Faculty of Built Environment (FBE) was officially launched as UNIMAS’ 10th faculty, marking a significant milestone in the University's academic development. While teaching, learning and studio activities continued to be conducted at the Faculty of Engineering during the initial phase, the Faculty’s administrative operations were temporarily based at The Cube (Central UNIMAS Building for Educators), which was inaugurated on the same occasion. As a testament to its creative and design expertise, FBE was entrusted with the design of The Cube’s signboard, contributing to the identity of one of UNIMAS’ landmark facilities from the very beginning.
22 September 2018
September 2018
Bachelor in Quantity Surveying with Honours First Cohort
The Quantity Surveying programme welcomed its inaugural cohort of 16 students in the 2018/2019 academic session, coinciding with the official launch of the Faculty.
11 November 2019
New Building Launched
The Faculty subsequently relocated to its new home in a refurbished building, formerly the FSTS External Laboratory Complex, marking a significant milestone in its development. With the move, all academic and administrative operations were consolidated under one roof, including a range of state-of-the-art teaching, learning and studio facilities designed to support an enhanced educational experience.
The building was officially inaugurated by the Chairman of UNIMAS, Tan Sri Datuk Seri Panglima Sulong bin Matjeraie, in a symbolic ceremony held at 11:11 a.m.
11 November 2019
October 2021
Architecture Programme Accredited
The Bachelor of Science (Hons) Architecture programme received its first full Part I Accreditation by the Lembaga Arkitek Malaysia officially from September 2020.
November 2022
Quantity Surveying Programme Accredited
The Bachelor of Quantity Surveying with Honours programme attained its first Full Accreditation from the Board of Quantity Surveyors Malaysia (BQSM) for the period from November 2022.
November 2022
January 2024
Master of Science Construction Design Management Programme Accredited
The Master of Science in Construction Design Management programme achieved a significant milestone with the award of Full Accreditation by the Malaysian Qualifications Agency (MQA), effective 12 January 2024.
The Building
Originally constructed as the External Laboratory Complex for the Faculty of Resource Science and Technology (FRST), the building served its original function from 2008 to 2018 before being refurbished in 2019 as the permanent home of the Faculty of Built Environment (FBE).
The building retains several distinctive features from its past, giving it a unique character. Its symmetrical layout, organised into Wing A and Wing B, is complemented by a striking foyer featuring a beak-like architectural form. Four interconnected quadrants create natural courtyards, while portions of the structure are elevated on stilts, reflecting elements of Borneo’s traditional vernacular architecture.
Surrounded by lush greenery along the corridor linking the Main and East Campuses, the FBE building offers a tranquil and inspiring environment that supports creativity, collaboration and academic excellence. Its blend of regional identity, functionality and natural surroundings makes it a fitting home for a faculty dedicated to shaping the built environment.
