The Liverpool School of Architecture (LSA) is an internationally recognised centre for architectural and built environment research. The LSA performed very well in the last Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021): 100% of our research impact is outstanding (4*) or very considerable (3*). 100% of our environment is conducive to generating research that is world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*).
Our outstanding (4*) impact almost doubled from REF 2014, seeing an 87% increase. Our research overall (covering outputs, impact and environment) is in the top quarter. We are ranked:
- Joint 5th in the sector for research classified as world leading (4*) or internationally excellent (3*) overall (covering outputs, impact and environment) out of 38 submissions
- 7th in the sector for world leading (4*) outputs out of 38 architecture school submissions
Research within the LSA is structured under the two overarching headings of Architectural Humanities and Environment and Digital Architecture.
Architectural Humanities
Architectural Humanities consists of four inter-related research groups that address the cultural and historical context of architecture and the visual arts.
The Architectural and Urban History Group investigates historic and developing architecture in relation to cities and urban contexts, with an international perspective and a developing emphasis on heritage.
ARCHIAM: Centre for the Study of Architecture and Cultural Heritage of India, Arabia and the Maghreb, is an interdisciplinary forum currently based at University of Liverpool. Cutting across traditional disciplinary boundaries, the Centre provides an exciting opportunity for the study of both historical and contemporary phenomena with the aim to develop theoretical positions but also practice-based research.
The Centre for Architecture and the Visual Arts (CAVA) is a cross-disciplinary research centred situated at the intersection of Architecture, Digital Creative Arts, and Digital Communication. It provides insight into, and defines new ways of thinking about, the representation of and immersive engagement with architectural/urban forms and narratives, using film, digital animations, digital mapping, digital databases, AR/VR/XR and AI.
The Urban Form and Social Space (UFSS) research group investigates the production and transformation of the built environment with a focus on on the socio-political dynamics of design and planning.
Environment and Digital Architecture
Environment and Digital Architecture consists of two inter-related research groups:
The Acoustics Research Unit (ARU) is internationally recognised for its research into airborne and structure-borne sound in the fields of engineering and building acoustics, psychoacoustics, human vibration (including vibrotactile stimuli), environmental noise, industrial acoustics (sonic cleaning) and the subjective evaluation of sound and vibration in the built environments. Excellent experimental and modelling resources are available in the ARU’s dedicated laboratory facilities.
The Environment, Sustainability and Technology in Architecture (ESTA) Research Group investigates the general areas of low carbon architecture, the impact of climate change on building performance, digital design, innovative material technologies and the operational and embodied carbon of sustainable design.