School of the Built Environment Graduation 2018

Graduation 2018 took place on a sunny (but not too hot) Monday 18 June. This year the ceremony and reception moved back across the bridge from Headington Hill Hall to the newly refurbished Kenneth Wheare Hall and the JHB Building. So things were a bit different this year...the photos show the story of the day and showcase our new buildings very nicely.

Outside the Clerici Building

Before the ceremony...

...and the staff are getting ready.

And being given their instructions for the stage.

Lining up for the...

...procession into the Kenneth Wheare Hall

Outside...

...and finally inside the ceremony itself.

The staff line up to applaud the new graduates...

...as they leave the hall.

The journey through the JHB Building...

...to the Terrace.

Lunch :)

The traditional hat throw...

...and the hat that had to be rescued.

The photographers gallery...

...and the Real Estate prizes.

Now that you've graduated, don't forget to keep in touch. Join one of our alumni groups on LinkedIn...a great way of keeping in touch with your mates and the School of the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes. We use our groups to post job opportunities, source mentors (for the Real Estate Mentoring Scheme), share news and to use your experiences to inform our course development, so make sure you join!

Real Estate Management
Construction, QS and Project Management
Urban Design, Planning and Development
Real Estate Investment Finance (REIF)

Finally, for yet more photos, take a look at the SBE Graduation 2018 album on the School of the Built Environment Facebook page.

Knight Frank Development Project Prize 2017

Adrian Wilson (left) with Robbie Clarke, Hugo Bland and Max Hulse (right)

Once again, OBREMS (our alumni society), with the support of Knight Frank, have rewarded the efforts of three third year undergraduate students on the BSc Real Estate Management. The prizes were based on performance in their Development Project. 

First prize (£250 and an internship at Knight Frank) went to Robbie Clarke

Second prize (£175) was awarded to Hugo Bland and the third prize (£75) went to Max Hulse.

This year, the Development Project was a feasibility study of two logistics units at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT). This site is being used as a case study for all final year modules (take a look at the blog post on DIRFT here). The students were required to undertake a market analysis of the scheme and determine the land value and potential funding options of the site using current market parameters. Their recommendations were contained in a full report of the scheme.

DIRFT - the location for the Development Project

The winning team produced a joint report and then each gave a short presentation to the awarding committee. The committee comprised: Adrian Wilson (Head of Development, Knight Frank), Rebecca Gee (BSc REM Subject Coordinator, Oxford Brookes) and Nick French (Professor in Real Estate, Oxford Brookes).

MSc Real Estate: Lisbon 2016 in numbers...

Each year the students on the MSc Real Estate take part in a study visit to Europe which allows them to find out more about the operation of land and property markets in a different institutional context from that found in the UK. This year the students (and staff) went to Lisbon, Portugal’s hilly capital. A coastal city known for its pastel-coloured buildings, cafe culture, custard tarts, beaches, soulful Fado music and a lively clubbing scene. Lisbon is recognised as a global city because of its importance in finance, commerce, media, entertainment, arts, international trade, education and tourism. It is one of the major economic centres in Europe, with a growing financial sector and one of the largest container ports on Europe's Atlantic coast (thanks Wikipedia). Lisbon is also known for its modern, bold architecture and urban creativity.

As part of the study visit, the students were given a project to work on...the aim of which is to integrate a range of core property skills that the students have acquired during the MSc Real Estate in order to address a professional project brief. The students were required to assess specific aspects of the property markets in and around Lisbon and report to a 'client' by means of an oral presentation and a written report. During the study visit, the students were able to build on their knowledge through a series of city tours and presentations by local experts.

And now,  with thanks to the students and staff who provided the photos, here is the field trip in numbers:

46 students (photo taken shortly before departure)

Four members of staff: David Shiers, Nick French (MSc Real Estate Leader), Paul Jenkins and Analise Attard

One beautiful city

One walking tour of the city, organised by Nick French, leader of the MSc Real Estate. It went something like this...visit the main office areas, retail areas and shopping centres and residential areas. Including:

• the new residential developments and retail outlet close to the Mercure Lisboa Hotel (the base for the field trip).
• the offices around the roundabout at Marques de Pombal and the surrounding area (this is considered to be the Zone 1 CBD)
• Rue Joaquim Ant Aguiar down to the Amoreiras Shopping Centre
• a walk down Avenida da Liberdade to view and appraise the shopping on this street. 
• the retail and residential areas of Baixa and Principe Real
• the office area of Saldanha to view and appraise the offices around the metro station
• the office/retail and residential area of Parque das Nacoes,  Vasco Da Gama, the new train station and the regeneration of the area which was the site of the 1998 Lisbon Expo

...and three shopping centres:

• the Colombo Shopping Centre and Commercial Centre
• the Amoreiras Shopping Centre and Commercial Centre
•  the Vasco Da Gama Shopping Centre

Six presentations from local experts:

• Lisbon Market Overview: Office and Residential Investment Property, by Paula Sequeira and Paulo Silva from Aguirre Newman 
• Portuguese Property Investment Funds, by Rui Alpalhão from FundBox and ISCTE Business School 
• Retail Property Market, by Eric van Leuven from Cushman & Wakefield 
• Portuguese Property Law, by Nuno Moura Roldão from Ferreira Pinto 
• Portuguese Shopping Centres: Overview, by Pedro Teixeira from the Portuguese Association of Shopping Centres
• Shopping Centre Development, Investment and Management, by Susana Lourenço and Hugo Fernandes from Sonae Sierra 

One giant pair of sunglasses

Four birthdays...Happy Birthday to: Theo, Lizzie, William (above left) and Nick French (above right)

Four prizes awarded by Nick French on the last night for: Most forgetful student, Most insightful student, Best student and Student "who really wanted a prize"

Two poems written...one by the students
and the other by Paul Jenkins (reciting his poem above) about the field trip

And (not quite) finally...

Loads of memories. And now finally...

One Andressa Minogue who is the Programme Administrator for the MSc Real Estate. Contact her (aminogue@brookes.ac.uk) to find out more about the MSc, or take a look at our website and blog.

Knight Frank Development Project Prize 2014

Once again, OBREMS (our alumni society), with the support of Knight Frank, have rewarded the efforts of three third year undergraduate students on the BSc Real Estate Management. The prizes (cash...just in time for Christmas) were based on performance in their Development Project.

The winners with Adrian Wilson. Left to right: Tom Elwood, Adrian Wilson, Joe Gibbon and Joe Jackson

First prize (£250 and an internship at Knight Frank) went to Joe Gibbon

Second prize (£175) was awarded to Tom Elwood and the third prize (£75) went to Joe Jackson.

This year, the Development Project was a feasibility study of three logistics units at Daventry International Rail Freight Terminal (DIRFT). This site is being used as a case study for all final year modules (take a look at the blog post on DIRFT here). The students were required to undertake a market analysis of the scheme and determine the land value and potential funding options of the site using current market parameters. Their recommendations were contained in a full report of the scheme.

The Sainsbury's development at DIRFT II

The winning team produced a joint report and then each gave a short presentation to the awarding committee. The committee comprised: Adrian Wilson (Head of Development, Knight Frank), Rebecca Gee (BSc REM Subject Coordinator, Oxford Brookes) and Nick French (Professor in Real Estate, Oxford Brookes).

Graduation 2014

Graduation 2014 for students in the Department of Real Estate and Construction took place on a beautifully sunny Tuesday 17 June. A very happy occasion. The story of the day in photos (photos by the Editor):

Dr Sean Wellington (left) Associate Dean in the Faculty of TDE
(and the man who gave out the graduation certificates)
together with Professor Joe Tah, Head of Department of REC 

A selection of REC staff

Veronika Schröpfer was awarded her PhD

(Some of ) the MSc Real Estate graduates...

...and with the MSc Real Estate programme leader, Nick French

MSc Project Management in the Built Environment graduates and staff

Graduates from the BSc Real Estate Management

The leading members of OBRESS - the Oxford Brookes Real Estate Student Society
(l-r: James Bircumshaw, Georgia Eckert and Chris Green)

Graduates from the BSc Construction Project Management and
the BSc Quantity Surveying and Commercial Management

Prizes were given out during the graduation ceremony and also more informally afterwards.
These photos show the construction students receiving their prizes.

Reflections of graduation with Ali Raza (MSc PMBE). The Ed's favourite photo of the day.

If you would like to find out more about the Department of Real Estate and Construction and the degree programmes we offer, visit the REC web page.