The University of Navarra's SustainabilityChair , which has been presented at the academic center, will promote awareness of the design of sustainable and energy-efficient buildings, through the use of materials and the adoption of sustainable practices in the Building

The Chair, which originated at the School of Architecture but with the vocation of having an interdisciplinary character, wants to advance in the improvement of the connections between the companies of the sector and the University, since both share the desire to promote a more sustainable construction.

According to the director of development of the School of Architecture, Eduardo Domingo, "at this moment of maturity of teaching and research in the area of sustainability, achieved thanks to the Master's Degree in design and Environmental management of Buildings (MDGAE) and some research groups, the creation of a Chair of Sustainability that channels training, research, knowledge dissemination and the demands of the construction sector in this area is proposed".

In order to respond to the growing demand from companies in the sector for sustainability specialists, the MDGAE was set up in 2010. Its director, Ana Sánchez-Ostiz, emphasizes that "the construction of buildings has a major impact on the environment due to the consumption of natural resources and the production of emissions, waste and discharges. Recent European directives, the Kyoto protocol and national rules and regulations call for the adoption of efficient measures in the design and construction of buildings",

In this way, he explains, the MDGAE aims to "train experts in the field of environmental design , not only capable of performing certifications and energy audits, but also of analyzing the life cycle of buildings, energy management , emissions, materials and water, as well as the latest advances in construction technologies. 

Grants and research

In this regard, the Chair will support the Architectural and Construction Scholarships Program (ACSP), which has already provided sustainability specialist training to more than 15 students in its four years of existence. It will also organize seminars and workshops on sustainability for professionals in the sector.

In this same context, different research groups have emerged, composed of professors and researchers of the School of Architecture, such as SAVIArquitectura, Getting Sustainability Cities (GSC) and the Facilities and Energy Section of the School of Architecture

The researcher interest of the SAVIA group is based on the need to take care of the environment through the design and construction of sustainable and energy efficient buildings, as well as the rehabilitation of existing ones. Getting Sustainable Cities is an Applied research Unit that offers the counties and municipalities the improvement of their problems and the enhancement of their urban and/or territorial possibilities, through criteria of sustainability, recycling and Economics of means. Insetsaun, on the other hand, focuses on the Integration of Installations and Energy in Architecture and Urban Planning.