The Bartlett Real Estate Institute (BREI) is located at UCL Here East, the university’s new campus on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in East London.
The Bartlett Real Estate Institute (BREI) is a global institute that is rethinking the traditional view of real estate as part of The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction. Many varied forms of built asset are defined as real estate, which currently accounts for around 60% of the world’s tangible wealth. But to recognise real estate solely in terms of its financial value – as a commodity in a tradeable market – is only part of the story. BREI takes a new approach to real estate and recognises that is the physical manifestation of many different needs, from the highly tangible and practical to the esoteric and intangible. Real estate reflects our creativity and imagination and has an impact on our societies, our economies and the environment.
BREI brings together academics and practitioners with different backgrounds who are passionate about real estate and work on projects addressing the most important questions in real estate. The institute is directed by Dr Nikodem Szumilo and its projects are led by members of the leadership team. Their work is supported by a professional advisory board. Many members of the institute are also actively involved in teaching real estate at UCL. In addition to the MSc in Real Estate Economic and Investment Analysis, we are involved in the MSc Healthcare facilities and MSc Learning Environments.
Our challenge
Our goal is to be a world-leading centre for real estate research that addresses the most important questions real estate is facing at the moment.
Understanding or measuring the extent of this impact in monetary terms is not straightforward. For example, how does it affect our creativity, productivity, health and wellbeing, crime, and community cohesion? If the real estate sector is to recognise its full contribution to society, the economy and the environment, these factors must be better understood.