News

Congratulations to Sr LAI Carmen on Receiving the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU BRE 2026

《Congratulations to Sr LAI Carmen on Receiving the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU BRE 2026》 Sr Carmen LAI, a graduate of our BSc (Hons) in Building Surveying programme, has received the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU BRE 2026. This award recognises her exceptional professional achievements and vital contributions to the Department, PolyU and the wider community. Her dedication and impact have earned her the very well-deserved honour. Join us in congratulating Sr Lai on her success!

BRE Retreat

《BRE Retreat》 Against a perfect backdrop of a stunning sky, the BRE Retreat was a great success last week. As an important part of our agenda, the two-day retreat provided a valuable platform for colleagues to share achievements for the academic year and engage in productive discussions on key topics across partnership, teaching and research for our forward planning. In a supportive atmosphere, colleagues presented ideas and exchanged insights which made the days both fruitful and enjoyable.

《BRE Distinguished Lecture》

《BRE Distinguished Lecture》 Last evening marked a significant chapter for our signature event, the ‘BRE Distinguished Lecture’ series. The comprehensive presentation by Ir Prof. Thomas HO On-sing, JP, on ‘Be the Excellence for Future Construction Industry’ was met with resounding applause. As the Chairman of the Construction Industry Council and the recipient of both the Outstanding PolyU Alumni Award and the Outstanding Alumni Award of PolyU BRE, Ir Prof. Ho delivered an inspiring lecture, taking us on a journey through the realms of AI and digitalisation in construction. We hope the participating students, alumni, colleagues and industry professionals enjoyed a rewarding evening.

PolyU JUPAS Admissions Q&A 2026

《PolyU JUPAS Admissions Q&A 2026》 A huge thank you to the students, parents and teachers who joined us for ‘PolyU JUPAS Admissions Q&A’ last Saturday! It was wonderful to see many of you engaging in our face-to-face consultations and admissions talk. We hope our session provided you with a clearer picture of our admissions updates and a glimpse into campus life. Still have questions? Don't hesitate to reach out to us directly. We are here to support you on your academic journey!

BRE Distinguished Lecture by Ir Prof. Thomas HO

《BRE Distinguished Lecture by Ir Prof. Thomas HO》 Are you ready for the future of construction? Join us for a BRE Distinguished Lecture with Ir Prof. Thomas HO, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council (CIC) and an outstanding alumnus of PolyU! From AI and Robotics to Modular Integrated Construction (MiC), Prof. Ho will offer insights into the technologies and leadership strategies that will define the next generation of the construction industry. Whether you are a student or a professional, this lecture will give you a roadmap to excellence in a tech-enabled and safety-focused world. Date: 9 June 2026 (Tue) Time: 6:30pm-8:00pm (Sign in from 6:00pm) Venue: PolyU campus Register NOW: https://polyu.hk/xVJOx

Big News from BREDAA AGM 2026

《Big News from BREDAA AGM 2026》 The Executive Committee (ExCo) of the Building and Real Estate Departmental Alumni Association (BREDAA) was successfully elected during the AGM last night where the new constitution was formally adopted by members in attendance. The whole process was conducted in the presence of representatives from BRE. The BREDAA remains dedicated to fostering strong connections among the members. By facilitating networking opportunities and knowledge exchange, it aims to strengthen the bond between alumni and BRE while cultivating a vibrant and supportive community for years to come. To encourage greater participation, membership fees for Student, Life, Associate and Honorary members are now officially waived under the new constitution. The ExCo includes Ir Cr Phyllis CHEN, Sr Carmen LAI, Ir Dr David KWOK, Ir Cr Amy SIU, Ms Ivy LAM, Mr Marco LEUNG, Sr Fiona LEUNG, Ms Michele LUI, Sr Daniel Ng, Sr Westing TSOI and Cr Dr Angela YUEN. They will count on the support of all BRE alumni. The ExCo highlighted an exciting lineup of upcoming activities including industry sharing talk, site visit, sports activity and reunion dinner. Stay tuned for more updates! More about the BREDAA Executive Committee: https://polyu.hk/AtUmF  

Press Coverage on Prof. Tarek ZAYED’s Research on Intelligent Sewer Systems

《Press Coverage on Prof. Tarek ZAYED’s Research on Intelligent Sewer Systems》 To protect public health, Prof. Tarek ZAYED and his research team at BRE are leading the way with a new approach to urban infrastructure. By combining Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT), they developed a multi-tiered model for sewer system management. This innovation enables more cost-effective and intelligent solution by predicting exfiltration severity, pinpointing leakage-prone zones, monitoring and forecasting overflows in high-risk areas. Explore more details about the research in the press coverage below: o Wen Wei Po (Print A14) - https://polyu.me/3OjGn8a; o Wen Wei Po Education Tech - https://polyu.me/41WeB4V o Ta Kung Pao (Print A05) - https://polyu.me/3OrIxmm o Mirage - https://polyu.me/41nOG64 More about Prof. Tarek ZAYED: https://www.polyu.edu.hk/.../academic.../prof-tarek-zayed/  

PolyU Ranked High in Subjects, ‘Architecture and Built Environment’ and ‘Civil and Structural Engineering’ in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026

《PolyU Ranked High in Subjects, ‘Architecture and Built Environment’ and ‘Civil and Structural Engineering’ in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026》 In this year’s QS World University Rankings by Subject, PolyU has attained commendable results, with the subjects ‘Architecture and Built Environment’ and ‘Civil and Structural Engineering’ securing the 21st and 18th positions, respectively. These achievements reinforce PolyU’s status as a key driver of Hong Kong’s global education reputation and reflect the University’s enduring excellence in both teaching and research. BRE is honoured to have made long-standing contributions to these disciplines.

Highlights from International Conference on Global Strategies for Infrastructure Delivery 2026: Strategy & Sustainability, and Innovative Practices

《Highlights from International Conference on Global Strategies for Infrastructure Delivery 2026: Strategy & Sustainability, and Innovative Practices》 We are proud to have launched the inaugural ‘International Conference on Global Strategies for Infrastructure Delivery 2026: Strategy & Sustainability, and Innovative Practices,’ a significant milestone organised by the Centre for Infrastructure Delivery (CeIDE) of the Department of Building and Real Estate at PolyU on 26 March 2026. Bringing together top scholars, senior government officials and industry professionals, this conference featured a day of insightful presentations and high-level discussions.  We were privileged to welcome Prof. Christopher CHAO, Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) at PolyU, for the Welcome Speech and our Guest of Honour, Mr Ricky LAU, JP, Permanent Secretary for Development (Works) Development Bureau, the Government of the HKSAR, for the Opening Address.  Our distinguished speakers shared innovative strategies to navigate the growing complexities of global infrastructure delivery. With the theme ‘Strategy & Sustainability’, the morning session was packed with a wealth of knowledge from our distinguished speakers: • Prof. WHYTE Jennifer (Professor, School of Project Management Faculty of Engineering, The University of Sydney) • Ir FONG Hok Shing, Michael, JP (Director, Civil Engineering and Development Department, The Government of the HKSAR) • Prof. GOH Yang Miang, (Director, Centre for Project and Facilities Management (CPFM) National University of Singapore) • Mr O'BRIEN Kevin (Chief Executive, Gammon Construction Limited) One of the morning’s highlights was the signing of three separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Centre of Excellence for Major Project Leaders (CoE) under the Development Bureau of the HKSAR Government, the National University of Singapore and Tsinghua University. By establishing the International Alliance of Infrastructure Delivery, we have solidified a collective determination to bridge borders in the pursuit of excellence. This alliance will pool global expertise through joint research, knowledge exchange, and policy development to transform infrastructure delivery into a more sustainable, resilient and equitable process. The session concluded with a dynamic panel discussion moderated by Prof. CHAN Man Wai, Organising Committee Chairman and Associate Director (Partnership and Executive Education) of CeIDE, featuring our special guest, Ir Prof. Thomas HO On-sing, JP, Chairman of the Construction Industry Council. Following the morning’s engaging presentations and discussions, the momentum continued into the afternoon session. The distinguished speakers below shared their words of wisdom on the theme ‘Innovative Practices’:   • Prof. FANG Dongping (Professor, Director of Institute for Future Cities and Infrastructures, Tsinghua University) • Ir KWAN King Fa, Alex (Chief Executive Officer, Asia Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc.) • Ir Prof. CHAN Ping Chuen, Albert, MH (Distinguished Research Professor and Director of Centre for Infrastructure Delivery (CeIDE) of BRE at PolyU) • Mr FARRANDS Sam (Honorary Advisor, IPPP and Head of Projects, King & Wood Mallesons) In addition, Prof. SHEN Qiping, Geoffrey, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) of PolyU and Associate Director (Research) of CeIDE was invited to lead the insightful panel discussion. The conference culminated in closing remarks by Ir Prof. Michael YAM, Head of BRE. Certainly, participants left with not only fresh insights but also newly forged professional bonds. The success of this inaugural conference has laid a strong foundation for CeIDE’s future impact and our next conference. A big thank-you goes to everyone who made this event a great success!

Highlights from International Conference on Global Strategies for Infrastructure Delivery 2026: Strategy & Sustainability, and Innovative Practices

《Highlights from International Conference on Global Strategies for Infrastructure Delivery 2026: Strategy & Sustainability, and Innovative Practices》 Following the morning’s engaging presentations and discussions, the momentum continued into the afternoon session. The distinguished speakers below shared their words of wisdom on the theme ‘Innovative Practices’: • Prof. FANG Dongping (Professor, Director of Institute for Future Cities and Infrastructures, Tsinghua University) • Ir KWAN King Fa, Alex (Chief Executive Officer, Asia Global Infrastructure Solutions Inc.) • Ir Prof. CHAN Ping Chuen, Albert, MH (Distinguished Research Professor and Director of Centre for Infrastructure Delivery (CeIDE) of BRE at PolyU) • Mr FARRANDS Sam (Honorary Advisor, IPPP and Head of Projects, King & Wood Mallesons) In addition, Prof. SHEN Qiping, Geoffrey, Associate Vice President (Global Partnerships) of PolyU and Associate Director (Research) of CeIDE was invited to lead the insightful panel discussion. The conference culminated in closing remarks by Ir Prof. Michael YAM, Head of BRE. Certainly, participants left with not only fresh insights but also newly forged professional bonds. The success of this inaugural conference has laid a strong foundation for CeIDE’s future impact and our next conference. A big thank-you goes to everyone who made this event a great success!