Professor Peter Walker

School of Science, Engineering and Environment

Photo of Professor Peter Walker

Contact Details

New SEE Building - Room 03.22

Please email for an appointment.

ORCID

Current positions

Professor in Construction Science & Management

Biography

Professor Peter Walker is an architect and is Professor of Construction Science and Management and Director of the Architecture and Digital Technology Directorate. Prior to joining the university Peter was Professor of Architecture and Head of the Belfast School of Architecture at Ulster University; a director of a large health care practice – Devereux Architects; and taught part time at Newcastle University. Before that he was Project Director of the international design consultancy Conran Design Group, headed by Sir Terence Conran.

Professor Walker is an independent advisor to the Architects Registration Board and served for four years on the ARB Education and Practice Advisory Group. He has been an external examiner at Queens University Belfast, Newcastle University, Huddersfield University, University of Salford, Bath University and the University of Northumbria and is on the Council of SCHOSA (the Standing Conference of Heads of Schools of Architecture). Peter has been a visiting Professor at two universities, most recently at Notre Dame University, Beirut, and is presently Part 3 Professional Examiner at Newcastle University. He was an adviser to the Egyptian Government Housing and Building Research Council in the development of the Green Pyramid Building Assessment Scheme and he has acted as an expert witness on more than 70 cases.

Peter is presently Impact Lead for UoA 13 in REF 2021.

Areas of research

Architectural profession, risk management, knowledge management, architectural practice

Teaching

BSc Architecture: 

  • Practice Management and Law
  • Final Year Studio Tutor
  • Master of Architecture (MArch):
  • Advanced Practice Management and Law
  • BSc Architectural Design and Technology
  • Studio Tutor
  • Introduction to Urban Regeneration

Research Interests

My interest and research is in the management of architectural practice at both the level of the firm and at the client project interface. I am particularly interested in the areas of knowledge, financial, value and risk management; and in the area of professional negligence and breaches of professional conduct codes.

In parallel I have developed an interest in the structure of the UK architectural profession since the second world war including studies of specific architects, specific building typologies, and changes in the statutory and institutional context for the architectural profession.