Two centuries ago, Hong Kong was a fishing and farming settlement. Today, it’s a global city of finance, trade, and innovation — home to more skyscrapers than any other metropolis and a skyline known the world over. With this vertical density comes real impact: buildings account for 90% of electricity consumption and 60% of carbon dioxide emissions yearly.
In response, the Hong Kong Environment Bureau created the Climate Action Plan 2030+, and introduced BEAM Plus — green building certification standards aimed at reshaping the built environment. Notable examples include the Central Government Complex, which was designed to optimise natural daylight and ventilation, while the Yuen Chau Kok Sports Centre uses evaporative cooling towers.
Even top-tier institutions like Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has made significant strides in curbing carbon emissions in support of Hong Kong’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. It is paving the way for a more sustainable future through research, operations, campus development, and innovative divisions like the Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering (BEEE).
BEEE’s goal is to “imagine, engineer, and promote sustainable, salutogenic, and safe environments” for living. It trains engineers to design sustainable, health-promoting, and energy-efficient spaces — through hands-on, rigorous education grounded in real-world impact. It’s a diverse, multicultural environment, supported by scholarships that keep opportunities accessible.
Yet, when Arailym Shmidt was first looking for universities to pursue her dreams in engineering and sustainable building designs — sparked by her grandfather’s influence and architectural design contests in school — her knowledge of Hong Kong was fairly limited. Ann Muniko Rioba, who’s from Kenya, didn’t even know Hong Kong existed until recently. But when they learned of the way PolyU championed sustainability through energy engineering and building designs, they knew it was the place for them.
Ann Muniko Rioba from Nairobi, Kenya, is preparing for her dream career in construction at PolyU. Source: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Today, Shmidt is a graduate of PolyU and Rioba is in her first year of undergraduate studies, but they have one thing in common: the Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) in Building Sciences and Engineering.
“I chose to study at Hong Kong Polytechnic University because I wanted to be in the construction industry, and it had really high rankings,” says Rioba. “I thought, ‘I might as well go to where it’s the biggest,’ which is mostly in China and Asia. Instead of being in the secondary area, let me go to where everything starts.”
A cutting-edge, hands-on programme
In four years, the BEng (Hons) in Building Sciences and Engineering prepares you to become a global leader in the shaping of a sustainable built environment. It’s fully accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE), delivering courses that cover the art and science of providing safe, healthy, and energy-efficient spaces. You’ll starts with the Common Year One curriculum, and later have the option to pick up a secondary major: either Innovation and Entrepreneurship or Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics.
What Rioba loves most about the programme is its close-knit community. Highly-qualified lecturers take their time to create interactive learning environments where they get to know every student and immerse them in discussions. You’ll experience group work, lead small projects, and also work independently. For Rioba, one lesson left a profound impact.
“Building Informatics was the first time I actually had to code for buildings — I didn’t know coding that much because I’ve never done tech before,” she says. “But it showed me how to interact with my classmates because there’s people who were actually top-tier coders. So, I actually learned that I can just walk up to someone and ask them questions.”
Dynamic courses make up the programme’s interdisciplinary curriculum. It emphasises green building designs, challenging you to find solutions to the most pressing global urbanisation and climate change issues. Of course, you will have access to advanced design softwares, state-of-the-art laboratories, and smart building technologies throughout.
At PolyU’s BEEE, you’ll study the art and science of designing safe, comfortable, and environmentally friendly buildings. Source: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Originally from Kazakhstan, Shmidt’s first two years were dedicated to building a foundation in subjects like engineering, thermodynamics, and heat and mass transfer. By her third year, the curriculum began to cover areas like piping services, heating, and ventilation, which are all still applicable to her career today. She worked on a group project designing the services of a 40-story skyscraper and received real-time feedback from an industry professional.
“They would give us their opinion on our design, and try to make it more realistic,” she says. “I think it was a great opportunity for us to learn and emerge in the industry without actually working. We’ve already got the experience of making a design and taking responsibility.”
Indeed, PolyU’s strong industry links with leading companies in Hong Kong and the world brings vast opportunities. You will have the chance to complete internships, whether in the region or abroad, bring your classroom learnings to reality and expand your professional network. Through the Global Engagement Office, international students receive one-on-one support, whether that’s in scholarships, mentorships, or career guidance.
With unlimited guidance, Shmidt began researching building services operation and maintenance before eventually receiving the prestigious BSOMES Research Prize in 2023. Rioba often attends company visits in Hong Kong, and as part of PolyU’s career exploration programme, she got to visit Singapore for a week and witness the working culture of the financial hub first-hand. From global exchange to international competitions — the world is quite literally at your fingertips when you have PolyU backing you up.
Today, Shmidt is an assistant engineer at Arup, designing different services like plumbing and drainage, ventilation, and air conditioning in commercial buildings across Hong Kong and Macau. “The knowledge I’ve gained, and the skill set I’ve gained at PolyU’s BEEE has been vital to me at work — I use them in my everyday work life,” she says.
Discover the BEng (Hons) in Building Sciences and Engineering today.
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