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Published on the 18 July 2025

With cities around the world facing the mounting challenges of climate change and urban heat, few researchers are as dedicated to creating cooler, more sustainable environments as Associate Professor Lan Ding. Based in the School of Built Environment at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ Sydney, Lan is a leading voice in sustainable architecture, urban heat mitigation and smart cities.

In this conversation, Lan shares insights from her career journey, the focus of her research cluster and her motivation behind launching the Managing Urban Heat short course. She also shares career advice for the next generation of designers and planners looking to make a meaningful impact.

Let's start with your career journey.

What inspired you to pursue a path in sustainable architecture and urban design?

I didn’t always plan to work in sustainable design, but over time it became impossible to ignore the impact our built environment has on the world around us.  I started in architecture, drawn to how design influences the way we live and interact with our surroundings. But gradually, my focus began to shift. I became more interested in the environmental side of things. How do buildings and cities use resources? What impact does that have on the environment? How can we design in ways that genuinely support more sustainable outcomes?

That led me into architectural science and sustainable development. I became particularly interested in how increased resource consumption affects environmental sustainability and urban liveability. That’s where my focus is now. I’m working to improve resource efficiency in the built environment through practical, design-informed approaches.

You have previously worked at CSIRO and the University of Wollongong.

How have these past roles shaped the work you do at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ today?

My past roles have given me a strong foundation in both scientific research and practical application. They’ve helped me understand how to bridge research with real-world outcomes. Collaboration and innovation remain central to everything I do and continue to shape my work today because I believe they are essential for exploring new ideas and developing solutions that are effective in addressing challenges our cities face.

Can you tell me about a highlight or milestone in your career?

A personal highlight was when our High Performance Architecture Team received the ADA Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research. That recognition of our contribution and impact in the field motivates me to keep pushing forward. It is a reminder that the work we’re doing matters.

You lead the High Performance Architecture Research Cluster at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.

What is the primary focus of this group, and what kinds of challenges are you hoping to tackle?

We’re a group of researchers who care deeply about making the built environment more sustainable, resilient and liveable. Our focus is on how buildings and cities can perform better, especially under the pressures of climate change. We work across areas like urban heat mitigation, net-zero carbon design, lifecycle assessment and the transition to more sustainable, regenerative and smart cities. It’s an exciting space to work in, with growing urgency and real opportunities to make a difference.

Could you give us a glimpse into some of the most exciting projects you and your team are working on right now?

One major project is the National Heat Vulnerability Observatory, developed with the NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. It aims to build consistent national datasets and tools to measure heat vulnerability and cooling potential in cities. We’re currently piloting this in the Dubbo Region and Maitland City.

We’re also working on a next-generation hybrid energy system for net-zero buildings. This is supported by the Trailblazer program in Recycling and Clean Energy and brings together partners including Dubbo Regional Council, Advanced United Technologies, L&H Consulting and Sungrow Australia. The goal is to rethink energy management in buildings through smarter, more integrated systems.

Urban heat is becoming an increasingly serious issue.

What are the most pressing impacts that you see in Australian cities today?

We’re already seeing the effects. In January 2020, Western Sydney reached 48.9 degrees. Urban overheating affects outdoor comfort, drives up energy and water use and creates serious health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly and young children. It’s not just a climate issue; it’s a liveability issue.

How do tools like AI, GIS, and multi-agent modelling contribute to your work on urban sustainability?

These tools help us understand and manage complexity. AI, GIS and multi-agent modelling allow us to simulate urban systems, analyse patterns and test strategies before they’re applied. They support more informed, intelligent decision-making in planning and design.

You’ve created a short course, Managing Urban Heat, at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ.

What motivated you to offer this course?

Urban heat is one of the most urgent challenges facing our cities. My colleagues and I wanted to create a course that helps people engage with the issue in a practical and informed way. Understanding how to respond to overheating is critical to creating more resilient, liveable communities.

We also see professional development as essential to building the skills and confidence needed to take action. The future of our cities depends on the decisions industry professionals are making now. The more knowledge and tools they have at their disposal, the better equipped they’ll be to create meaningful change. A short course is an accessible and effective way to support that.

How do you see this course making a practical impact on the field of urban sustainability?

The course is all about turning knowledge into action. Participants learn skills they can apply immediately in their work to develop adaptation and mitigation strategies, including reducing heat vulnerability, lowering resource consumption and preparing for climate-related risks. 

What advice would you give to someone at the start of their career who wants to make a difference in sustainable design or urban heat adaptation?

Build a mix of scientific knowledge and hands-on experience. Sustainable design is complex and the best solutions come from understanding how different systems interact. Stay curious, stay open and keep learning across disciplines.

Looking to the future, what trends or innovations in architecture and urban design excite you most?

AI is one of the most exciting developments. It offers huge potential to improve how we design and manage urban spaces, from predictive modelling to energy optimisation. It’s still evolving, but the possibilities for innovation are enormous.

Finally, what personal goals or ambitions do you have going forward in your work at ²ÝÝ®ÊÓƵ and beyond?

I’m focused on scaling up the impact of our research. Projects like the National Heat Vulnerability Observatory and the proposed Australian Smart Environmental Observatory have the potential to influence how cities prepare for climate change.

My career started in architecture, but really, it’s always been about people. I’m driven to help create cities that are sustainable, equitable and resilient. What matters most to me is making sure our urban environments support healthy, liveable communities now and for generations to come.

Learn more about Associate Professor Lan Ding's research, projects and achievements by visiting her .

Learn more about the Managing Urban Heat short course.

Learn more about the High Performance Architecture Research Cluster.

Learn more about the ±«±·³§°ÂÌýSchool of Built Environment.