University and NLA partnership launched with industry networking event in London
Posted on: 17 July, 2026
Students, alumni and built environment professionals gathered in London on Thursday evening for a networking event marking a new partnership between the University of the Built Environment and the NLA.
Held at NLA’s London Centre in Aldermanbury, featuring an iconic miniature version of the entire city, the event brought together attendees from far and wide, including Derby, Manchester and Exeter, and from a range of disciplines including building surveying, quantity surveying, real estate and planning.
Would the built environment thrive without AI?
The evening explored how technology is reshaping the built environment sector, with a particular focus on the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.
Speaking during an industry insight panel discussion session, Harry Quartermain, Associate Lecturer in Digital Planning and Artificial Intelligence at the University, said: “The most valuable people in the profession over the next decade won’t necessarily be the deepest specialists. They’ll be the best translators: people who can sit between a data team, a policy team and a committee, and make each one legible to the other.”
The panel, which addressed the question: ‘Would the built environment thrive without AI?’ also featured Betty Owoo, Chair of NLA NextGen and representative of the Greater London Authority, and Alice Young-Lee, Senior Planner at Turley and an NLA industry member.
The discussion examined where AI is already having an impact, while also considering the continuing importance of human judgement, communication and professional expertise.
AI changing start of careers
Mr Quartermain said AI was changing how many professionals begin their careers, taking on tasks such as background research and report drafting while pushing people more quickly into roles focused on reviewing outputs and defining project scope.
He told guests: “Without this experience, the critical analysis skills that are required to know what questions to ask, how to get your message across, and how to ensure factual accuracy, need to be taught from a much earlier point.”
Alongside the panel discussion, attendees spent the evening networking, discussing developments in AI and engaging with NLA’s interactive London models.
Exclusive alumni NLA membership offer
The partnership also brings new benefits for members of the University community. During the event, attendees were invited to take advantage of an exclusive NLA membership offer, providing access to industry insight, professional networks, events and opportunities through the organisation’s extensive built environment community.
Unlock your exclusive NLA membership offer here
Event organiser Ekta Mirchandani-Khemlani, International and Alumni Marketing Officer at the University, said: “The evening was a big success and it was wonderful to be able to bring together students, graduates and professionals from different specialisms to share ideas, build connections and explore the future of the industry.”
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