Australian Urban Design Research Centre

What Australian Urban Design Research Centre does

The Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) is a non-profit research and education organisation established in 2004 in Perth, Western Australia, dedicated to improving the quality of urban places in the state. Originally founded as the Urban Design Centre through a partnership between the Department for Planning and Infrastructure, Curtin University and the University of Western Australia (UWA), AUDRC now operates in partnership with UWA, co-located at the ALVA Hub, School of Design in Nedlands, with a headquarters office at Level 2, 1002 Hay Street, Perth CBD.

AUDRC's core products are its postgraduate education programs — a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and two-year Master of Urban Design, delivered online or on-campus through UWA — alongside CPD workshops for industry professionals. The centre also conducts applied research across climate-sensitive urban design, transit-oriented development, medium-density infill, and community engagement, producing publications, planning support systems, and design competitions (Business as Unusual, Future Climate Future Home, Memorial to the Sixth Extinction). Methodologically it integrates systems thinking, spatial analysis, ecological services, big-data analysis, and design theory.

Revenue derives from two principal streams: tuition routed through UWA's postgraduate delivery, and research contracts with state and local government partners including the Western Australian Planning Commission, Department of Planning Lands and Heritage, Development WA, Department of Housing and Works, City of Cockburn, City of Vincent, and Shire of Toodyay. Customer segments span postgraduate students, government (state and local), industry and advocacy groups, and community organisations. Distribution is direct to enterprise government clients and through UWA's academic channels; engagement is amplified via public workshops, presentations, and competitions.

Name

Australian Urban Design Research Centre

Legal name

The Australian Urban Design Research Centre

Website

https://audrc.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Australian Urban Design Research Centre is a Perth-based non-profit, established in 2004 in partnership with the University of Western Australia, delivering postgraduate urban design education and applied research for Western Australian state and local governments, industry, and community groups.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Educational Programs: AUDRC offers educational programs through University of Western Australia including Graduate Certificate (1 semester), Graduate Diploma (1 year), and Master of Urban Design (2 years). Programs are delivered online or on-campus with award-winning teaching staff.
2. Government-Funded Research: Research projects funded by government partners including Western Australian Planning Commission, Department of Planning Lands and Heritage, Development WA, and Department of Housing and Works, as well as local government partners

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Australian Urban Design Research Centre (AUDRC) is a non-profit research and education organization that delivers postgraduate urban design programs (Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master of Urban Design) in partnership with the University of Western Australia. It conducts applied research on climate-sensitive urban design, transit-oriented development, medium-density infill, and green infrastructure for government and industry partners, and provides community engagement consulting, CPD workshops, and design competitions.

Product overview

AUDRC operates as a non-profit urban design research and education center offering a portfolio of interconnected programs and services. The core educational offerings include Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and Master of Urban Design programs delivered in partnership with the University of Western Australia, alongside CPD workshops. The organization conducts applied research across urban design, climate adaptation, transit-oriented development, and housing, producing publications and reports for government and industry partners. AUDRC also provides community engagement consulting services through bespoke workshops and runs design competitions to explore future urban scenarios. The products work together to bridge academic research, professional practice, and community participation in urban design.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Graduate Certificate in Urban Design

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 160 presentations delivered from 2012-2024 to government, industry, and community groups
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Western Australia (UWA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2004Founding partner from establishment in 2004. AUDRC is located at UWA's School of Design and offers educational programs through the university. The partnership provides academic credentials and access to university resources and facilities.
• Western Australian Planning CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore government supporter providing strategic planning support and funding for research initiatives. Key partner in the Future Climate Future Home research project.
• Department of Planning Lands and HeritagecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner providing funding and strategic direction for urban design research. Partner in research projects including transit-oriented development and climate adaptation.
• Development WAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government development authority supporting AUDRC through research partnerships. Partner in Future Climate Future Home climate adaptation research.
• Department of Housing and WorkscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government department providing funding support and partnering on housing-related research including age-friendly housing and urban design projects.
• City of CockburnminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government funding partner for the My Best Home project focused on promoting homes for people over 55 in infill situations.
• ASPECT StudiosminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUrban design practice that employs AUDRC alumni. Represents industry connection for graduate employment and professional collaboration.
• PLACE LaboratoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandscape architecture practice in Perth that employs AUDRC alumni. Collaborative projects include Perth Cultural Centre artwork components.
• ElementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPerth-based urban design firm that employs AUDRC alumni. Represents industry placement pathway for graduates.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Emerging players

• Project for Public Spaces: US-based non-profit focused on placemaking and community engagement in urban design, providing training, consulting, and toolkits. Comparable to AUDRC's community engagement consulting work and design tools, though operating with a more grassroots, civic-activism orientation rather than a research/academic model.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Institute of Land Policy: US-based independent non-profit focused on land policy, urban planning, and taxation research, producing influential publications and education programs. Comparable to AUDRC as an independent, mission-driven urban research and education organisation, though at much greater scale and global reach.
• Urban Land Institute (ULI): Global non-profit research and education organisation focused on land use and real estate development. Comparable to AUDRC in combining urban research, education programs, and member-driven industry engagement, though at much larger scale and with a private-sector-dominated membership model.
• Centre for Liveable Cities (Singapore): Singapore government-established research and knowledge hub on urban sustainability and liveability, conducting applied research and capability development. Comparable to AUDRC as a publicly-supported urban research centre focused on liveability and climate adaptation, though with significantly larger institutional mandate and budget.

Direct peers

• Swinburne University - Centre for Smart Cities and Urban Research: Melbourne-based university research centre focused on urban data, smart cities, and applied urban research. Comparable to AUDRC as an Australian university research centre engaging with government and industry on urban challenges, though with a stronger data/technology orientation.
• RMIT Centre for Urban Research: RMIT University's multidisciplinary urban research centre covering housing, transport, governance and sustainability. Directly comparable to AUDRC as an Australian university-anchored centre conducting applied urban research with policy and government engagement.
• University of Melbourne - Melbourne Centre for Cities: University of Melbourne's urban research and education hub, focused on city design, planning, and policy. Direct peer to AUDRC in delivering postgraduate urban design/planning education and applied research with government and industry partners.
• Curtin University - School of Design and the Built Environment: Curtin University's planning and design faculty, notably a former founding partner of AUDRC that departed in 2008. Comparable as a Perth-based university delivering urban planning education and applied research, and a natural alternative collaboration or competitor for WA government research funding.
• UNSW City Futures Research Centre: UNSW Sydney-based research centre focused on urban planning, housing, and city research, producing government-relevant applied research and postgraduate education. Directly comparable to AUDRC in structure (university-anchored, applied urban research), although at significantly larger scale and national scope.

Regional players

• Australian Institute of Urban Studies (AIUS): Australian national body promoting urban studies research, policy debate, and publications. Comparable to AUDRC's applied research and publication activity on Australian urban issues, though AIUS is a member-based learned society rather than a university-anchored research centre.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLv2644LMf4eS4p2KUJyvI7tTCbuxkBkuz
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-urban-design-research-centre

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Australian Urban Design Research Centre