Alec Tzannes became Dean of UNSW Built Environment in 2008, and is a Professor of Design Practice (Built Environment). Alec Tzannes is the founding Director of TZANNES, an Architecture and Urban Design practice. He has served as Dean of UNSW Built Environment and is now an Emeritus Professor. TZANNES is recognised by more than 100 local, state, national and international awards in architecture, urban design and industrial design.

In 2014 Alec was made a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to architecture, as a practitioner and educator and through professional organisations.

In 2017 UNSW honoured Alec’s achievements with the degree of Doctor of the University honoris causa.

In 2018 he was awarded the Australian Institute of Architects’ Gold Medal. The Gold Medal recognises distinguished service by architects who have designed or executed buildings of high merit, produced work of great distinction resulting in the advancement of architecture or endowed the profession of architecture in a distinguished manner.

He is a graduate of the University of Sydney, where he completed a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Architecture (winning the University Medal), and has a Master of Science (Architecture and Urban Design) from Columbia University.

In 2003, he was a Visiting Professorial Fellow at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and has taught in architecture design studios at the University of Sydney from 1979 to 1983.

Fields of research: Urban Design, Density, Housing and Architectural Practice