LNEC’s Buildings Department (DED), established in 1971, carries out Scientific Research, Experimental Development and Innovation (R&D&I) activities in the field of buildings and built environment, which embraces a wide range of aspects such as: building products, elements and facilities; environmental comfort; building economy and management; construction technology and methods; maintenance and rehabilitation of the built patrimony; risk and safety; as well as the interaction between society and built environment.

For the 2013-2020 period, the activity of the Department is broken down into four major areas:

	Building performance and quality in construction
	Sustainable construction technologies
	Socio-territorial development and innovation
	Building economy and management

To operate in the areas above, the Department is organised into the four units as follows:

• Building Finishes and Thermal Insulation Unit (NRI);
• Urban and Territorial Studies Unit (NUT);
• Building Economy, Management and Technology Unit (NEG);
• Acoustics, Lighting, Building Components and Facilities Unit (NAICI).