Research and Creative Scholarship

The Center for Design Research (CDR) links the academy, industry, and design practice by creating opportunities for collaboration through applied research; establishes corporate partnerships and sponsorships within the prospectus of design research; expands capacity by building relationships within the design professions and affiliated industries; initiates collaborative research projects within and beyond the boundaries of the university; and strengthens all areas of research through cross-disciplinary team building, and the integration of teaching and research.

Contact: Nathan King

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The mission of the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA) is to document the history of women’s involvement in architecture, interior and industrial design, landscape architecture, urban design and planning, architectural history and criticism, and the records of women’s professional organizations. Each year, IAWA hosts the IAWA Symposium and awards the Milka Bliznakov Student Research Prize.

Current projects include

● Digital Exhibition at the Venice Biennale, until November 23, 2025: a celebration of women’s contribution to the built environment

● In preparation: Exhibition at the Washington District Architecture Center

Contact: Paola Zellner

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The Center for High Performance Environments (CHPE) serves as a first-of-its-kind resource for designers, engineers, system consultants, teachers, school administrators, facility managers, building owners and others interested in improving the design and operation of built environments. The CHPE takes a holistic approach to the design of buildings and focuses on a range of multidisciplinary activities, including energy efficiency, sustainability, systems integration, evaluating the building envelope, and integrating appropriate technology into indoor environments of the 21st century. 

Current projects include:

● Sustainable Concrete - The exploration of reusing precast concrete systems. In cooperation with the Precast Concrete Institute and Metromont (Precast concrete manufacturer) educational material related to the use of precast concrete systems is being developed and integrated into the design lab for MArch 2 students.

● Transforming Precast Concrete Construction through a Cradle-to-Cradle Approach from the Coalition for Smart Construction at Virginia Tech. This 18-month cross-disciplinary pilot project explores the opportunities and constraints related to recycling and repurposing precast concrete systems.

● A Prototypical Biophilic Lighting System. In collaboration with Dr. Ron Gibbons, Professor John Ambrosone and Master of Science student Heather-Anne Holland, we are exploring the design and development of a lighting system that improves occupant health and wellness through the integration of biophilic design strategies.

Contact: Jim Jones

The Community Design Assistance Center (CDAC) is a research and outreach center across the College of Architecture, Arts and Design. The vision of the Center is to strengthen a civil society by linking university expertise and societal needs as they relate to the environment in which we live. CDAC assists communities, neighborhood groups, and non-profit organizations in improving the natural and built environments through design, planning, policy, and research.

Current projects include

● Growing Amonate, VA: co-creation of the vision for economic development and heritage conservation for the Amonate community

● Pocahantas, VA: assistance to heritage conservation and reuse

Contact: Elizabeth Gilboy

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The Henry H. Wiss Center for Theory and History of Art and Architecture (formerly Center for Theory and History of Architecture) was established in 1984 for the purpose of gathering and actualizing interests in teaching, study and research of contemporary and historic art and architecture and theory. From its inception, the Center has been committed to providing students who wish to study the history of art and architecture, architectural criticism or design theory with frameworks for understanding, with methods by which the studies may be pursued, and with opportunities for examining these questions in a discussion forum.

Current projects include

● Implementation of Master Plan for the conservation of historic Solitude on campus, including the Main Building and its two dependencies, the Fraction Family House and the Spring House, as well as 3.2 acres of surrounding land up to the southern edge of the upper Duck Pond. The chapter titled The Importance of Solitude and its Restoration, by the Center Director, was submitted for the forthcoming publication edited by Dr. Anita Puckett.

● Implementation of the Master Plan for the conservation of the Spanish Colonial city of Santa Fe in Argentina.

● Continuing support to the International Archive of Women in Architecture (IAWA) in Special Collections, Newman Library, and most recently for the participation of the International Exhibition, Biennale of Art and Architecture in Venice, Italy.

Contact: Bert Rodriguez