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Luis Ricardo Borunda Monsivais

Visiting Assistant Professor of Practice
  • Architect

Luis Borunda is an architect, researcher, and educator specialized in architectural technology and computational design with a focus on advanced design and construction methods that utilize computation and digital fabrication. His work has been centered on the development of lightweight, high-performance structures using computational techniques and digital fabrication technologies such as 3D printing and robotics, as well as the integration of sensors and other technologies into the built environment to enable real-time monitoring and optimization of building performance. 

Borunda has also dedicated his research and teaching to addressing issues of sustainability and social equity in the built environment, including the design of energy-efficient buildings and communities and the development of tools and methods for the analysis and optimization of urban systems. He has led projects on smart construction and experiential learning at the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience at Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies and is currently a collaborator of the National Laboratory of Sustainable Housing and Communities of Mexico. 

Prior to establishing his own architecture and design firm, he worked as a project architect at internationally renowned studios in Spain. He served as codirector of two Solar Decathlon Europe competition entries where he played a key role in establishing collaborative partnerships between educators, practitioners, corporate sponsors, and industry leaders. 

Borunda holds a Ph.D. in Architectural Construction and Technology from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, where he received the highest distinction for his doctoral dissertation on digital 3D printing, design, and fabrication of continuous surfaces .

computational design, sustainable design, AI in architecture, construction automation, shell structures

Architecture III Studio 3015
Research Methods 5045
ARCH3054, Building Analysis

Peer-reviewed journal publications

• SJR Q2 Arts and Humanities: Borunda, L., Anaya, J., “Hierarchical Structures Computational Design and Digital 3D Printing”, Journal of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures IASS, 63(4), 2022, DOI:10.20898/j.iass.2022.015

• SJR Q3 Building and Construction: Rodriguez, M., Borunda, L., et al., “Multi-resolution in architecture as a design driver for additive manufacturing applications” International Journal of Architectural Computing, 8(3), 2020, pp. 218 – 234, DOI 10.1177/147807712092480218

• Borunda, L., Rodríguez, M., et al. “Additive Manufacturing Building Components”, Análes de Edificación. 6(2), 2019, pp. 7 – 19, ISSN 2444-1309

Peer-reviewed conference publications

• Borunda, L., Rodriguez, M., et al., “Design Method for Optimized Infills in Additive Manufacturing Thermoplastic Component”, In: Sousa, J. et al (Eds), Proceedings of 37th eCAADe and XXIII SIGraDi Joint Conference, Architecture in the Age of the 4Th Industrial Revolution, São Paulo, Blucher, 2019, pp. 493 - 504, DOI: 10.5151/proceedings-ecaadesigradi2019_628

• Aguilar, P., Borunda, L.,  Pardal, C., “Additive manufacturing of variable-density ceramics, photocatalytic and filtering slats”. In: Werner, L. & Koering, D., (Eds.), Anthropologic-Architecture and Fabrication in the Cognitive Age Proc. of the eCAADe, 38, 1, TU Berlin, Germany, 2020, pp. 97 – 105, DOI: 10.52842/conf.ecaade.2020.1.097

• Rodriguez, M., Borunda, L., et al., “Robotic Free-Oriented Additive Manufacturing Technique for Thermopla

CONFERENCES

• “La Nube”, CaixaForum Valencia Museum Inaugural Conference, Valencia, Spain, 2022

• “El impacto ambiental de la automatización de la construcción y la fabricación aditiva de gran escala”, Semana de la ingeniería IIT, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, 2018

• “Energy Efficient Housing Prototypes” Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Mexico, 2013 

• “Solar Decathlon Europe” ITESM campus Querétaro, Mexico, 2013 

• “CFD Simulation and Design Methodologies for Energy Efficient Design” Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain, 2011 

• “Passive Architecture Case Studies”, College of Architects of Madrid, Spain, 2012 

• “Low Energy, Low Impact, Low Cost” Universidad de Alcalá de Henáres, Spain, 2011

• “Sustainable design for environmental equilibrium”, Zero-Energy Buildings International Conference of the 10Action European Commission, Lisbon, Portugal, 2011

EXHIBITIONS

• Caixa Forum Valencia Cloud for CITY X Virtual Pavilion, 17th Venice Architecture Biennale, Italy, 2021

• Museum of Science and Technology, La Coruna, Spain, 2013

• Innovation in Architecture: exhibition of the Spain Pavilion , 11th Venice Architecture Biennale, Italy, 2012

• Sant Adria del Besos, Barcelona, Spain, 2011

• Färgfabriken Museum, Stockholm, Sweden, 2009

SERVICE

• Reviewer, Computer-Aided Architectural Design Research in Asia, 2019 – 2022

• Technology Consultant, National Laboratory of Sustainable Housing and Communities of Mexico, 2016 - 2022

• Journal reviewer, International Journal on Architectural Computing, 2019 - 2021

• Journal reviewer, Technology | Architecture + Design, 2021

• Invited Jury & reviewer: Syracuse University, Instituto de Arquitectura Avanzada de Cataluña, Istituto Europeo di Design, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, Universidad Politecnica de Cataluña, Univeridad Internacional de Cataluña. Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Carnegie Mellon University 

  • Specialization in architectural technology and computational design with a focus on advanced design and construction methods that utilize computation and digital fabrication.
  • Development of lightweight, high-performance structures using computational techniques and digital fabrication technologies such as 3D printing and robotics.
  • Integration of sensors and other technologies into the built environment to enable real-time monitoring and optimization of building performance.
  • Dedication to addressing issues of sustainability and social equity in the built environment, including the design of energy-efficient buildings and communities and the development of tools and methods for the analysis and optimization of urban systems.
  • Leadership of projects on smart construction and experiential learning at the Global Forum on Urban and Regional Resilience at Virginia Tech's College of Architecture and Urban Studies.
  • Collaboration with the National Laboratory of Sustainable Housing and Communities of Mexico.
  • Possession of a Ph.D. in Architectural Construction and Technology from the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
  • Participation as a codirector of two Solar Decathlon Europe competition entries sponsored by the Department of Energy.
  • Professional experience as a project architect at internationally renowned studios Cloud 9 and Sancho Madridejos Architecture Office.
  • Role in establishing collaborative partnerships between educators, practitioners, corporate sponsors, and industry leaders.
  • Freelance registered architect from 2014 to 2021
  • LEED GA and Introduction to Computer Science and Programming Using Python certificates
  • Member of Council of Spanish Architects, 
  • Member of the Official College of Architects of Madrid, 
  • Licensed Architect in Spain, registered in Madrid
  • Member of the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures
  • Awarded the CONACYT 439983 federal grant awarded by the government of Mexico, 2016
  •  Awareded 1st place Fundacion Arquia Competition, award by Arquia Bank, 2013

Education

PhD Architecture Construction and Technology, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid

MSc & BA Architecture, Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña

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LUIS-BORUNDA-CV.pdf