Design x Technology Series: Mohamed Ismail

Come to CoAD for our next interesting Design x Technology Series lecture featuring Mohamed Ismail, Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Virginia School of Architecture and the Director of the Open Structures Research group. His talk titled, Building (for) More With Less will showcase novel ways structural design can play a role in affordable housing, sustainable construction, and equitable development.

Building (for) More With Less

Less Economically Developed Countries (LEDCs) are increasingly vulnerable to climate-related threats while struggling to meet the demand for urban construction and affordable housing. A major reason for this is the high cost of materials, which can comprise 60-80% of the total cost of residential construction, yet their construction resembles the inefficient practices of More Economically Developed Countries (MEDCs) that were developed to reduce labor over material costs. Unfortunately, designers do not typically have access to optimization methods that enable the design of fabricable, low-cost, and low-carbon structures. Addressing the gap between optimization research and design practice, this research advances design methods that reduce the material costs and embodied carbon of affordable housing construction that meets local codes and constraints.

Participants will learn about novel ways structural design can play a role in affordable housing, sustainable construction, and equitable development. They will be introduced to accessible methods of shape optimization, low-carbon structural analysis, and fabrication aware computational design. They will be introduced to accessible methods of shape optimization, low-carbon structural analysis, and fabrication aware computational design.

🛂 CoAD Freshman, this event counts towards your Experience Passport.

CEU: This lecture equals 1 professional architecture credit towards licensure requirements. ​​

Please note that LTU is not a registered AIA CE provider. By virtue of having a NAAB-accredited architecture program, the State of Michigan authorizes LTU to offer continuing education credit. A list of state-approved HSW subjects can be found on their by searching the page for ' HSW subjects for continuing education'.

As part of CoAD's Design x Technology Lecture Series, this lecture is free and open to the public. Guests may watch online or on campus. Register for the location/viewing details.

About: Mohamed Ismail is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Virginia School of Architecture and the Director of the Open Structures research group. Open Structures advances structural design and fabrication methods that enable sustainable development. Ismail’s research engages with nonprofit organizations, industry partners, and a global network of academics to design and develop low-cost, low-carbon structural components for housing in developing regions like Kenya, India, and Mexico.

Also check out other Arts events in Southfield.