Research in Entrepreneurship and Applied Practice advances innovation, agency, and implementation in planning, design, and construction through community-embedded and practice-oriented inquiry. Our faculty work at the intersection of research, professional practice, and public impact—developing new methods, tools, and delivery models that translate ideas into real-world outcomes while centering community needs and partnerships.
Work related to Construction Management and Project Delivery explores how building projects move from planning to construction through coordination, safety practices, and management systems. Projects in this area include studies of lean construction, occupational safety, workforce readiness, scheduling, and project controls. Industry partnerships often support investigations of construction workflows and collaboration among architects, engineers, contractors, and project teams.
Explorations in Design Research and Practice approach design as a form of inquiry. Projects may involve built work, design-build initiatives, exhibitions, and interdisciplinary studies of spatial experience, urban form, and materials. Through studios and professional practice, these efforts explore how design processes contribute to knowledge and experiences of buildings, landscapes, and cities.
Digital Design and BIM Technologies include research on computational tools used to coordinate design and construction. Work in this area may focus on building information modeling, digital coordination workflows, digital twins, and advanced modeling systems used in complex projects. Some projects also explore responsive design systems and examine how data-driven models support integrated planning, documentation, and project delivery.
Work in Experiential and Practice-Based Learning connects planning, design, and construction education with employers, community partners, and design-build initiatives. Projects often involve applied work where students plan, design, and construct projects responding to real needs. Faculty examine how hands-on work, collaboration, and public engagement support technical development, professional judgment, and understandings of how the built environment shapes communities.
Real Estate, Development and Housing includes research on the policies, development practices, and building approaches shaping housing and urban growth. Projects may examine land use policy, real estate development processes, design typologies, and construction methods used in residential and mixed-use projects. This work connects development decisions with planning, design, and construction practices to better understand how different development and design strategies influence communities and the built environment.
