Research is central to the U-SoA mission to advance knowledge in the discipline. Faculty and student research is evident in the work of community engagement; developing architectural form that responds to both tradition and innovation; learning through making; and the interplay of environment, technology and regional identity. Several ‘areas of research’ provide a framework for the School’s multi-disciplinary research efforts.
The vital role of designers in shaping the physical environment and its relationship to the natural world is at the core of the school’s pedagogy. Urban Design and Real Estate Development, and the nexus between them, form a critical field of inquiry supported by the School’s Center for Urban & Community Design and two distinct Master programs: the Master of Urban Design and the Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism.
Construction technique informs the discipline of architecture and our relationship with the environment. U-SoA explores a range of practices, from traditional systems to cutting-edge technologies, and investigates how the making of buildings and cities enhances their resiliency and sustainability. The School also focuses on contemporary practice issues, from the role of research in practice, to the field of Construction Management.
Responsive Architecture Design is premised on the notion that every building or landscape component can be equipped with computational power. Responsive Architecture Design research is supported by the School’s RAD-UM lab, which provides resources and expertise for project-based research on the spatial ramifications of embedded technology and ubiquitous computing. Projects at RAD-UM are set up for multi-disciplinary collaboration and for partnerships with industry.
Changing climate patterns are impacting communities in coastal regions across the globe due to rising sea levels and increasing temperatures. Architects and urban designers play a central role in developing robust adaptation strategies by addressing climate stressors in their designs. Research, innovation, and community outreach are central and connected aspects of building coastal resiliency.
Healthcare Architecture is a growing and developing field with design implications that cover a wide range of scales, from urban planning to the design of a single patient room. U-SoA explores these different scales, while providing a multi-disciplinary approach to Healthcare Architecture. Collaborations within the University of Miami, including the Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine, the School of Business, and the College of Engineering, provide students a dynamic and experiential learning environment.
Historic Preservation is at the center of discourse about stewardship and the environment. Miami is an excellent laboratory of contemporary preservation and adaptive use strategies, including preservation of modern architecture and the use of historic preservation as community planning. In addition, the School’s location makes it an excellent base to examine of cultural heritage of Cuba and the Caribbean.
Classical and traditional architecture are evolving in relation to new paradigms of research and practice, such as digital media and fabrication, sustainability, ecology, and emerging economies. A progressive classicism that seeks to address the pressing issues of our cities, towns and landscapes, is the basis for research spanning popular, professional, and academic discourse.
Housing and hospitality are not only foundation building blocks for modern urban centers, they are critical areas of lifestyle innovation and for the application of new ideas about resilience and sustainability. This field of inquiry is supported by the School’s Master of Urban Design and Master of Real Estate Development + Urbanism programs.
Miami’s location is a starting point for examining relevant issues of Tropical Architecture, and the study of Latin America and the Caribbean.
The School offers broad opportunities to explore Architecture across a range of historical and theoretical discourses. Research methodologies, modes of critical thinking, and the development of writing skills within the fields of architecture and architectural history and theory are emphasized. Recognizing that architecture is an inherently interdisciplinary endeavor, this field of inquiry is supported by the expansive resources of the University of Miami.
Cross-disciplinary Work/Collaborations
The School of Architecture is located at the heart of the University of Miami, a thriving academic institution in the heart of one of the North America most dynamic cities. The School collaborates with other Schools within the University on interdisciplinary and cross-disciplinary work and classes.
