The University of Miami School of Architecture supports a series of Labs and Centers meant to bridge and augment both student education and faculty research. Each lab is developed around a key emerging research area within the architectural sphere. Within the Centers and Labs faculty aim to bring speciality knowledge to and share with the U-SoA. These labs also function to develop an expanded network within and outside the U-SoA to bring in new opportunities for the school and students to participate in.
A brief summary of these can be found below:
CHIL
The Community, Housing & Identity Lab (CHIL) at the University of Miami, School of Architecture, is a testing ground for the physical and theoretical investigations of architecture’s social and political resiliency. CHIL understands that the built environment is manipulated by factors that extend beyond conventional construction procedures and attempts to highlight the narratives of marginalized communities.
The C.U.C.D
The Center for Urban and Community Design coordinates the School’s outreach to the community. The CUCD seeks to interface community and project needs with the core educational philosophy and goals of the School of Architecture. The CUCD’s mission is to integrate research, teaching, and service, to encourage interdisciplinary thought and action in the areas of preservation, sustainability/resiliency, civic engagement and the promotion of human welfare (humanitarianism).
The LU-Lab
The Litoral Urbanism Lab operates as a knowledge gathering center and project-based design group focused on the evolving dialogue binding urbanism and environment. The work of the LU_Lab acknowledges the responsibility of architecture as the curator of the constructed world to create a reciprocal relationship between the built and natural environments. Lines of inquiry will be explored through two means of investigation: interrogation and provocation.
The UM-RadLab
The RadLab provides resources and expertise for project-based research on the spatial ramifications of embedded technology and ubiquitous computing. The research is premised on the notion that every building or landscape component can be equipped with computational power. Projects at RAD-UM develop models for such digitally enhanced environments to better handle persistent and emerging challenges in the areas of healthcare, building technology and sustainability. The projects are set up for multi-disciplinary collaboration and for potential development in partnership with industry.
The Fabrication Lab
The U-SoA Fabrication Lab fosters a culture of learning through making. Its principal purpose is to serve students and faculty in existing and future research pursuits, by providing robust training and broad access to a host of digital and analog tools. The Lab continually improves, incorporating new technologies and expanding its capacities as a resource equal to the substantial ambitions of a top-tier architecture program.
The Model Shop
U-SoA’s modeling and fabrication facilities provide students the opportunity to turn their conceptual design projects into physical representations, allowing them to elaborate on the techniques learned in design courses. The fabrication facilities serve as an augmented area for exploration, prototyping, and design thinking through making. Studio assignments and research projects are pursued during the staffed lab hours under the supervision of a full time Fabrication Director and Student Lab Monitors.
The Computer Lab
The Computer Laboratory is U-SoA’s central resource for digital design and research. U-SoA and UMIT is committed to providing our students with the best possible environment for computer-based, collaborative teaching and research.
The O_Lab
Serves as a study center for research in the arts, sciences, and technology, in the disciplinary areas of Architecture, Arts, Design, Construction, and Urbanism, supporting the development of academic and community-based research.
The Photo Lab
The Photo Lab at the University of Miami School of Architecture is a resource provided by the school to allow students to photograph their architectural models in a professional setting.
To find out more about each lab, please see the individual links to the left of the page.
