Renee Cheng, AIA (Associate Dean of Research and Outreach) published an updated study from the AIA Center for Integrated Practice, AIA Minnesota, and University of Minnesota School of Architecture that is the most comprehensive report on project teams using Integrated Project Delivery (IPD). Since 2010, when AIA / AIA-California Council published the first IPD Case Study, the number of projects has continued to increase. Led by Renee Cheng, AIA, the AIA / AIA Minnesota / University of Minnesota team initially published their findings in February 2011 using an interactive matrix. This updated report augments information from both previous IPD case studies with survey analysis of 127 project team members, additional interviews and metrics for five of the 12 case studies, and a map of ongoing IPD projects.

Marc Swackhamer, AIA (Head and Associate Professor) and Blaine Brownell, AIA (Director of M.Arch Program and Assoc. Professor), recently published Hypernatural: Architecture’s New Relationship with Nature (Princeton Architectural Press, March 2015),  that addresses the changing relationship between nature and the built environment, and explore new ways of building that result. In the book, they argue that, “The notions that technology embodies inherently antinatural principles or that it is a domain squarely under the control of human operations are both inaccurate and dangerous presumptions, for they limit the full potential of technology as a creative force that can benefit us as well as the planet.” An exhibition of work featured in the book is currently on display in the HGA Gallery at the University of Minnesota.

John Comazzi, Associate Professor, recently lectured at the Dallas Center for Architecture on the life and career of Balthazar Korab. The lecture was coordinated with the photography exhibition currently on display at the DCA through December 03, 2015 entitled: “Inflected Modernism: Architecture Through the Lens of Balthazar Korab.” Comazzi co-curated the exhibition with Christian Korab (Adjunct Assistant Professor, and son of Balthazar Korab).

This fall, the Center for Sustainable Building Research and its partners recognized Minnesota buildings that go above and beyond to meet the state’s Buildings, Benchmarking, and Beyond (B3) Guidelines. Minnesota requires that all state-funded construction and renovation projects meet B3 sustainability goals for water, energy, indoor environment, site, materials, and waste. The team designed the program to be compatible with LEED™ and other national guidelines, with an emphasis on design elements enabling energy efficiency and sustainability in Minnesota’s climate. The guidelines are clear and simple, and include documentation to gauge progress over time. The CSBR is lead by Richard Graves (Director and Associate Professor) and William Weber (Lecturer and Director of the M.S. Sustainable Design)