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The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce the inaugural recipients of the 2025 Graduate Student Research Enhancement (GSRE) Award, a new program designed to support graduate-led research with strong potential to advance scholarship across the design and construction disciplines. These student principal investigators will carry out original projects under the guidance of a faculty co-PI, with results to be shared at a future Gibbs College research symposium.
This year’s awardees represent the Haskell & Irene Lemon Division of Construction Science, the Division of Interior Design, and the PhD program in Planning, Design & Construction. Their projects demonstrate an impressive range of inquiry—from virtual reality and aging vision, to biomimetic façades, mass timber construction, and digital twin technologies.
Yousef Haghighi (PhD student, Planning, Design & Construction) will develop the “Breathing Eye,” a bio-inspired, climate-adaptive façade system that regulates daylight, heat, and airflow through iris-like apertures and responsive vents. Drawing on biomimicry, parametric modeling, environmental simulation, digital fabrication, and sensor integration, this project seeks to prototype a new category of low-energy, responsive building skins. The work aims to advance intelligent façade technologies capable of adapting dynamically to environmental conditions while reducing reliance on mechanical systems. The faculty co-PI on this project is Dr. Shakil Shimul.
Amirhossein Jafari (master’s student, Construction Science) will explore how Digital Twins—virtual building replicas connected to real-time data—paired with Augmented Reality can support field technicians in facilities management. His project will define and validate an “Intelligent Reality” system architecture that delivers interactive, context-aware building information directly to workers in the field. Through literature analysis, Delphi sessions, and focus groups, the study aims to identify the data flows, interaction methods, and core features needed to improve on-site troubleshooting, maintenance efficiency, and decision-making. The faculty co-PI on this project is Dr. Kofi Asare.
Ramtin Mir (PhD student, Planning, Design & Construction) will create a BIM-enabled value engineering framework to enhance the cost-effectiveness of mass timber construction in the retail sector—an area with significant potential but limited existing evaluation tools. His project combines life cycle cost analysis, expert surveys, and business process modeling to assess design alternatives using both quantitative and qualitative measures. The resulting workflow will help architects, engineers, and developers make more informed decisions about mass timber’s viability and performance in commercial applications. The faculty co-PI on this project is Dr. Shideh Shadravan.
Nikita Shrestha (master’s student, Interior Design) will investigate how color and contrast influence wayfinding for aging adults using high-resolution VR eye-tracking technology. Her project will capture real-time gaze behavior, pupil response, and visual attention patterns in simulated interior environments to better understand how older users perceive and navigate space. By translating these findings into evidence-based design recommendations, her research aims to improve accessibility, signage legibility, and spatial clarity for aging populations in built environments. The faculty co-PI on this project is Dr. Suchi Bhattacharjee.
Gibbs College congratulates the inaugural 2025 GSRE awardees and celebrates the vision, rigor, and creativity reflected in their work!
The Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture congratulates Dr. Tammy McCuen, Robert E. Busch Professor of Construction Science, on beginning her term as president of the Associated Schools of Construction (ASC), an international organization dedicated to advancing construction education through teaching, research and service.
Following years of contributions to the College’s research and strategic initiatives, Gibbs College shares that Associate Dean for Research and External Engagement Angela M. Person, PhD, will step down from her position at Gibbs College as she moves to Tucson with her family, effective June 30, 2026.
On April 24, 2026, the Christopher C. Gibbs College of Architecture hosted its annual Graduate Student Showcase, a celebration of research, design innovation, and creative exploration across all graduate programs within the College.
