Center for Architecture Science and Ecology

Next Friday, March 6th, CASE Director, Alexandros Tsamis and Adjunct Professor, Tulay Atak will be speaking on a the panel: ‘Sensing Data, Seeing Energy - Connecting artistic and scientific research in the fields of urbanism and architecture’ at AIA New York | Center for Architecture.

The panel will explore energy futures in urban contexts by focusing on the possibilities that alternative sources of energy and alternative systems of distribution present. With examples from academic research and professional fields, this discussion will bring together insights from the University of Applied Arts Vienna, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute NY and the City of New York.

The panel also takes place in conjunction with the exhibition, “Making Energy Visible,” curated by Tulay Atak, and held at the Center for Architecture, NY, Oct 2, 2025-March 28, 2026. Register for free through the link in bio!

*video 1: Informorphism by CASE faculty, Frank Li, on display in ‘Making Energy Visible’
*image 2: ‘Making Energy Visibke’ exhibit photo, credit to AIA NY Center for Architecture

In December, CASE research faculty and students partnered with the AIA NY Future of Practice Committee to host ‘AI For Everyone’ an interactive design and coding workshop. The event was a great success, with over 100 professionals from across the New York City architectural community attending. This was the fourth and final installment of the AI+A Salon Series and took place at AIA New York. The half-day event was co-organized by CASE Faculty Professor Dennis Shelden. As the final session of the year, ‘AI for Everyone’ took on a different shape from the previous conversation-focused salons. Designed as a hands-on, practice-centered exploration of how AI can support designers at every technical level—from beginners to power users. Attendees participated in workshop sessions throughout the day led by a range of industry professionals including CASE Graduate student, Richard-Allen Foster.

CASE is thrilled to be a part of the ongoing conversation surrounding artificial intelligence in the built environment. This event underlines the significance of collaboration across industry to share ideas and engage in participatory learning which makes new facets of research accessible for all. Check out the full article on our website at link in bio!

Another fantastic NYC week to start the semester. Our incoming B.Arch Away students visited the Met, AIA NY Center for Architecture, TWA terminal at JFK, Greenwood Cemetery and more! We’re excited to kick off the new year and continuing our work to develop and support a resilient built environment.

We’re thrilled to announce that RPI and CASE’s multi-institutional Seed to City Initiative received a $1 Million capital investment to set up a Seed to City Manufacturing Lab. Led by CASE Director, Dr. Alexandros Tsamis, and Dr. Daniel Walczyk, Co-Director of the RPI New York Fashion Innovation Center and principal investigator in this fund, the Seed to City (S2C) is a collaboration between RPI, NYS Institutions*, and industry partners to position New York State as a leader in regional biomanufacturing by advancing cutting-edge technology, commercializing R&D, and building a skilled workforce.

This grant is part of a larger $5 Million investment from New York State through Cornell University, which is distributed to multiple partners to support R&D work on industrial h**p. While Cornell focuses on the upstream, RPI will focus on the downstream supply chain - conversion of h**p long and short fiber feedstock into refined materials and manufacturing technologies, as well as design and implementation of products for NY State.

Receipt of this new line of funding marks a major milestone for Seed to City researchers and industry partners devoted to the advancement of industrial h**p in the built environment. Visit our website at the link in bio to read the full story!

*Academic partners for the Seed to City Initiative include: , , .esf College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the .

Last month, Director of CASE, Dr. Alexandros Tsamis and Assistant Professor Dr. Arta Yazdanseta presented their research at the 13th Annual International H**p Building Symposium in the Lower Sioux Indian Community, Minnesota. Hosted by the International H**p Building Association, the three day event brought together experts and innovators from around the world to share the latest ideas and projects in h**p construction. Dr. Tsamis and Dr. Yazdanseta joined over 25 other h**p construction leaders in to discuss important topics in this innovative industry spanning research and development, manufacturing, material science, commercialization and more.

A successful and thought-provoking event, the symposium reinforced the importance of research surrounding h**p construction and the passion and commitment of the professionals in the field working to make great strides in harnessing the power of this innovative material. Through their contributions to this important body of research, Dr. Tsamis and Dr. Yazdanseta are among an outstanding group of professionals who are paving the way to support sustainable development and local communities.

Read the full story on our website through the link in bio to hear about Dr. Tsamis and Dr. Yazdanseta’s presentations and takeaways from the event.

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We’re proud to announce that CASE’s Assistant Professor Dr. Arta Yazdanseta and Ph.D. Candidate Yehong (Mia) Mi have a New Publication in Journal of Material Science: Materials in Engineering. “Knowledge Mapping for Advancement of H**p-Lime Composite in the Construction Industry: A Systematic Literature Review (2004–2024)” is an open-access study that identifies key research trends, interdisciplinary developments, and critical knowledge gaps in h**p-lime composite research. We had the opportunity to interview Arta and Mia about this body of research and its significant role in the future of sustainable building materials. Read the full interview on our website at link in bio to get a behind the scenes look at the work and ethos of their paper.


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We’re proud to announce that Infomorphism, a CASE research project is now on view at the
AIA New York | Center for Architecture as a part of Making Energy Visible, an exhibition curated by architect and architectural historian, and CASE Adjunct Professor, Tülay Atak. The exhibition “considers how energy has come to be incorporated in architecture and design and is seeking imagination in this critical moment of change.”

The project, led by CASE’s Dr. Alexandros Tsamis, Dr. Fengqi Li, Ph. D. and Dr. Kristen Schell, is a hybrid Urban and Energy planning framework that considers the principles of ZEBs (Zero Energy Buildings) and derives energy-based urban planning regulations for cities that prioritize local renewable energy utilization. Infomorphism will sit alongside 11 other projects that demonstrate the various roles of energy in the built environment. You can read the full description of the project on our website through link in bio.

The exhibit will be on view from October 3rd 2025 - March 28th 2026. Be sure to stop by and check it out!

Last we welcomed our incoming students with our NYC week tour! Students got to explore landscapes, museums and cultural sites around the city as an introduction to CASE and our living classroom of New York! We can’t wait for the rest of the semester ✨

We’re thrilled to welcome Assistant Professor Dr. Fenqi (Frank) Li to the CASE team this semester!

Dr. Li was previously an R&D Associate Staff Member in the Grid-Interactive Controls Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). His work sits at the intersection of architecture, computational design, and energy systems—advancing urban building energy modeling (UBEM), AI-driven urban and energy planning, and community-scale electrification and climate resilience.

Dr. Li earned his Ph.D. at CASE and we are especially excited for him to join us as a distinguished Alumnus. He also holds an M.S. in Architecture from The Cooper Union (Merit Scholar), an M.Arch from Syracuse University (Dean’s Citation), and a B.Eng. in Architecture from East China Jiaotong University.

We are grateful to welcome Dr. Li back to CASE to continue his research, mentor students and share his expertise in alternative planning frameworks and computational tools for urban design and planning that optimize urban form, infrastructure roles, and emergent urban topologies. Visit our website to read more about Dr. Li’s research and achievements.

We’re proud to announce that the CASE based startup, FibreWerks is one of the six companies awarded a Manufacturing Grant! This grant led by Dr. Alexandros Tsamis, Associate Director of CASE and Dr. Daniel Walczyk, Co-Director of the RPI New York Fashion Innovation Center and Professor of Mechanical Engineering, will support efforts in designing and implementing manufacturing equipment improvements and material innovation for their first product to market, BioBar, a sustainable microbar made from h**p and a new bioplastic - that is used as an alternative to rebar in reinforced concrete.

This new material is innovating infrastructure and construction applications with advantages such as that it is non-corroding, compostable, simpler to process, and expected to be price comparable while being stronger than market alternatives.

Read the full article on our website at link in bio!

Photos:
1. H**p Macrofiber Putruder prototype
2.H**p Macrofiber (Minibar) protoype
1.Functionalization process for the h**p yarn so that thermoplastics will bond to it.
3.Impregnation of the h**p yarn with thermoplastic to make a biocomposite filament.
4.Texturing of the still malleable biocomposite filament to create BioBar. The texturing helps to mechanical bind it to concrete when mixed in.
5. Macrofiber pultrusion and texturing process to create BioBar.

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In 2023 CASE partnered with the Cathedral of All Saints in Albany, NY, to help revitalize Guild House, a historic building once used as an immigrant settlement house but closed since the 1970s due to high energy costs. Our team, alongside Cathedral leadership, preservation experts, and engineers, focused on lowering energy costs and reducing carbon emissions. Faculty and B.Arch. students contributed through a studio and seminars, resulting in a detailed Life Cycle Assessment and carbon calculations for proposed materials. Our analysis showed that Guild House could meet most of its energy needs through solar and geothermal options, and our design proposals aim to keep energy costs low. Our work so far has contributed to $250,000 in funding, with more support pending.

Not only does our analysis support this building through physical improvements, but also regenerates the programming by adding additional and upgraded spaces for community activity. This project showcases the intersection of preservation, conservation, and climate adaptation in the built environment. Communities are full of aging structures that have significant architectural, historical and community value. Exploring different methods of retrofitting and rethinking existing structures is sustainable from both material and cultural standpoints.

CASE Researchers: Fleet Hower, Josh Draper
Student researchers: Javier Torres, Sarah Ishida, Anthony Toma