2025-2026 Projects

The faculty and scholars in the College of Architecture and Construction Management are dedicated to advancing sustainable building materials, healthy communities, and cutting-edge technologies like Virtual Reality (VR) in architectural design. With a focus on investigating the use of smart materials in construction to exploring the socio-cultural impacts on community sustainability, these research projects aim to revolutionize the architecture and construction industries. Discover how our research initiatives are paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable future in architecture and construction.

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Architecture (Jeffrey Collins)

Turning Waste into Architecture: Sustainable Design with 3D Printing

  • This project explores how we can use 3D printing to turn waste materials鈥攍ike recycled clay, natural fibers, and other byproducts鈥攊nto beautiful and functional parts of buildings. By combining creative design with cutting- edge technology, we aim to reduce construction waste and experiment with more sustainable ways to build the spaces we live, learn, and work in.

    As a student researcher, you鈥檒l be part of a hands-on team that mixes custom building materials, helps test their strength and performance, and learns how to design and print objects using robotic tools. You don鈥檛 need any prior experience鈥攋ust curiosity, creativity, and a willingness to get your hands dirty (sometimes literally!).

    This is a great opportunity for first-year students who are interested in architecture, engineering, environmental studies, or anyone who wants to make a real impact through design. You鈥檒l gain practical skills in sustainable thinking, digital fabrication, and collaborative problem-solving, all while working alongside faculty and other students in a supportive research environment.

    Come help us reimagine the future of architecture鈥攐ne printed layer at a time.

  • Skills and Techniques Students Will Develop:

    • Hands-on Material Exploration: Students will learn how to mix and test sustainable building materials using recycled, reclaimed, or natural ingredients.
    • 3D Printing and Digital Fabrication: Students will be introduced to robotic clay printing and gain experience with digital-to-physical workflows using modeling and slicing software.
    • Design Thinking and Prototyping: Through iterative design and testing, students will explore how geometry, structure, and material behavior come together in architectural components.
    • Sustainability and Circular Design: Students will engage with concepts like embodied carbon, material reuse, and lifecycle assessment to better understand the environmental impact of construction.
    • Collaborative Research: Students will work as part of a research team, developing communication, documentation, and problem-solving skills in a creative and supportive environment.
    • Creative Innovation: Students will be encouraged to think experimentally and contribute their own ideas to the evolving library of sustainable materials and design strategies.

  • As part of this project, students will participate in a variety of hands-on and creative activities each week, typically spending 5鈥�7 hours in the lab or studio. Weekly activities may include:

    • Material Mixing & Testing: Learn how to prepare sustainable building materials by combining recycled or natural ingredients, then test their strength, stability, and printability.
    • 3D Printing & Fabrication: Help set up and operate a clay 3D printer to create sample components, and learn how to troubleshoot the printing process.
    • Digital Design Work: Use basic digital modeling tools (we鈥檒l teach you!) to design geometric forms and translate them into printable files.
    • Team Collaboration & Brainstorming: Work closely with other students and mentors during weekly check-ins to share progress, ideas, and challenges.
    • Documentation & Reflection: Take photos of printed objects, write short notes about what you learned each week, and contribute to our shared research journal.
  • Face-to-Face
  • Dr. Jeffrey Collins, jcoll133@kennesaw.edu 

Architecture (Giovanni Loreto)

Sustainable Building Materials: Architectural Forms and Structural Design

  • What will cities look like 30 years from now? What is the future of building materials?

    This research project seeks to bridge the gap between material science and construction, looking at sustainable approaches to designing new buildings and infrastructures. It can take decades for a breakthrough in engineering from a lab to a building site. This research embraces the need for innovative architectural forms while building upon structural design principles to create a new generation of smart materials. 

    Students working on this research project will investigate the use of sustainable approaches in building materials of the future to (1) achieve more economical construction, (2) improve sustainability and resilience, and (3) advance architectural forms and forces.

    The goal is to advance our fundamental understanding of cementitious materials and their construction in an effort to marry architectural form and structural design. The last hundred years in architecture and civil engineering have been widely dominated by the use of concrete, which became the second most consumed commodity after water. Although concrete and cementitious materials have a low embodied energy (approximately 0.90 MJ/kg), they are used in vast quantities. In 2019, cement production amounted to approximately 3.2 billion tons, with production and usage accounting for almost 8-9% of total global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. 

    This research aims to impact the embodied energy and the carbon emission associated with new concrete constructions by possibly saving up to 30% in concrete volume compared to an equivalent strength prismatic member. This research thus offers exciting opportunities for engineers and architects to move towards a more sustainable construction industry. 

  • By working on this project, students can expect to improve on two separate sets of skills: technical and professional.

    Depending on your background (architecture, construction management, engineering, etc.), you will be challenged with the idea of sustainability and sustainable approaches at different levels.  To address the research questions, you will be working in a multidisciplinary group that includes students from architecture to engineering, as the project requires expertise in different areas. This approach will provide you with a unique opportunity to work in a dynamic research environment that will foster your understanding of research problems and will help you to build fundamental skills for your future career. 

    Specific outcomes include:

    - Understand the role of previous research and literature review in the broad context of research (i.e., define the terminology associated with research and theory in advanced cementitious materials; describe past research studies and critically analyze past research in concrete formwork, and articulate how their research study makes a contribution to the field).

    - Learning how to develop a matrix for tests and conduct laboratory experiments (i.e., understand the role of ASTM standard tests in material characterization; design and performing of material characterization test, specifically in compressive and tensile properties; analyze and interpretation of the test data from concrete and steel tests). 

    - Being able to design and build small-scale prototypes (i.e., design of concrete elements using digital tools; design of concrete elements including formwork, materials requirement for cast, and procedures for concrete curing).

    - Develop skills in communication and public speaking. This learning objective is specifically important as it will teach you how to disseminate and transfer individual knowledge in a work environment.

  • Students will meet with faculty for 1 hour per week and work independently otherwise. Some of the tasks include:

    • Architectural and engineering design. 
    • Drawing and formwork design (Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator)
    • Casting concrete (mix design, materials procurement, casting, and cleaning)
    • Data analysis and presentation.
  • Face-to-Face
  • Dr. Giovanni Loreto, gloreto@kennesaw.edu 

Architecture (Pegah Zamani)

Resilient Environments: Integrated Systems and Innovative Placemaking to Improve the Quality of Life 

  • How can we design environments that are resilient, sustainable, and health-promoting for people of all ages and abilities? This interdisciplinary research project investigates the vital interplay between the built and natural environments, examining how design influences communities at multiple scales鈥攆rom materials and buildings to entire cities. Grounded in evidence-based research, the projects provide students with hands-on, real-world experience through collaborations with community members, industry partners, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Students are equipped with a holistic framework that considers ecological, social, cultural, political, and economic systems shaping the environments we inhabit. This action-oriented research immerses students in community engagement, integrating scientific, social, and environmental perspectives. Ultimately, it prepares them to become responsible leaders in creating adaptable environments to enhance quality of life.

  • By the end of the project, students should be able to:

    1. Develop collaborative problem-solving and critical thinking skills in real-world contexts
    2. Locate primary and secondary sources related to their field of study
    3. Synthesize and analyze past research in their field of study
    4. Collect, analyze, synthesize, organize, and interpret data from their research study
    5. Work effectively as part of a team
    6. Write a research paper
    7. Present their research/creative activity to an audience (e.g., poster, oral presentation)
    8. Present at the conferences such as KSU鈥檚 Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.

  • The types of activities that students will be engaged in each week includes the followings 鈥� All will be mentored by faculty:

    • Participating regular team meeting with faculty [for 1.5 hour per week] 鈥� mostly online and working remotely
    • Assisting in data collection and precedent studies
    • Organizing data and developing literature review
    • Creating analytical (architectural) diagrams and design drawings -- knowing Rhino/Photoshop/Illustrator and physical/virtual model making tools will be a plus
    • Synthesizing research key findings and preparing presentations
  • Hybrid
  • Dr. Pegah Zamani, pzamani@kennesaw.edu 

 

Construction Management (Parminder Juneja & Pavan Meadati)

Exploring the Effectiveness of Handheld Devices versus Desktop Devices for Construction Finance Games

  • The rapid integration of digital learning tools and artificial intelligence in construction management education has opened opportunities to use game-based learning for enhancing financial literacy and decision-making skills and avoid the traps of academic integrity with static practice exercises and quizzes/tests. Construction finance games provide students with simulated environments to practice cost control, cash flow management, and financial decision strategies in real-world contexts. However, the effectiveness of these tools may vary depending on the device through which they are accessed.

    This study proposes to investigate and compare the effectiveness of handheld devices (smartphones and tablets) versus desktop devices (laptops and personal computers) in facilitating learning through construction finance games. The research will focus on three primary dimensions:

    1. Learning Outcomes: Evaluating whether device type impacts students鈥� comprehension, retention, and application of construction finance concepts.
    2. User Experience: Measuring differences in usability, accessibility, and engagement between handheld and desktop platforms.
    3. Performance and Efficiency: Assessing whether device-specific features (e.g., portability, screen size, input methods) influence the speed and accuracy of completing game-based finance tasks.

    The findings of this study are expected to inform best practices in the design and implementation of technology-enhanced learning environments in construction education. Results will provide valuable insights for instructors, curriculum designers, and educational technology developers on optimizing platform choices to maximize student engagement and success.

  • By participating in this project, undergraduate student researcher will develop the following valuable research and professional skills:

    • Research Design & Critical Thinking 鈥� Learn how to frame a research question, design a study, and compare outcomes across different learning technologies.
    • Data Collection & Analysis 鈥� Gain hands-on experience in gathering, organizing, and interpreting data.
    • Technology Skills 鈥� Work with both handheld and desktop platforms, and build familiarity with construction finance simulations and game-based learning tools.
    • Collaboration & Communication 鈥� Develop teamwork skills while working with peers and faculty mentors, and practice communicating ideas clearly in discussions and presentations.
    • Professional Writing & Presentation 鈥� Learn how to present findings in a clear, scholarly manner鈥攕kills that are useful for coursework, internships, and future careers.
    • Problem-Solving & Creativity 鈥� Explore innovative ways to use technology in education and think critically about how learning tools can be improved.

    This project is designed to give student(s) real research experience while building practical skills that apply across many fields of study.

  • Fall Semester (Exploration & Foundations)

    Weeks 1鈥�2: Orientation to the project, introductions to construction finance concepts, and training in the use of handheld and desktop devices.
    Weeks 3鈥�4: Guided play-testing of finance simulations; students begin documenting their experiences and reflections.
    Weeks 4鈥�6: Learn to design simple surveys and observation logs to measure user performance and engagement.
    Weeks 7鈥�9: Begin small-scale data collection and organize findings in spreadsheets with mentor guidance.
    Weeks 10鈥�12: Analyze early results, comparing handheld vs. desktop use.
    Weeks 13鈥�14 (End of Semester): Share preliminary findings in an informal group presentation and discuss improvements for spring semester research.

    Spring Semester (Research & Dissemination)

    Weeks 1鈥�2: Refine research questions and expand data collection strategies (larger samples).
    Weeks 3鈥�5: Continue structured testing sessions, gather data, and begin identifying patterns in learning outcomes and user engagement.
    Weeks 6鈥�8: Conduct deeper analysis with tools such as Excel charts, pivot tables, or simple statistical techniques introduced by mentors.
    Weeks 9鈥�11: Draft a written summary of findings, organize visuals, and prepare posters or slides for presentation.
    Weeks 12鈥�13: Rehearse and refine research presentations with faculty feedback.
    Weeks 14鈥�16 (End of Year): Present research in a university research showcase or undergraduate symposium; reflect on skills gained and potential next steps.

    Throughout both semesters, students will meet regularly with the faculty mentor for check-ins, team discussions, and guidance. They will also keep weekly reflection notes to track their learning and progress.

  • Hybrid

  • Dr. Parminder Juneja, pjuneja@kennesaw.edu 

    Dr. Pavan Meadati, pmeadati@kennesaw.edu