Research Centers
Center for Architectural Science and Ecology (CASE)
Architectural Acoustics Program
Lighting Research Center (LRC)
Center for Architectural Science and Ecology (CASE)
Co-located on Rensselaer campus (Troy, NY) and Brooklyn, New York City, The Center for Architecture Science and Ecology (CASE) is a Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute wide research center addressing the need for radically improved, energy-effective, and sustainable built environment solutions. CASE unites advanced architectural and engineering practices with scientific research through collaborations among multiple academic institutions, manufacturers, and professional offices within the building industry. The center pursues its mission of built environment ecological and humanitarian advancement through study and research of fundamental scientific principles as well as emerging methods from across the engineering and scientific disciplines, accelerated by technology and synthesized through design.
Within this broad agenda, CASE pursues an integrated approach to the following areas of research focus:
- Sustainability and resilience – buildings must urgently address impacts of both embedded and operational carbon, circular deployment of resources, and reducing impacts on ecological systems, while simultaneously anticipating and responding to changing weather and sea.
- Material, information, and energy systems – Over its decade long history CASE has developed over a dozen innovative building systems that synthetically incorporate energy and resource management strategies together with automated design, production and operations.
- Smart buildings and environments – The built environment is becoming increasingly instrumented, intelligent, aware, and responsive as embedded sensors and controls interact continuously with the dynamic flows of energy, resources and inhabitants. CASE research considers the technical infrastructure connecting physical and digital systems; performance optimization strategies connecting to dynamic environmental information, and new possibilities for interactive human – environment experiences.
website: www.case.rpi.edu
Architectural Acoustics Program
The Graduate Program in Architectural Acoustics offers an intense curriculum in acoustics for effectively shaping sonic environments to achieve optimum acoustic performance and sound quality. The Program offers studies toward both Master of Science and Ph.D. degrees. This unique program in architectural acoustics provides the knowledge for next-generation acousticians involved in room acoustics, psychoacoustics, acoustic and vibration measurement techniques, and sound reinforcement.
The Program offers the knowledge and skills needed for advanced practice and applied research. Fieldwork develops the experience of sensitive perception of sound environments and musical performance, and industry relations give access to advanced techniques and materials used in acoustical practice.
website: www.arch.rpi.edu/academic/graduate/architectural-acoustics/
Lighting Research Center (LRC)
The LRC is the leading university-based research center devoted to lighting and offers the world’s premier graduate education in lighting, including one- and two-year master’s programs and a Ph.D. program. Since it began in 1988, it has built an international reputation as a reliable source for objective information about lighting technologies, applications, and products. It provides training programs for government agencies, utilities, contractors, lighting designers, and other lighting professionals.
The LRC investigates lighting issues and educate the next generation of lighting leaders. Its programs covers a range of activities including both laboratory testing of lighting products and real-world demonstration and evaluation of lighting products and designs. It conducts research into energy efficiency, new products and technologies, lighting design, and human factors issues.
website: www.lrc.rpi.edu
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