LSU School of Architecture students and faculty presented their research at the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Conference Local Solutions for Global Issues April 8-11, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Presentations included:

Ana Cuadros, BArch ’26

“Rethinking Earthen Architecture in Latin America: Culturally Authentic and Sustainable Contemporary Design in Peruvian Schools”

Investigates the disconnect between contemporary building practices and traditional sustainable methods in Peru. The study advocates for a shift away from a dependence on industrialized materials like concrete and steel, proposing instead a revaluation of earthen techniques such as wattle and daub within the design of educational infrastructure. By integrating pre-Hispanic building technology with modern standards, the work demonstrates how vernacular materials can provide culturally authentic, thermally efficient, and carbon-conscious solutions for the future of Latin American architecture.

Masood Koochaki MArch/MLA ’26 & Saeid Jahromi, MArch ’26
“AI in Smart Buildings: Building the Steps toward the Future”

This research provides a comprehensive scoping review of 112 peer-reviewed publications to map the evolving role of Artificial Intelligence across the building life cycle, from generative design and construction informatics to operational digital twins. The study highlights how AI can accelerate design iterations by 40% and secure up to 19% in operational energy savings, while proposing a four-pillar governance strategy to address critical gaps in data continuity, privacy, and algorithmic bias.

Katarina Wang, MArch ’26

“Radius of Repose: A Digitally Enhanced Frit Lace Technique”

The technique developed during this research offers a method of kiln forming glass that does not require the use of a refractory mold during firing, instead allowing the glass to remain unconstrained while molten. By allowing freedom of movement during the firing process, this technique reveals consistent behavioral patterns that can be analyzed to study the shape behavior and movement of the glass relative to its digitally designed pattern and loose frit arrangement. This digitally enhanced frit lace method could help close the gap between the dynamic movement of molten glass and computational control, creating a path for further integration of this historically delicate craft within the world of architecture. 

Soo Jeong Jo, Assistant Professor

“Indoor Lighting Environment and Natural Ventilation Strategies of the Seokguram Grotto in Its Original Form” (with Jimin Lee and Jihuyn Park)

Seokguram Grotto, built in the 8th century, is a UNESCO World Heritage site located in South Korea. This study investigated the environmental quality of the original design of this historic site employing various simulation tools, aiming to explore the intersections between quantitative and qualitative areas of architectural design.

Fabio Capra-Ribeiro, Assistant Professor

“From Data to Design: A Geospatial Framework for Locating Wildlife Crossings as a Glocal Solution to Habitat Fragmentation”

Roads are fragmenting ecosystems, but where exactly should we build wildlife crossings? We developed a geospatial and machine learning framework to shift from reactive siting to evidence-based priority mapping. This transferable methodology turns open-access data into policy-ready spatial guidance for smarter infrastructure investment and landscape-scale connectivity planning.

Kris Palagi, Associate Professor

Vaulted Insulated Metal Roof Panel, Kristopher Palagi, Dr. Soo Jeong Jo, Dr. Sabarethinam Kameshwar, Dorna Jokar

This multidisciplinary initiative explores the potential of a site-built stress-skin panel, the Vaulted Insulated Metal Roof Panel (vIMRP), to facilitate low-cost residential roof assemblies. The paper complements full-scale construction of the proposed roof assembly with computational modeling and analysis of the structural and thermal efficacy of the system. The proposed vIMRP incorporates corrugated galvanized metal sheets as an exposed vaulted ceiling surface to increase the structural capacity of the panel and eliminate additional costs due to Finishing Trades. The paper presents two cycles of a recursive action research sequence that weave together faculty from the LSU Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering and the LSU School of Architecture. Findings from the research include key techniques in the sequence of construction, deflection tables, along with thermal insulation analysis and strategies for roof and eaves details.

LSU School of Architecture director Marwan Ghandour also attended the conference, hosted by Kennesaw State University.