Research Labs & Centers

Within the David R. Ravin School of Architecture, there are several research centers and laboratories that provide a base for faculty research and also become a point of contact for students to engage in funded research projects with the faculty. This research takes full advantage of the advanced computing, software and digital fabrication facilities at the CoA+A. The scale of research ranges from small, short-term investigations to large, multi-year grants.

SoA Research Labs

City.Building.Lab (CBL)

Situated in The Dubois Center at UNC Charlotte Center City, the City. Building. Lab (CBL) is an interdisciplinary hub that bridges the gap between academic research and public impact. As the outreach and research arm of the Master of Urban Design (MUD) program—housed within the David R. Ravin School of Architecture—the lab utilizes design inquiry and action-based research to pioneer innovative strategies for modern city building.

The CBL is defined by a commitment to “think and do.” Our mission is to utilize sustainable urban, community and architectural design as catalysts for meaningful inquiry and positive social change. By doing so, we advocate for the creation of vibrant places and provide the blueprints for achieving resilient, sustainable cities.

The CBL is led by Associate Professor Ming-Chun Lee, director of the Master of Urban Design program.

Integrated Design Research Lab (IDRL)

The Integrated Design Research Lab (IDRL) serves as a research praxis where academia, industry and the public community can freely engage, collaborate and implement research toward climate change mitigation and social resilience. The mission of the IDRL is to advance applied architectural research and knowledge through the dissemination of evidence-based investigation and proactive design leadership.

Our IDRL research fosters inter-/trans-disciplinary collaborations experimenting with new material cultures, technological innovations, health and wellbeing and net-zero design. With an interdisciplinary approach, we work with experts in diverse backgrounds including architecture, engineering, biology, computer science, geographic science, public health and psychology. Our research projects strive to go beyond R&D within the lab and translate the latest innovations into practical applications for tangible impacts. We share our research advancement and knowledge with a wider audience through workshops, lectures, conferences, peer-reviewed publications, technology demonstrations and lab visits.

The IDRL is led by Professor of Architecture Kyoung Hee Kim, Ph.D, AIA, NCARB.

designLAB

The designLAB is an architectural design and research-based lab in the David R. Ravin School of Architecture that focuses on the role of design as a form of architectural inquiry in the analysis and transformation of the built environment through targeted speculations, experiments, design competitions and pilot projects. Established in 2016, the mission of the d-LAB is to empower design as an agent of research to advance contemporary issues in architecture. Students are invited to collaborate with faculty on design-research-based projects. 

The goal of the designLAB is to extend the school’s design and research focus in the context of the “engaged city,” one of six areas of distinction in the School of Architecture. The predominant research areas of the d-LAB are affordability, modularity, sustainability and spatial perception. These research subjects have been tested in the design of micro-modular housing, work-live and multi-family housing. The projects explore the use of different building materials, including cross-laminated timber, pressed steel plate, recycled plastics and myco-materials. The d-LAB has been the recipient of numerous awards from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the American Institute of Architects, among others.

Contact Us: Prof. Chris Jarrett, Co-Director: chjarrett@charlotte.edu, Prof. Peter Wong, Co-Director: plwong@charlotte.edu.

Center for Community, Heritage, and the Arts (CHArt)

Housed in the College of Arts + Architecture and operated in partnership with the College of Humanities & Earth and Social Sciences, the Center for Community, Heritage, and the Arts (CHArt) is an interdisciplinary, community-engaged research hub that seeks to cultivate civic imagination, reimagine placemaking and increase community cohesion via artistic, architectural, humanistic and social science research.  CHArt works to advance public-facing projects to empower and amplify the voices of the diverse communities in our region. Through our mission-focused efforts, CHArt expands the roles of the visual and performing arts, museums, archeological sites and other fields within critical heritage and preservation efforts