Student Research Projects

Abbas Ghaffari

Exploring Mycelium-Based Bio-composites for Sustainable Architectural Applications in Coastal regions of the southeastern U.S.

The escalating challenges posed by climate change and environmental degradation have necessitated a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly practices within the architecture and construction sectors. Traditional building materials are known for their significant carbon footprints and unsustainable resource use, underscoring the urgent need for biodegradable alternatives. This research proposes an innovative exploration into mycelium-based biocomposites, using spent coffee grounds (SPG) as a substrate, tailored for architectural applications in the southeastern U.S., particularly in coastal cities such as New Orleans.

Mycelium, the root network of fungi, presents a promising material due to its lightweight, insulative, fire-resistant, and biodegradable properties. It can grow on organic waste like coffee grounds, making it an optimal candidate for sustainable construction. However, non-reinforced mycelium lacks sufficient load-bearing capacity, a limitation this research aims to address. By combining mycelium with SPG—a widely available urban waste product—we can enhance its mechanical properties and promote circular economic principles.

The study focuses on the following objectives: developing and testing mycelium-based biocomposites with SPG, evaluating their structural, thermal, and moisture-resistant characteristics, and leveraging 3D printing technology to fabricate complex architectural elements. This approach aims to create customizable and scalable building solutions that cater to the unique climatic challenges of the southeastern U.S., including high humidity and severe weather conditions.

Methodologically, the research involves collecting SPG from local cafes, preparing substrates for mycelium growth, and cultivating the material in a controlled lab setting. The study will adapt 3D printing techniques to extrude a mycelium-based paste, enabling the creation of architectural prototypes. Performance tests will assess the composite’s suitability for use in building envelopes and interior components by analyzing mechanical strength, insulation efficiency, and moisture resistance.

The research anticipates demonstrating that mycelium-SPG composites can meet architectural standards for durability, insulation, and sustainability. The expected outcomes include the successful creation of 3D-printed prototypes such as wall panels and decorative features, along with a comprehensive lifecycle analysis that compares the new material’s environmental impact to conventional alternatives. By utilizing locally sourced coffee waste, the project aligns with sustainable waste management practices and circular economy principles.

This study is significant for coastal regions, which demand resilient materials capable of withstanding harsh environmental conditions. Mycelium’s natural ability to regulate moisture and resist microbial growth makes it particularly suited for these climates. Additionally, reinforcing mycelium with coffee grounds could offer a viable pathway for reducing construction waste and carbon emissions while contributing to local economies.

Integrating mycelium-based composites with 3D printing technology could revolutionize sustainable architecture, offering adaptive and efficient production methods for building components. This research has the potential to set a precedent for eco-conscious construction practices, inspiring further development of biomaterials in architecture. The outcomes could enhance the resilience and sustainability of urban development, paving the way for a built environment that aligns with ecological and economic goals, ultimately fostering a more adaptive and environmentally harmonious future for coastal cities.

Image courtesy of heartvillage.org

Hannah Hebinck-Hubbell

Site Investigation and Documentation of Heritage and Historic Structures in High Risks Zones for Rising Sea Levels and River Flooding

One of the highest threats to tangible heritage in rural river and coastal South-East towns is the risk of climate change-related disasters. Increased frequency of Mississippi River floods directly impacts areas such as Rodney, Mississippi, a ghost town abandoned in the 1930s with numerous dilapidated heritage structures. What was once the busiest port between New Orleans and St. Louis, Rodney has been left exposed to severe flooding and has now lost nearly ninety percent of its built environment. Along the coasts of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama, rising sea levels have accelerated the deterioration of the few remaining structural brick lighthouses and forts in the country. Sabine Lighthouse and Fort Proctor, both located on the Louisiana coast, have suffered ongoing damage from wind and storm surge, rising sea levels, and climate migration.  

With threats of rising seas, climate migration, abandonment, and flooding, how do rural communities begin to address the threats of loss to historical and tangible heritage? This research will aim to provide crucial documentation for continued thesis work on heritage conservation in rural South-East communities. Contributing to a deeper understanding of how these communities can conserve heritage sites and maintain cultural connections post climate change-related events and disasters.

Image courtesy of Hannah Hebinck

Delaram Khoshhal

Bacterial Cement Blocks for Sustainable Construction

This research investigates the development of bacterial cement blocks as a sustainable alternative to conventional Portland cement. By leveraging microbial-induced calcium carbonate precipitation, the project explores how specific bacteria can form durable, low-carbon building materials with significantly reduced energy demands. Through laboratory cultivation, material testing, and prototype fabrication using mold casting and ceramic 3D printing, the study evaluates mechanical performance, scalability, and environmental impact. The research aims to demonstrate the architectural viability of bacterial cement, contributing to regenerative construction practices and offering a pathway toward reducing carbon emissions in the built environment.

Image courtesy of Delaram Khoshhal

Sophia Lindahl and Kayleigh Macumber 

Deconstructing The American Dream: Translating Coastal Retreat to Ecological Reclamation

The thesis proposal envisions a future for the Middle Chesapeake region that relies on the strategic deconstruction of donated private coastal residences, responding directly to the region’s acute climate vulnerability: subsidence rates of 3-4.5mm per year in some areas compound global sea level rise, making the Bay one of North America’s most threatened coastal zones. Beyond addressing the projected 1.5 - 5.2 foot sea level rise in the next century and increased storm surge intensity, this research examines how architecture can actively support climate adaptation during managed retreat while maintaining meaningful connections between coastal communities and their changing environment.

Where traditional coastal retreat programs focus primarily on human relocation and flood mitigation, this intervention proposes a novel approach to structure removal: the selective deconstruction of buildings to create deliberate ecological niches. Unlike conventional buyout programs such as New Jersey’s Blue Acres—which typically demolishes structures outright— this proposal introduces a staged dismantling process that transforms residential properties into adaptive public spaces that support both human activities and wildlife habitat. Specific interventions might include the strategic removal of exterior walls while maintaining foundation footings as future oyster reef substrates and fishing platforms, the conversion of residential roof systems into elevated bird watching decks with integrated nesting habitat, and adapting of building cavities into educational pavilions that also serve as hibernacula for various species.

The Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority’s unique position as recipient of tax-deductible land donations presents an opportunity to move beyond the binary choice between complete structure removal and traditional public amenities. This proposal outlines a three-phase transformation: first, converting residential structures into public education and recreation facilities; second, initiating targeted deconstruction to create amphibious spaces that support both human access and marsh migration; and third, establishing resilient public interfaces with natural systems as sea levels advance. This approach directly addresses the region’s projected loss of 167,000 acres of marshland by 2100 while maintaining public connection to these transforming landscapes through adaptive infrastructure for fishing, environmental education, and coastal recreation.

At multiple scales, from material chemistry to regional planning, this thesis reimagines architectural practice in the context of managed retreat and accelerating climate change. Rather than viewing donated properties as liabilities or simple recreational conversions, this proposal pioneers a new methodology for architects to actively participate in succession planning. Through careful material selection and strategic dismantling, these interventions create transitional spaces that evolve from purely residential programs to hybrid socio-ecological systems, ultimately supporting both human engagement with coastal landscapes and the establishment of critical wildlife habitats in the face of accelerating climate change.

Image courtesy of Sophia Lindahl

Charlotte Love and Leandra Goytizolo

Rising Above: Sustainable Planning for a Flood-Affected Town in Southern Brazil

Climate change is a global crisis, but its effects are deeply local. In Southern Brazil, vulnerability to flooding has increased by 30%, with repeated flooding now defining daily life in towns like Muçum, located in the Taquari-Antas Basin. Once seen as fertile and inhabitable due to its flat terrain and sediment-rich soil, Muçum now faces a future where these same qualities have become liabilities, exacerbating flood damage and displacing communities. In just six months between late 2023 and mid-2024, the town endured three major floods, with water levels reaching up to 30 meters. These increasingly frequent disasters have devastated infrastructure, eroded cultural landmarks, and triggered a fragmented relocation of residents up the surrounding mountains. This strain reveals not only a physical crisis but a psychological one, where loss of place and disconnection from culture deepen the trauma of disaster. This thesis investigates how architecture can act as both a protective measure and a restorative force in the wake of climate disaster. Drawing from environmental psychology, we explore how built space can connect wih the landscape. Through a site-specific proposal in Muçum, we develop a terracing system for post-flood relocation, integrating reused materials, local construction practices, and culture to form a new adaptive landscape. This approach emphasizes flexible interventions that reconnect residents with each other and the land, while allowing for change over time. Rather than controlling nature, this work proposes design strategies that move with it, offering a replicable case study for flood-prone communities across Brazil’s south and the broader Global South.

Image courtesy of Charlotte Love

Tomás Martín

 ISLA Borikén: Designing Shelter from Puerto Rico’s New Power Grid 

If Puerto Rico is to be bolstered against climate change and structured such that the economy can finally thrive, then the United States will need to address the Island’s infrastructure problems, such as power generation and delivery. Despite significant investment in the grid in the months and years following Hurricane Maria in 2017, power is more expensive today, and service outages are widespread and commonplace. This research project optimistically aims to support Puerto Rico’s rebounding coffee industry through the creation of a hacienda co-op with considerable attention given to designing climate-resilient, solar powered, and off-grid housing for primarily seasonal workers.

Image courtesy of Tomás Martín