Building Research Practices

Essays by leading thinkers in practice-based architectural research. Practice-based architectural research projects led by Master of Science in Architecture students within the Consortium for Research Practices (AECOM, BWBR, Cuningham Group, HGA, MBJ, Mortenson Construction, MSR, Perkins+Will, RSP, University of Minnesota School of Architecture).

Building Research Practices: Connecting Education and Practice Through Architectural Research, is a collection of essays and projects tracing the expanding knowledge loop between architecture practice and architecture education spurred by a growing research culture in the field. Leading thinkers in architectural research linked to academia - including Billie Faircloth, Anna Dyson, Kiel Moe, Phil Bernstein - offer their varied stances on the current definitions and potentials of architectural research, and outline the scope of the subject through short critical essays. The book then looks at how the Master of Science in Architecture - Research Practices program at the University of Minnesota has advanced interactive exchange between firms, students, and faculty through research, exhibited by the last five years of practice-research projects conducted through the Consortium for Research Practices: AECOM, BWBR, Cuningham Group, HGA, MBJ, Mortenson Construction, MSR, Perkins+Will, RSP, University of Minnesota School of Architecture. Research projects cover a range of emerging topics, from virtual reality and internet of things to rural healthcare and mass timber.