At the School of Architecture, teaching is informed by active research. Faculty investigations range from award-winning design work to production of books and journals and leadership in state-funded initiatives.
Here is a sampling of faculty research interests:
- Green Roofs Landscape architecture professor Mark Boyer wants to green the United States, one roof at a time. He’s starting at home by launching two experiments designed to yield hard data on plant hardiness and the cost benefits of green roofs. Thanks to his collaboration with other researchers across the United States, his research agenda extends beyond campus to every region of the United States. An additional benefit? Boyer's students get hands-on experience in sustainable design research. To view photos and learn more about both experiments, visit Mark Boyer's green roof research web site.
- Inclusive Design Professor Korydon Smith led the Arkansas Universal Design Project, a pioneering attempt to develop and implement inclusive design housing standards that move beyond ad hoc, retrofit solutions for people with disabilities. Smith’s research has resulted in the adoption of usability standards by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA), a major step toward providing accessible, low-cost housing for all citizens of the state. Smith also coauthored Just Below the Line: Disability, Housing, and Equity in the South, forthcoming from the University of Arkansas Press. For more information on inclusive design, and to access the usability standards online, visit Kory Smith’s StudioAID web site.
