Research

Two Master of Science in Land Development students traveled to Chicago in July 2011 to research and document how Millennium Park, a $475 million project completed in 2004, praised as a “showcase of art and urban design” by the San Francisco Chronicle, has affected the vicinity’s real estate value.

Environmental design major Jordan Mason and his research mentor, professor Stephen Caffey, are featured in a new video highlighting the benefits of undergraduate research at Texas A&M, discussing Mason’s 10-day field trip to research European Baroque-style churches.

Undergraduate and graduate construction science students gathered April 29 at the Langford Architecture Center to present their thesis research to faculty and peers at the Spring 2011 Department of Construction Science Research Symposium.

Members of the Texas A&M student chapter of the National Electrical Contractors Association conducted an energy audit of Neeley Hall, a campus dormitory, as part of their competition entry in the NECA's annual 2011 Green Energy Challenge. Finalists will present their work at the Oct. 22–25 NECA Convention in San Diego.

Texas A&M Architecture Ph.D. student Simge Andolsun is investigating how a modified air-conditioning system can produce energy savings for low-income households in hot, humid climates. Her study is funded by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Now that her senior thesis examining why great logos are memorable was named one of the year’s best undergraduate scholarly works at Texas A&M University, senior environmental design major Lori Lampe said her next major undertaking will be landing a job as a graphic designer or working for an architecture firm.

Three College of Architecture professors edited the latest issue of Preservation Education and Research, the academic journal serving the National Council for Preservation Education. The publication features peer-reviewed articles on heritage conservation education, research and scholarship.

Texas A&M University at Qatar’s new ceremonial mace, designed by Rodney Hill, professor of architecture, debuted at commencement in Qatar May 5, 2011. “As far as I can tell from the design research I did, this is the most elaborate university mace in the world,” said Hill, who also carved mace's wood.

For research that has helped improve the lives of children with chronic diseases throughout the world, James Varni, a professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning at Texas A&M, has earned The Association of Former Students’ 2011 Distinguished Achievement Award for Research.

Texas A&M urban planning professor Michael Neuman has authored a new book examining the city of Madrid’s 20-year urban planning cycle and co-edited another that eyes the future of urbanization.

A Galveston Daily News columnist said an interactive, online atlas, created by a research team at the Hazard Reduction and Recovery Center, has greatly increased the odds of reducing the risks of living in the island city.