Leading the Future of the Built Environment
The Institute for Advanced Construction Futures (IACF) leverages external partnerships to mobilize innovative research that will positively transform the design, construction, and implementation of the built environment towards more livable futures.
An Ecosystem Approach
In response to the priorities our partner networks identify, we bring an interdisciplinary, ecosystems approach to ground-breaking and use-inspired research that benefits practices and implementation to improve building quality, construction productivity, resilience, and affordability while reducing ecological impacts.
We connect, convene, stimulate, and enable innovation across the intersections of emerging design and construction technologies, material cycles, operations, policies, financing, legal frameworks, and workforce development to address urgent housing and building infrastructure needs, more sustainably, efficiently, and affordably.
A Transformative Vision
MConstruct is our vision for how IACF can shape U-M: on-campus learning living labs as full scale demonstrators and testbeds for construction and building operations innovation. Developed in partnership with industry, we prototype today the built environment that we need for the future. U-M becomes a developer and investor in this future.
Current Research Priority Areas: Construction robotics; Off-site and on-site robotic construction; AI enabled technologies; Human-robotic assembly; Circular material systems; Life-cycle assessment; Energy efficient buildings; Housing innovation; Building codes, Regulatory and legal bottlenecks; Resilient supply chains; Next-Generation workforce development, Sustainable business enterprise; Real estate innovation.
Leveraging Partnerships
We build partnerships to shape use-informed research efforts across the ecosystem. Our partners span builders, fabricators, manufacturers, material suppliers, design professionals, real estate developers, facilities managers, economic development agencies, planning boards, and municipalities. Our work responds to their concerns and drives forward looking change.
Aligned Institutes, Centers, and Initiatives
Erb Institute | Center for Sustainable Systems | Institute for Energy Solutions | Center for Social Solutions | Center for Equitable Family & Community Well-Being | Employment Equity Learning & Action Collaborative | Weiser Center for Real Estate | People First Built Environments | Low Carbon Building R+D Initiative | Collective for Equitable Housing
People
Experts
Lan Deng, Sonia Harb, Greg Keoleian, Geoffrey Lewis, Johanna Mathieu, Wes McGee, Carol Menassa, Tsz Yan Ng, Trina Shanks, Geoffrey Thün, Alford Young Jr.