The School of Architecture, Preservation and Planning has created research areas that focus on particular faculty interest. The following are descriptions of the research being done and the faculty members working on them.
Economic and Community Development
The economic and community development cluster explores methods of promoting high technology jobs and economic growth in our metropolitan areas, the redevelopment of distressed communities, and methods of promoting sustainable economic development. A grant from the U.S.
Transportation and Land Use
Researchers in the UMD Transportation and Land use specialization study the interaction between transportation and land use, examining how it affects socio-economic activities and movement of people and goods.
Public Engagement & Placemaking
Faculty in the Public Engagement and Placemaking specialization conduct studies on the role of urban design, public art and citizen participation in the enhancement of a sense of community.
Sustainability in the Built Environment
The specialty in Sustainability in the Built Environment promotes research in the integration of environmental systems and the sustainable design of buildings and communities, investigating the interrelationship of building envelope design, buildings systems, energy utilization, building design for new construction and retrofit, and sustainable patterns of settlement.
National Center for Smart Growth Research & Education
The National Center for Smart Growth Research and Education is a non-partisan center for research and education on smart growth, sustainability, and related land use issues -- national and international. The Center conducts research in five general areas: community development, international planning and urban management, land use, smart cities, and transportation.
Housing Policy, Design and Development
The specialty in housing policy, design, and development includes studies of U.S., State or Local Housing Policy, the demand for mixed use and specialized housing (i.e. live/work creative communities, integrated urban agriculture, and aging populations), the integration of housing with land use and transportation policy, the provision of fair and equitable housing, the finance and demand for energy efficient buildings, the role of the financial crises and financial booms on the housing market, and comparative housing policies abroad, such as Korea and China are subjects that have been explored and studied.
Heritage and Historical Studies
The specialty in heritage and historical studies is an interdisciplinary group that pursues teaching and research in the areas of history, theory, and heritage studies. Faculty expertise spans a wide geographical area, from the US to Europe and the Middle East.