“Live with water – generative-associative design research”, Umberto Grosso, Feng Xu, graduate students from the University of Genoa working with Prof. Thomas Spiegelhalter at Miami Beach Urban Studios, supported by the European Extra LLP Erasmus Program – ENG, part of the FIU/UNIGE agreement.
Parametric-algorithmic energy, water, CO2 and computational fluid Dynamics testing, and scenario modeling of High-Rise Buildings in Taranto, Italy Funding E.U. Agency: University of Pescara-Chieti, in collaboration with Prof. Gianmichelle Panarelli (University of Pescara-Chieti and The Politecnico di Milano), Italy.

Peer Reviewed Research Paper and Workshop: Predictive Modeling Network for Performative Health Design Agents and POE’s. Publication and three-day conferences and workshop presentation for “Building for Health and Well-Being: Structures-Cities-Systems” between the U.S. Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) and Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture (ACSA) in collaboration with the AIA Task Force on Public Health Design, (Sept. 22-24, 2016), USA.

Presented and led workshops on Energy Efficiency and Sustainability at the 5th Annual Caribbean Urban Forum (CUF5) hosted by UN-Habitat in St. Lucia, June 10th to June 12th, 2015. Sponsors: EU “CarEntrain” fund for “Mainstreaming Energy Efficiency and Climate Change in Built Environment Training and Research in the Caribbean.”
Designing Passive-Active and Adaptive Environmental Controls for Human Thermal Comfort. Research Grant PI Cejas Award, Florida International University Miami, College of Architecture.

Research On Track to Carbon Neutral Buildings, EPA Grant Number: SU835503. Peoples Choice P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet.
Youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-2iG1IW8PU&t=2s
Peeraya Inyim, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Florida International University
Project Title: "On Track to Carbon Neutral Buildings"
Faculty Advisor(s), Departments and Institutions:
• Dr. Nezih Pala, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University
• Dr. Thomas Spiegelhalter, School of Architecture, Florida International University
• Dr. Shu-Ching Chen, School of Computing and Information Sciences, Florida International University • Dr. Ismail Guvenc, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Florida International University
• Dr. Yimin Zhu, OHL School of Construction, Florida International University

Objective:
A pathway to carbon neutral buildings, especially for existing buildings, is a long-term dynamic and complex process that requires constant monitoring, control, and adjustments. The goal of this project is to determine if carbon emission prediction and control of building operations over a long period of time can be enhanced by using an integrated self-assessment information system that can inform facility managers and/or owners in real-time if a building is on track to carbon neutrality according to a predefined plan. The system integrates building information modeling, building energy simulation, dynamic user pattern capturing techniques and data from energy management systems. To achieve this goal, the objectives are to design, integrate, and test the following two core components for developing “smart” applications in the future:
1. A building information model (BIM)-based energy simulation platform for setting the carbon emission baseline of a building and predicting carbon emissions using dynamic user patterns; and
2. The algorithm for determining dynamic user patterns using video image processing and cellphone-based indoor positioning technologies and data from existing building energy management systems.

German “1000 Photovoltaic Roof Program” with yearly PV Performance Monitoring of the 7 kW Photovoltaic System. Solar Cultural Center Breisach, Jakobschanze 1, in Breisach, Germany PI, Architect: Thomas Spiegelhalter Collaborator Monitoring: FhG-ISE Freiburg-Leipzig, Dr. Hoffmann Funding: German Ministry for the Environment with 70 % subsidy of the total PV installation costs. From 1989 to 1994 Germany was world-wide the first country that launched the "1000 roofs program". The 1000-PV-roof program went beyond this number and 2250 German roofs were equipped with PV systems of an average size of 2.6 kWp and a total capacity of about 6 MW. Since 1999 a new financial approaches were pursued in Germany with the 100,000 roofs programme. Within this programme very attractive credits (soft loans) were provided by the public. In the first nine months of this programme about 3000 new projects (about 7000 kWp) have been approved.

"Big Data Analytics: Wellbeing-Centric Human Building Ecosystems--RCN-SEES," the Predictive Modeling Network for Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems. Hosted by the University of Charlotte, College of Computing and Informatics. An NSF-funded Research Coordination Network (RCN) in Science, Engineering and Education for Sustainability (SEES).
Network Steering Committee:
PI: Yong Tao, Co-PI: William Tolone, and others.

Our architecture students had the incredible opportunity to visit the architecture office of Prof. @kerefrancis Kéré in Berlin and enjoyed a detailed tour by Architect Andrea Maretto! Prof. Kéré, a renowned architect, educator, and social activist, had received numerous prestigious awards for his life’s work, including the Praemium Imperiale and the 2022 PRITZKER ARCHITECTURE PRIZE. His innovative designs emphasized sustainability, community, and quality for all, regardless of economic constraints. Kéré’s philosophy inspired us to dream, take risks, and create quality environments for everyone. He believed that architecture could foster happiness, well-being, and a strong sense of community. Learn more about his amazing work and philosophy: (Faculty: Eric Goldemberg and Thomas Spiegelhalter)

Invitation to the in U.S. traveling exhibition of the Copper-Hewitt-National Design Museum New York and Washington DC, "Under The Sun –An Outdoor Exhibition” (Contribution Solar Architecture): Under the sun is made possible by BP Solar, BP America and Science Across The World, U.S. Department to Outdoor exhibition of Light - Introduction To Building Integrated Photovoltaic of Energy, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others.

Research leader in the research “Development project of building integrated solar energy system applications” in cooperation with Dr. Russ at Fraunhofer's Institute for Solar Energy Systems Leipzig-Freiburg (Promoted Research Project by the Saxon Ministry of State, Germany, Delete § 350.000 US)

Retrofitting Residential High-Rise Wohnblock Rathenau and School Renovation in Leipzig, Germany

Study for Solar Energy Generation System Implementations for Prefabricated Buildings, with onsite 3,300 sf2 transparent insulation (TI) including performance monitoring

Research Chair: PI Prof. Architect Thomas Spiegelhalter, HTWK Leipzig (University of Applied Sciences, Department of Architecture and Engineering), in collaboration with Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems Leipzig, Dr. Cristel Russ (FhG-ISE) Building Typology: Wohnblock-Hochhaeuser Rathenau (Residential High-Rise Rathenau, FA 182,000 sf2), and Paul Robenson School in Leipzig (FA 31,215 sf2).
Research Funds: Saxon Ministry of State, and BMWI, Germany Built Project Value: Undisclosed

CRUNCH (Climate-Resilient-Urban-Nexus-Choices). CRUNCH is a multi-disciplinary project with an international consortium of project partners and cities addressing all three sectors of food, water and energy through the integrative Food-Water-Energy-Nexus approach. It aims to support local decision and policy makers, practitioners and civil society organizations by translating the key findings of a deep review of literature, knowledge and research evidence on the FWE-Nexus into the design of Urban Living Labs (ULL). The Miami proposal aims to create a carbon-neutral, data driven planning and 80 years scenario tool for integrated decision making using the Urban Living Lab (ULL) approach; identifying a data and mapping baseline for the city’s needs, developing the tool and framework, testing and analyzing the data-driven models using different carbon-neutral and resilient scenarios from now to 2100. PI: Prof. Thomas Spiegelhalter with research partners at other ULL’s at Keio University, Tokyo (Prof. Wanglin), University of Portsmouth, (UK-project coordinator), City of Portsmouth, Culinova/Expert or Micro Technologies, Ltd. (UK), Aecom Ltd (UK), Knowhow Information Ltd. (UK), Sustainable Food Cities.org (UK), City of Glasgow (UK); Technische Universitaet Eindhoven and City of Eindhoven (NL); Gdansk University of Technology, and City of Gdansk, Poland; City of Gdansk, Uppsala University Sweden, City of Uppsala, Sweden; 100 Resilient Cities New York City (USA): National Taiwan University, and Chinese Taipei City. Sponsors: EU Belmont, EU Commission, Belmont Forum, Intelligent Europe, Sustainable Urbanization Global Initiative (SUGI). Grant: $1,9 Mio ($484,000 for FIU CARTA), Completed in Nov. 2022
FIU Miami research platform: http://crunch.fiu.edu/
IDSS Carbon-Neutral City Scenarios for South Miami and Miami Beach: https://slr.fiu.edu/CRUNCH/

An Open Source Integrated Computing Infrastructure to support the Life Cycle Design and Engineering of High Performance Buildings, FIU-SIPA, Miami, USA FIU-CEC Seed Grant Award: Case Study - SIPA building. Project ID: 800000879. SEED Funding: $30,000 Interdisciplinary Research: Shu-Ching Chen, SCIS; Thomas Spiegelhalter, ARC; Nezih Pala, ECE; Yimin Zhu, CM; Scott Graham, SCIS Steve Luis, SCIS; Shahin Vassigh, ARC. Implementation: Lead Co-PI’s: Thomas Spiegelhalter, Nezih Pala(Sensor-infrastructure installation, cameras, parametric BIM-Data-Sensor calibration and simulations

RCN-SEES: Predictive Modeling Network for Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems (SHBE)." National Science Foundation (NSF) - PI: Yong X. Tao, University of North Texas, CoPI’s: Yimin Zhu, Khee Poh Lam, David A. Cartes, William J. Tolone. Senior Personel: Thomas Spiegelhalter, Mirsad Hadzika-dic, Richard Feiock, Rudi Thompson, Wei Yan, Carol Menassa, Derrick D’Souza, USA.

ABSTRACT
The objective of this RCN is to develop a collaborative research platform centered on overcoming bottlenecks in engineering, software and social/economic sciences that impede wider application of sustainable building technology. The network activities will focus on defining an innovative, new interdisciplinary area, "Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystem (SHBE)," that integrates human behavioral science, social and economic sciences in tandem with sciences of building design, engineering, and metrology for data validation of building energy consumption and occupant comforts. The developed collaboration strategies and standardized data platform will lead to significant reductions of the uncertainty in predicting human adaptation to energy efficiency and sustainability of building ecosystems, which will also address fundamental questions such as "what are the benefits of sustainable building investment to people at a personal, business, or urban planning level?" The activities of the new SHBE-RCN include: collectively develop a consensus-based mechanism for an IT-enabled, data-networked research platform that allows sharing the connectivity methods from different models of building ecosystem elements; create the networking mechanism to recruit additional participants or update the working groups; develop the new research directions for identified subareas; evaluate the success of the SHBE network; and develop an innovative learning program for graduate students of diverse backgrounds. The steering committee members are from engineering, architecture, computer science, construction, environmental science, business and social science with national and international collaboration experience and access to data from various sustainable building projects: Yong Tao, Derrick D?Souza, and Ruthanne Thompson of the University of North Texas, William Tolone and Mirsad Hadzikadic of the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, David Cartes and Richard Feiock of Florida State University, Yimin Zhu and Thomas Spiegelhalter, of Florida International University, Wei Yan of Texas A&M University, Kee Poh Lam of Carnegie Mellon University, and Carol Menassa of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The SHBE RCN aims to foster a new understanding of the complex interactions among the key elements of human-building ecosystems and to work towards a set of new theories for integration of predictive models to explore the following hypothesis: Integrating occupant behaviors with built environment performances validated from large field data sets can lead to significant reductions of the uncertainty in predictive models for human adaptation to energy efficiency and sustainability of building ecosystems. It will bring together researchers from different fields, who otherwise would not be able to network together, to form working groups focusing on understanding the interoperability (or inputs and outputs) of predictive models from different disciplines within the five thematic frameworks: I-Building physical system and environment modeling; II-Human behavior modeling; III-Social/policy impact modeling; IV-Dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) and business ecosystem modeling; and V-Model integration and validation. All five themes are linked in such a way that no single theme will produce meaningful outcomes without the significant input from other themes. This network’s research agenda will allow researchers to work towards solutions impacting people, their communities, and future of their lives. Providing a viable platform for meaningful research collaboration in quantifying the sustainable building ecosystem will enable the development of new theories and methods that could help city planners and political and financial decision makers to develop the most balanced sustainable solutions for both human and natural environment. The network management team will also implement a mechanism to promote diversity by recruiting graduate assistants and network participants through workshops and lab visits. This will be achieved by working with the Center for Diversity in Engineering and Computing at Florida International University, a Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI), and similar initiatives in the participating institutions. The network participants will also contribute to the development of a unique interdisciplinary learning program, based on the concept of an outcome-driven, diverse, and individualized learning mechanism. Source: NSF, USA.

Energy and Climate Partnership of The Americas (ECPA) - Grant Assistance (CFDA), Number: 19.750, Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs. Energy Efficiency Competition. PI: Camilo Rosales, Architecture; Co-PI: Thomas Spiegelhalter, Architecture; Brian Fonseca, FIU Advanced Research Center (ARC). Period: 9/30/2013-9/30/2016. Peer Reviewed Grant Budget: $799,099.00

During the Summer of 2024, graduate architecture students from Florida International University’s College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts had the unique opportunity to visit MX3D in Amsterdam—a global leader in metal 3D printing. The visit featured a compelling presentation by Gijs Van Der Velden, who detailed MX3D’s pioneering history, its innovative projects, and the challenges faced in designing and printing. A highlight of the discussion was the 50-meter hybrid 3D-printed pedestrian steel bridge in Duisburg, Germany, designed by Professor Thomas Spiegelhalter. This ambitious project, which was under assembly and scheduled to open in October 2024, had been coordinated through numerous Zoom meetings over the years with collaborators Kasper Siderius and Gijs van der Velden. Founded by Loris Jaarman, MX3D is renowned for its revolutionary metal additive manufacturing technology, utilizing dual 6-axis robotic systems. Their groundbreaking work included the world’s first 3D-printed metal bridge, which opened in July 2021. For more information about MX3D and their groundbreaking technologies, visit: MX3D.

Prof. Spiegelhalter had an amazing tour of the Building Future Lab (BFL) at Università Università degli Studi ‘Mediterranea’ di Reggio Calabria today with Prof. Martino Milardi (Director) and Prof. Corrado Trombetta (Founder) on May 22, 2024! Here’s what makes the BFL unique: State-of-the-art Testing and Experimentation Chamber: The BFL boasts one of the world’s largest testing chambers, allowing researchers to evaluate full-scale building envelope elements under simulated environmental conditions; Focus on Sustainability, Resilience: The lab prioritizes testing for factors like seismic activity, wind resistance, and energy efficiency, ensuring buildings are not only functional but also sustainable and resilient; From Design to Certification: The BFL supports the entire design process, from prototyping and testing new construction systems to certification according to international standards helping architects, engineers, and construction companies build the future – sustainable, resilient, and high-performing buildings!

Prof. Thomas Spiegelhalter presented at the Networks, Markets & People (NMP 2024) International Symposium. His lecture, titled “From Blueprint to Reality: A Design-Built Analysis of Urban Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality,” was accepted as part of the Symposium Proceedings and published in a SPRINGER book. The Symposium was organized by the UNESCO MED LAB – Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (Italy), in collaboration with ASTRI Scientific Association and the National Italian Committee of ICOMOS, and supported by various international academic institutions and scientific societies. Key supporters included CETRAD – Centre for Transdisciplinary Development Studies, University of Trás-os-Montes e Alto Douro, Vila Real (Portugal), NEUROLAB – DICEAM Department, Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (Italy), GRUPO ANTE – University of Santiago de Compostela (Spain), and LABOREM – Mediterranea University of Reggio Calabria (Italy). The Symposium took place from May 20, 2024, to May 25, 2024. For more information, please visit the Symposium website: https://www.nmp.unirc.it/?page_id=216.

Simulation and 3D-Design Planning for a 400 m (1312 feet) three array 117 kWp Photovoltaic System and Sound Protection Wall Realization Project along the ‘Autobahn 28’ in Bottrop, Germany Client: City Bottrop Design: PV-Architecture: Thomas Spiegelhalter, Miami-Freiburg Landscape Architecture: Peter Drecker, Bottrop, Germany.

Spiegelhalter is a registered architect, engineer, town planner and principal of Thomas Spiegelhalter Studio + Associates since 1990. He has realized research demonstration work in Europe, Central and South America, and the U.S. in numerous contextual solar, carbon-neutral, zero-fossil-energy, passive and low-energy building realizations projects; large-scale sustainability master planning and consultancies, redevelopment projects for abandoned post-industrial architectures and landscapes, engineered suspension bridges, and revitalization projects.

Spiegelhalter includes in his BIM master planning, research, and consultation projects multiple sustainability measurement criteria systems such as the ISO 9000/14000 standards, IEA Solar City, the European Building Energy Performance Certificate Methodology, the World GBC, UK BREEAM, CASBEE, DNGB, Energy Star, Cascadia, and the USGBC LEED / Wellbeing rating systems.

Many of his completed projects have been published in International anthologies of European and American Architecture such in “Contemporary European Architects, Volume V,” 1997, Building a New Millennium 1999-2000″, both Benedict Taschen Publisher, in “Solar Architecture for Europe, Publisher Birkhäuser, 1996, in “The Architectural Review, on Ecology and Architecture,” in 1998, in “Architectural Record- “DESIGN VANGUARD AWARD 2003 or in the monograph “Adaptable Technologies – Le tecnologie adattabili nelle architetture di Thomas Spiegelhalter” by Franco Angeli Publisher, Rome, in 2008, “Post-Parametric Automation in Design and Construction” with A. Andia in 2014, and “Agent-Based Modelling in the Built Environment” in 2018 with H. Yi. Spiegelhalter also co-founded the local Miami Dynamo-Rhinamo-BIM-360 group of the Intl. Autodesk User Groups (AUGI) to organize monthly cloud workshops in 2017.

He lectured and contributed at over hundred international conferences, design charettes, exhibitions, and workshops about Environmental Design in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Great Britain, Canada, USA, Mexico, Costa Rica, and Australia since 1989.

Since 1990, he has worked with numerous Universities in Germany, the US, UK, Italy, Costa Rica, Brazil, Chile and China to research on multi-disciplinary ecological engineering projects worldwide.

As a result of his 27 years of design and built work, professional consulting, awarded research, teaching, Spiegelhalter has received 54 prizes, awards, and honors in European and US sustainability competitions individual and in collaboration with landscape architects, and engineers.

He was awarded with a tenured University professorship at the University of Hanover and at the University of Applied Science, Leipzig in 1992, and he was an assistant professor at the University of Kaiserslautern, all in Germany. He was a DAAD-visiting professor at the University of Houston and a visiting professor at the Universidad del Desino in San Jose, Costa Rica. He was a professor of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, and at the Center of Building Performance, and Diagnostics at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, and a Cass Gilbert Visiting Professor for Innovations in Sustainable Solar and Renewable Energy in Architecture, University of Minnesota, Center for Sustainable Building Research, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. He is currently the Co-Director of the Structures and Environmental Technologies Lab and teaches graduate Sustainability and Digital Design Studios, Environmental Systems in Architecture and Carbon-Neutral Building-City-Infrastructure Design courses at the College of Architecture, Florida International University in Miami and South Beach.

Over the past weekend, the impactful work of our nationally ranked FIU School of Architecture research faculty and students was highlighted on CBS Saturday Morning News. The feature showcased the innovative projects of our Robotics + Digital Fabrication Lab, our Doctor of Design students, and our renowned faculty. Professor Thomas Spiegelhalter’s architecture students at the FIU School of Architecture studied how rising sea levels could affect the future of South Florida infrastructures during the hurricane season. In his interview with CBS, he described how his students used artificial intelligence to plan future cities, including design scenarios of floating and stilt buildings with resilient green-blue infrastructures up to the year 2100. These designs demonstrated metropolises and structures that mimic natural shapes to withstand future hurricane storms and impacts from erosion. Directed by Dr. Shahin Vassigh, the Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab was dedicated to advancing the built environment through technological innovation. Dr. Vassigh and post-doctoral candidate Sara Pezeshk researched the use of 3-D printing to develop bio-tiles that could reduce coastal erosion and counteract the negative impacts of sea-level rise. The efforts by the FIU School of Architecture supported FIU’s Distinction for Environmental Resilience and collaborated with community organizations to develop and implement solutions-centered initiatives focused on sustainable cities and communities, particularly for South Florida during the hurricane season. To learn more about the CBS article, visit the links in our bio! https://www.instagram.com/p/C7zvAy_vn7E/ and https://www.cbsnews.com/news/florida-architects-prepare-hurricane-season-future-storms-invest-now-or-pay-later/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h