The Impact of Research: Articulating the Value of Integrating Research into Architectural Education

Abstract

Integrating research impacts into the architectural discipline is critical for architectural education. Students must develop a comprehensive understanding of the interdependent relationship between research and design, and gain the skills necessary to link the two. The quality and effectiveness of teaching directly influence the potential for research impact; likewise, impactful research findings can enhance teaching methodologies and student learning. This white paper is the result of a workshop conducted during the 2023 Architectural Research Centers Consortium annual conference (Dallas, Texas), focusing on the impact of architectural research. Ultimately, this paper begins to outline and scope the idea of research impacts for further discussion and clarification within the field. Opportunities for research impact in architectural pedagogy are broad, with a number of examples already in place highlighting rigorous research methods and interdisciplinary collaboration. With case studies of class projects focusing on the generation of generalizable and transferable knowledge, the authors provide examples of research methods in architectural curricula, the impact on students, and the transferability of research skills to practice. Research impacts through the lens of the funder can be explored through larger, interdisciplinary perspectives that address collaborations, communities of practice, team diversity, and community engagement. Examples will be shared to illustrate ranges of research impact across projects of different scales. Architecture clearly impacts the communities in which we work, though understanding the impact of architectural research around, within, and for these communities is less understood. The authors share examples of community- based research that both contributes to and informs the design process. By identifying the areas of pedagogy, funding agencies, and communities, this outline hopes to facilitate a broad discussion around how to operationalize and engage research in architectural education.