Research
Since arriving at Penn State, I have been developing an integrated teaching, research, and service mission centered on the design and construction of high performance “green” buildings. This developing field strives to reduce the environmental impact of the built environment through the use of integrated, high-end systems, and alternative materials to achieve energy efficient, healthy, and productive facilities. Using my background in production efficiency methods (esp., lean construction), this program focuses on the design and construction process issues of high performance buildings.
My research program in production management in construction has received repeated funding from key federal agencies and corporate owners including the Pentagon Renovation Program and the Toyota Real Estate and Facilities Division. This research program was recently formalized through the development of the Lean and Green Research Initiative. This program is positioned to take advantage of emerging and ongoing scientific funding to develop building processes that enable economically-viable sustainable buildings. I am currently coordinating a collaboration between the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon, Virginia Tech, and Penn State to focus the Lean and Green Research Initiative on the delivery of healthcare facilities. This consortium will pursue large scale research funding centered on reducing healthcare costs through the greening of the healthcare industry and facilities. I also am coordinating interaction between the Lean and Green Research Initiative and colleagues in the AE program through his recent appointment to the steering committee of the Indoor Environment Center in the AE program.
My research is an active part of the Partnership for Achieving Construction Excellence that builds close relationships between students, faculty and building industry partners. I have helped lead the development of a professional leadership program serving construction students in the AE program. I was recently named as the Co-editor of the Journal of Green Building, and also serve as an assistant specialty editor of ASCE’s Journal of Construction Engineering and Management in the area of project planning and delivery.
Expertise
High performance "green" engineering and building; Construction management; Lean construction; Computer simulation and modeling; Meta-analysis; Environmental sustainability; Process modeling; Production management