Sustainable Design Synthesis

This course focuses on delivering a design-research project that integrates ecological principles into the built environment across multiple scales. Based on the premise that buildings, infrastructure and urban systems can function as extensions of natural ecosystems, the thesis projects aim to demonstrate design agility and creative problem-solving, integrating critical analytical, computational and research skills. The MSSD Synthesis serves as the culminating course for the Master of Science in Sustainable Design (MSSD) program, following the prerequisite course “48-731: MSSD Synthesis Prep.” Aligned with the program’s mission, the course advances design methodologies that incorporate multicultural and geospatial perspectives in ecological thinking, emphasizing architectural responses to climate change. It guides students in embedding dynamic bioclimatic processes into the design of constructed environments and explores climate-specific socio-ecological placemaking through the lens of computational design, environmental science, material research and advanced manufacturing. The goal is to cultivate actionable design expertise in decarbonization and foster a comprehensive understanding of the ecological impact of the design and construction industries.