CRS Center Research Road Map

The CRS Center's purpose is to "research and transfer concepts of leadership management and innovation to the architecture, construction, landscape architecture, land development and planning professions". Based on the academic diversity and strengths of its Faculty Fellows, the Center intends to continue, expand and enhance existing initiatives and introduce new initiatives relevant to the professions, the College of Architecture and Texas A&M University.
The strengths of the Center are based on the abilities of its Faculty Fellows, its activities and programs, and the wealth of information contained in archives of the firm CRS. However, four areas of research that stand out are:

• Building Information Management (BIM)
  Much of the early work on the concepts and development of BIM in design and construction practice was conducted in the College of Architecture. With the addition of new faculty, interdisciplinary focus and renewed interest from industry, the Center has been successful in attracting external funding with the high probability of this area growing in importance.

• Facility Management (FM)
  The CRS Center sponsors one of a handful of programs in the country that awards a certificate in Facility Management. The growing awareness of the need for sustainable practices has placed a spotlight on this field. Current initiatives already underway are:
  a) to develop a degree program to be housed in the College, and
  b) to play a lead role in a University-wide coalition to attract federal funding for sustainable facility management practice and education.

• Architectural Computing
  Three of the Center's faculty fellows have been in the forefront of developing the concepts, tools and processes of architectural computing in education and practice. Currently, CRS Center faculty fellows are leading a project that explores architectural agenda (collaboration, user-participation, inter-disciplinarity, pedagogy and globalization) with multi-disciplinary participation across campus. At this time, the project team is establishing TAMU's "official" presence in the 3-D virtual world Second Life.

• Design Methods & Processes
  Demonstrated by two separate initiatives that are currently underway;
  a) evaluation of design methods in practice, and
  b) evaluation, synthesis and demonstration of design processes for varying scales of campus projects.
  These projects have the advantage of infusing elements of research into accredited professional education, providing "real world" vehicles for education and providing a valuable service to the community at large.
  
  The CRS Center is unique in that it is the only Center at any architecture school (nationally or internationally) built around the archives of a firm that pioneered systematic architectural research. The "critical mass" and diversity of faculty expertise associated with the Center is rare among architecture schools worldwide.

  The research strengths represented by the faculty fellows of the CRS Center are fundamental to the design and construction of the built environment.These researchers are also teachers who carry the research expertise to the core, required classes in the professional curriculum, thereby bringing research excellence to curricular foundations. Furthermore, the dissemination and engagement activities of the Center ensure that this knowledge is spread through the student community.

  Foremost among society's grand challenges is the responsible design,development and management of the built environment. The CRS Center's mission recognizes the importance of a multi-disciplinary approach to research, education, design, construction and management of the built environment. The comprehensive nature of this mission has guided the activities of the Center to coalesce the expertise necessary to:
  a) Identify areas of practice to be researched.
  b) Conduct research in these areas.
  c) Identify areas of research to be disseminated to practice.
  d) Disseminate these topics of research.
  e) Educate students about is researched and practiced.
  f) Educate practitioners about what is taught and researched
  g) Identify trends and project future topics of importance to be addressed.

  In the next five years, the Center expects to have built upon the strengths described above and is committed to:
  1) Pursuing increased funding in these areas through collaboration.
  2) Broadening the scope to include Landscape Architecture and Planning.
  3) Increasing dissemination of knowledge through digitizing the CRS archives.
  4) Increasing dissemination by offering Architectural Registration Examination seminars, tutorials and continuing education.
  5) Engaging other campuses in the A&M System to collaborate in research and dissemination related to the built environment.

  Within 10 years the CRS Center expects that its four areas of research strength have been deepened and that additional areas have been initiated.