The Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics (CBPD) at Carnegie Mellon University conducts research, demonstrations, and teaching to advance the sustainability and performance of buildings and communities.
In conjunction with its university-industry-government partnership, the Advanced Building Systems Integration Consortium (ABSIC), the CBPD is engaged in ground-breaking work that investigates the impact of natural and advanced technologies on the physical, environmental, and social quality in buildings and communities.
Established in 1988, ABSIC is a university-industry-government partnership to pursue research, demonstration, and development towards improving the quality and performance of commercial buildings and building systems. Over 50 building industries and 10 government agencies have joined with the CBPD over the past 30 years to advance building systems and systems integration for environmental sustainability, human health and productivity, and organizational flexibility and performance.
All Intelligent Workplace images © Karl Backus
All Intelligent Workplace images © Karl Backus
In addition to the Master of Science in Building Performance & Diagnostics (MSBPD) degree program, the CBPD launched the first PhD in building science in the United States, the PhD in Building Performance & Diagnostics (PhD-BPD), in 1975. In 1995, the Master of Science in Sustainable Design (MSSD) degree program was added to immerse practitioners in sustainable, high performance design curriculum. In 2015, the Doctor of Design (DDes) (formerly Doctor of Professional Practice (DPP)) program was launched as an opportunity for mid-career professionals to pursue doctoral degrees in sustainability and high performance built environments while continuing their careers.
The CBPD and ABSIC collaborated to create the Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace (IW), a living laboratory at Carnegie Mellon University dedicated to advancing innovations in building enclosure, mechanical, electrical, telecommunications, and interior systems, as well as their integration for individual productivity, organizational adaptability, human comfort and health, as well as the highest level of environmental sustainability.
CBPD Research Areas
The CBPD is actively engaged in a breadth of sustainability research:
High Performance Design Guidelines
Next generation guidelines for enclosure, structure, HVAC, lighting, connectivity and interior systems, plus site and infrastructure systems for sustainability.
Robert L. Preger Intelligent Workplace (IW)
A living laboratory for research and demonstration of systems integration for thermal, visual, acoustic, air quality, and spatial performance.
High Performance Schools & Hospitals
Field performance analysis and guidelines to advance high performance school and hospital design and operations.
Intelligent Workplace Energy Supply Systems & Controls
Design and testing of advanced energy supply and conditioning systems integrated with passive conditioning through control innovations.
Performance Simulation and Operations
Advancing building performance simulation tools for design, code compliance, life cycle analysis, and operation of buildings.
Intelligent Dashboards & Data Analytics
Energy and IEQ data analytics and dashboards for corporate and campus leaders, facility managers, and building occupants.
Post occupancy evaluation and measurements of workplaces worldwide with the National Environmental Assessment Toolkit (NEAT) and database.
Demonstrating the benefits of high performance building systems with the triple bottom line: financial, natural, and human capital.
CBPD Faculty
The CBPD faculty are among the world’s leading experts in sustainable design, building science, and the performance of advanced building and community systems. They are actively engaged in research, public policy, and graduate and undergraduate teaching. View the full list of CBPD faculty below.
CBPD Contact Information
Vivian Loftness, FAIA, LEED AP, Co-Director of the CBPD
Dr. Erica Cochran Hameen, LEED AP, Co-Director of the CBPD
Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture
5000 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213