Starting point: 

The Arch_Manu Affiliate PhD Program was created to foster a vibrant community of emerging researchers whose work aligns with the Centre’s mission, even if they are not formally embedded in partnered projects. Aimed at PhD candidates supervised by an Arch_Manu Chief Investigator and working within the scope of one of the Centre’s three theme labs—Analytics, Synthesis, or Management—the program offers formal recognition, increased research visibility, and opportunities to connect with peers and industry. Affiliate PhDs are not funded by the ARC ITTC grant; however, they are invited to participate in Arch_Manu symposiums and training events, contribute to annual reports, and are eligible for Centre awards and prizes. While not directly involved in industry engagements, they remain active members of the Arch_Manu community, benefiting from its collaborative and interdisciplinary environment.

Project Summary: 

Affiliate 01

AI-Integrated Solutions for decarbonising Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC), focused on Façade Systems 

This topic may include consideration of: the impact of façade systems on embodied and operational carbon; limitations of current LCA tools in integrating cost, time, and carbon data; challenges of low-carbon material selection due to fragmented data; the use of AI, particularly Graph Neural Networks (GNNs), to model material-performance trade-offs; strategies to improve data flow and decision-making; and the development of scalable workflows for sustainable façade design and broader AEC applications.

Affiliate 02

A Computational Design Tool for Additive Manufacturing of Facade Panels based on Life Cycle Thinking

This topic may include consideration of: the use of computational design and additive manufacturing to optimise façade panels for thermal and structural performance; the integration of life cycle thinking and circular economy principles in material selection and design for disassembly; the application of recycled plastics in mono-material systems; strategies for evaluating environmental impact using planetary boundaries life cycle assessment (PB-LCA); and the potential of site-specific, data-driven workflows to reduce emissions, waste, and material inefficiency in façade design.

Affiliate 03

Streamlining Designer-Client Inter(Ai)Ction

This topic may include consideration of: the evolving nature of designer-client interactions in architecture in light of Image Generative AI (Image GenAI); the limitations of traditional design processes constrained by a designer’s singular interpretation of client needs; the potential of Image GenAI to democratise design engagement through unsupervised, text-to-image workflows; strategies for involving non-design stakeholders more effectively in early-stage design processes; and the development of models and toolkits to support best practice in GenAI-assisted architectural design communication and collaboration.