The University of Toronto, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design opens Responsive Architecture lab

The University of Toronto, John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design has opened the Responsive Architecture at Daniels (RAD), a laboratory that provides resources and expertise for project-based research on embedded technology and ubiquitous computing in the built environment.

“The migration of computing from dedicated static appliances to mobile devices, objects of everyday life, and physical environments directly implicates and empowers architecture, landscape and urban design,” notes RAD co-director Carol Moukheiber. RAD capitalizes on this opportunity, bringing emerging technology and research to bear on the built environment: responsive and interactive systems; augmented reality; embedded/situated technology; ambient intelligence; mobile computing and locative media.

RAD launches with a website documenting recent and ongoing research: http://rad.daniels.utoronto.ca

The research is premised on the notion that every building or landscape component can be equipped with computational power to better handle persistent and emerging challenges in the areas of healthcare, building technology and sustainability.

RAD is directed by Assistant Professor Carol Moukheiber and Associate Professor Rodolphe el-Khoury. They join Assistant Professor Christos Marcopoulos, Nashid Nabian and other resident or affiliated investigators in leading projects by multidisciplinary teams for potential development in partnership with industry.

RAD is a recent recipient of a Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) grant. Support for the lab has also been provided by H.H. Angus and Associates Limited.