Kate Norris
Kate Norris
Department of Urban and Regional Planning
Geospatial Data Manager + Assistant Scholar, GeoPlan Center
352-392-0159
AH 131
John Maze
John Maze
School of Architecture
Associate Professor
352-294-1476
AH 264
Master of Architecture, Arizona State University, Highest Distinction
Bachelor of Science, University of Virginia
John Maze is an Associate Professor and former Assistant Director of the University of Florida School of Architecture where he teaches design and humanities. During his twenty years at the University of Florida and previous time at The University of Virginia, he has authored four required digital architecture and design courses, two University Humanities courses – ARC1000 Architecture + Humanity and IDS2935 Places and Spaces – which is also a University International Quest 1 course. Maze served on the development and oversight team responsible for another University Humanities Quest 1 freshman course: What is the Good Life. He has taught design studios at all levels as well as collaborated in interdisciplinary graduate seminars as affiliate faculty with the Digital Worlds Institute.
His research focuses on the digital interface and its role in the architectural design process. He has written numerous publications on the relationship between architecture and music, a common theme throughout his pedagogy. He has funded research studying Building Information Modeling technology, advanced modeling and animation, and has developed an online database of texture maps with the help of the Office of Academic Technology. In 2004 through 2006, Maze collaborated with Dr. Robert Ferl and Dr. Anna-Lisa Paul of the NASA-sponsored center at the University of Florida, Space Agriculture and Biotechnology Research and Education to model and visualize modular greenhouse prototypes for lunar and Martian exploration. John Maze is also an award-winning multi-instrumentalist currently playing with Irish recording artists An Triur, acoustic Americana quartet Lucky Us, and formerly In Crisis who performed three times at Gator Growl. John has performed twice as a guest of the Chieftains during their visits to the Phillips Center, and for over a decade has led Commencement exercises for the College of Design, Construction & Planning as the bagpiper. In the fall of 2019, Maze soloed with the Pride of the Sunshine State, Fighting Gators Marching Band at halftime during the Vanderbilt Game’s Veteran’s Day tribute.
His professional work includes PA Award winning projects with Eisenman Architects and Roto Architects, as well as projects with Taliesin Architects. He was instrumental in integrating
architectural computing and design both at Eisenman Architects and Roto, who previously did the majority of their work with traditional media types. John Maze received his Bachelor of
Science in architecture from The University of Virginia, and his Master of Architecture with Highest Distinction from Arizona State University. His research with the Pima Maricopa tribes of Arizona won him the thesis prize in 1996.
architectural computing and design both at Eisenman Architects and Roto, who previously did the majority of their work with traditional media types. John Maze received his Bachelor of
Science in architecture from The University of Virginia, and his Master of Architecture with Highest Distinction from Arizona State University. His research with the Pima Maricopa tribes of Arizona won him the thesis prize in 1996.
Andrew Wehle
Andrew Wehle
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Instructional Assistant Professor
352-294-0527
RINKER 312
Ph.D. Construction Management, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Master’s of Cultural Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Bachelor’s of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Erin Cunningham
Erin Cunningham
Department of Interior Design
Associate Professor
352-294-1433
AH 344
Ph.D., College of Design Construction & Planning, University of Florida.
M.I.D., University of Manitoba
B.A., University of Victoria
Erin Cunningham’s research examines intersections between social justice and the interior environment. Her scholarship, published in both peer-reviewed articles and invited chapters, can be broken down into three main categories. The first examines the history and preservation of the interior environment. The second examines the development of social welfare priorities in interior design. The third, and newly emerging track, examines issues of health in the lived environment. Across these topics, Erin takes a social historical approach to the study of interiors, emphasizing issues of gender, race, and class.
One of Erin’s principal responsibilities at the University of Florida is to teach the History of Interior Design, which is a two-part required sequence. Since taking responsibility for these courses she has worked to break the strict lecture style of the course, engaging students in multiple formats, including lecture, class discussion, and digital humanities methods. Alongside her history courses, she teaches interior design studio at all levels, from sophomore to senior. These studios have touched on a range of topics, including hospitality, corporate design, and housing.
With a doctoral degree in Design, Construction in Planning, a certificate in historic preservation, a professional master’s degree in interior design, and a Bachelor of Arts, Erin’s educational background is diverse, and interdisciplinary. Prior to joining the Interior Design Department at the University of Florida, she was a faculty member in the Interior Architecture Program at the University of Oregon.
Shabboo Valipoor
Shabboo Valipoor
Department of Interior Design
Associate Professor, Graduate Coordinator
352-294-1451
AH 350
Ph.D., Environmental Design, Texas Tech University, TX, 2016
M.A., Art and Design, Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia, 2012
B.A., Industrial Design, Art University of Tehran, Iran, 2002
Shabboo Valipoor, Ph.D., EDAC, is an associate professor of Interior Design at the College of Design, Construction and Planning. The focus of her research is on the impact of the built environment on human health and safety, particularly in the context of healthcare facilities and environments for aging and disabilities. She is currently working on projects that aim to (1) improve the quality of care in acute care settings by providing supportive environments for healthcare professionals and (2) minimize environmental risks to independent living for older adults with age-associated impairments. She has collaborated with scholars across disciplines on projects supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs, National Science Foundation, Academy of Architecture for Health, and the American Society of Interior Designers. Her current teaching focuses on inclusive design in the built environment, healthcare design, and computer applications.
Mark Russell
Mark Russell
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Instructional Associate Professor
352-273-1172
RINKER 331
Ph.D., Design, Construction and Planning, University of Florida, 2011
M.S., Environmental Engineering, Old Dominion University, 1995
M.B.A., New Hampshire College, 1992
B.S., Electrical Engineering, University of Central Florida, 1989
Areas of Focus:
Sustainability (Sustainable Construction)
Evaluation of construction projects for sustainable principles. Use of Building Rating systems to evaluate construction projects. Performing Life Cycle Cost Analysis for decision making.
Bio:
Mark Russell joined the faculty of the ME Rinker Sr. School of Construction Management in August 2016. As a scholar, engineer, and contractor, Dr. Russell investigates sustainable construction techniques and building rating systems. His research focuses on effective ways to reduce building energy, water, and resources while promoting a healthy indoor environment.
After earning his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Central Florida, Mark worked with the U.S. Navy Civil Engineer Corps in a variety of construction related positions. After earning an M.B.A. at New Hampshire College and a master’s degree in civil/Environmental Engineering from Old Dominion University, Mark retired from the U.S. Navy. Next, he took a position with URS in Frankfort, Germany where he was responsible for design and construction projects on military bases throughout Europe. Mark later earned his Ph.D. in Design, Construction, & Planning from the University of Florida.
Dr. Russell was the AGC Endowed Chair of Construction Management at the University of New Mexico from 2013 – 2016 and has taught courses in sustainability, civil engineering, and construction management for UF, UNM, and the University of Indonesia. Mark Russell is also a founding partner of the consulting firm Wise Built, LLC, a building sustainability consulting firm that has worked on over 200 building projects throughout the US and in Europe.
Rui Liu
Rui Liu
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Associate Professor
352-273-1168
RINKER 321
Ph.D., Design, Construction, and Planning, University of Florida
Master’s of Science, Information Systems and Operations Management, University of Florida
Master’s of Management, Construction Management, Tianjin University
Bachelor’s of Management, Project Management, Tianjin University
Bachelor’s of Science, Applied Mathematics, Tianjin University
Publications
Research Interest
- Building Information Modeling
- Facility Management
- BIM Software Development
- GIS and BIM Integration
- Construction Economics and Urbanization
- Big Data and Cloud Computing
- Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
- Sensing and Indoor Localization
- Smart Cities
Employers
Assistant Professor, Department of Construction Science, College of Architecture, Construction and Planning, University of Texas at San Antonio
Certification
- CM-BIM
- LEED AP BD+C
- OSHA 30 Hour Outreach Training
- Green Globe Professional (GGP)
Awards & Honors
- 2015 Best Paper Award, ASCE Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
- Outstanding Presentation, The 1st International Shanghai “Global BIM” Summit, 2015
- Best Paper Award (International), International Conference on Innovative Technologies in Construction 2014
- Fiatech Student Scholarship
- Rinker Alumni Fellowship
- CEMEX Scholarship, twice
- Rinker Material Scholarship
- Outstanding Student, multiple times, Tianjin University
Memberships & Involvement
- Co-Chair: Alamo BIM Peer Group
- Member, SOCIETY BETA GAMMA SIGMA
- A.M.ASCE, American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and Construction Institute (CI)
- Member, Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)
- Member, ASC (Associated Schools of Construction)
- ASCE Construction Research Congress (CRC)
- Associated Schools of Construction (ASC)
- American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE)
Publication Examples
- 3D visualization of sub-surface pipelines in connection with the building utilities: Integrating GIS and BIM for facility management
- Cloud-based deep immersive game for human egress data collection: a framework
- Introducing Building Information Modeling Course into a Newly Developed Construction Program with Various Student Backgrounds
- Cloud-Based Interactive Probabilistic Simulation for AEC Industry
Aaron Costin
Aaron Costin
M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management
Associate Professor
352-273-2121
RINKER 324
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, 2016, Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology M.S. Civil Engineering, 2013
Georgia Institute of Technology B.S. Civil Engineering, 2011
Publications
Areas of Focus
Application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Construction and Engineering; Internet of Things (IoT); Data Interoperability; Digital Twin (DT); Building Information Modeling (BIM); Digital Infrastructure
Affiliations
- Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment
- University of Florida Transportation Institute (UFTI)
- Warren B. Nelms Institute for the Connected World
- Artificial Intelligence Academic Initiative Center (AI2)
Biography
Dr. Aaron Costin is an Associate Professor at the University of Florida’s M.E. Rinker, Sr. School of Construction Management, and holds an affiliate appointment to the Engineering School of Sustainable Infrastructure & Environment. His academic journey led him to earn a Bachelor of Science, Master of Science, and Doctor of Philosophy in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Dr. Costin’s expertise lies in the nuanced integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM), Digital Twin (DT), Information Communication Technologies (ICT), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to enhance construction and infrastructure management. His research specifically focuses on leveraging AI to improve interoperability among diverse construction technologies and platforms, facilitating seamless data exchange and enhancing collaboration across the construction industry’s various sectors. This focus on AI and interoperability is central to Dr. Costin’s work, aiming to push the boundaries of how technology can be utilized to make construction processes more efficient, accurate, and sustainable.
Dr. Costin leads the Smart Construction Informatics (SCI) laboratory where they research emerging technologies and interoperability for the built environment. His research is at the intersection of construction management, civil engineering, and computer science, focusing on interoperability, wireless network systems, design computing, and the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in construction. His work significantly impacts construction safety, productivity, and sustainability, leveraging emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data analytics. He has collaborated extensively with industry and academic partners globally, contributing to the advancement of smart cities and intelligent transportation systems.
A multidisciplinary researcher, Dr. Costin has received substantial external funding, including a notable grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to develop a cyberinfrastructure service for IoT-based construction research and applications. He is also a key investigator on three multimillion dollar national BIM for Bridges and Infrastructure projects. His projects aim to revolutionize construction and engineering practices by fostering a more connected, efficient, and safer industry.
An active member of the academic and professional community, Dr. Costin chairs and serves on multiple committees to advance emerging technology and interoperability and is involved in several international groups focused on developing standards for ontologies and linked data in the AEC industry. He is a pioneer in promoting BIM and Digital Twin for bridges and structures, leading efforts to create open data exchange standards, and serving as the chair for various national and international standardization initiatives.
Dr. Costin’s dedication to teaching and mentorship is evident in his dynamic and interactive approach, preparing students for real-world challenges by integrating research into education. He has been recognized for his contributions to the field with awards for both teaching and research excellence, including the University Scholars Program Faculty Mentor Award at the University of Florida.
Beyond his academic achievements, Dr. Costin is committed to student service, being the faculty advisor to Theta Tau Professional Engineering Fraternity, CRU at UF, and the DCP entrepreneurship club. He also advises and mentors dozens of undergraduate researchers from various disciplines across UF.
Chimay Anumba
Chimay Anumba
College of Design, Construction and Planning
Dean and Professor
(352) 294-1405
AH 331A
B.Sc. Building (1st Class Honours), University of Jos, Nigeria
Ph.D. Civil Engineering, The University of Leeds, UK
D.Sc. (Higher Doctorate), Loughborough University, UK
Publications
Areas of Focus
Sustainability (Building Energy, Built Environment Resilience, Smart Buildings/Cities, Sustainable Construction)
Biography
Dean Chimay Anumba graduated at 18 with a First Class Honours degree in Building and worked as a Project Engineer and Design Engineer before studying for his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering (specializing in Computer-Aided Design) at the University of Leeds, UK. He then worked in industry on a wide range of building and civil infrastructure projects, becoming a Chartered/Professional Engineer in 1993. This was followed by academic appointments at a number of UK academic institutions. More recently, he was Professor and Head, Department of Architectural Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University from January 2008 to July 2016.
Dr. Anumba’s research interests are in the fields of construction engineering and management, advanced engineering informatics (AI, CPS, KBS, etc.), concurrent engineering, knowledge management, distributed collaboration, high performance buildings, and sustainable construction. He has over 500 scientific publications, including 21 books and over 200 archival journal papers, in these fields. His work has received over $150m in support from various sources – the National Science Foundation (NSF), the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Institutes for Health (NIH), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC, UK), and a variety of international agencies. He has also supervised 56 doctoral candidates to completion, mentored over 25 postdoctoral scholars, and advised numerous masters’ students.
He has won several awards for his work and has held Visiting Professor/Scholar appointments at more than 10 universities in N. America, Europe, Asia and Africa – including MIT, Stanford and Tsinghua. In recognition of his substantial and sustained original contributions to the field of Construction Engineering and Informatics, Dr. Anumba was awarded the higher doctorate degree of Doctor of Science, D.Sc., by Loughborough University in July 2006. In January 2007, he was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Dr.h.c.) by Delft University of Technology in The Netherlands for outstanding scientific contributions to Building and Construction Engineering. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering (the United Kingdom’s National Academy of Engineering) in July 2012. He also holds Fellowships of the following professional institutions: The Institution of Civil Engineers, The Institution of Structural Engineers, and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He is the recipient of the 2018 ASCE Computing in Civil Engineering Award and a member of the U.S. National Academy of Construction.
Dr. Anumba is also Editor-in-Chief of the Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management journal, Co-Editor of the Journal of Information Technology in Construction, and Specialty Editor of the ASCE Journal of Computing in Civil Engineering. He sits on the editorial boards of numerous other journals.
Dr. Anumba joined the University of Florida on August 1, 2016 as Dean of the College of Design, Construction and Planning.
Bahar Armaghani
Bahar Armaghani
Sustainability and the Built Environment
Instructional Associate Professor
352-294-1428
RINKER 322
M.S. in Civil Engineering and B.S. in Environmental Engineering
Bahar Armaghani is the Director of the Sustainability and the Built Environment (SBE) Program and Lecturer at the College of Design, Construction and Planning (DCP) at the University of Florida (UF). She is also the Director of UF Green Building Learning Collaborative (GBLC). She developed and teaches courses on energy, greening the build environment, and Leadership. In 2014 she established and teaches LEED Lab at University of Florida bridging the gap between education and operation arms of the university utilizing university as a laboratory for hands-on learning focusing on the skills needed in the green building industry. LEED Lab students delivered LEED V4.1 EB: O+M Gold certification for on campus building, the first certified building by students in Florida and the eleventh internationally. Bahar established UF’s Green Building Program, Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and served as director for thirteen years. She has managed and administered over 135 LEED BD+C, ID+C, Schools, Retail, and Homes Projects at UF and outside including 13 LEED Platinum certified buildings and first platinum project in the state of Florida. Under her leadership, UF was one of the leading universities in building green. Her role in administering university’s LEED projects saved the university over $6 million since the LEED program establishment. In addition, Bahar served as an Assistant Director and major Project Manager at University of Florida’s Planning, Design and Construction Division for over a decade completing over 35 projects with a total budget of $350 million. She also, initiated and directed UF’s rebate and 179D programs generating additional funding to the university. Bahar is one the first three LEED Fellows in the state of Florida. She has been active with U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) locally, nationally and internationally. She served as USGBC LEED Faculty for over a decade, established USGBC Heart of Florida Chapter and served as president for four years, and served on the board of directors for USGBC Central Florida chapter and USGBC Florida and the Caribbean Region. She also served on task forces for LEED Advisory Committee, Education and Events committee, a subject matter expert, and a Pro- Reviewer for USGBC education courses. Currently, Bahar is serving on FL USGBC Market Leadership Advisory Board, ACG Certification Council, Chamber of Commerce International Council board, and director of Sister City program Gainesville/ Duhok. Bahar has served as an international advisor, and introduced green buildings and LEED rating system to the public and private sectors in Jordan, Republic of Georgia, and Iraq (Kurdistan). She has delivered green building design, construction, and operation workshops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sweden, and Singapore. She played a leading role in establishing the Jordan Green Building Council. Most recently, she established Kurdistan Green Building Interest group. She presents in International and National conferences Bahar is a University of Florida graduate with a MS in Civil Engineering and BS in Environmental Engineering.