About Us
In Design++, we aim to develop digitally augmented design tools and computational processes primarily for the design phase to simultaneously increase construction productivity, improve the quality of the built environment and substantially reduce the ecological impact within the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) sector.
Through Design++, we focus on computational design methods to better integrate quantitative metrics (such as structural integrity, energy performance, life-cycle assessment, acoustics, and cost estimation) with expressive and creative design. Furthermore, Design++ integrates artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms as they hold great promise to revolutionize design processes in the AEC industry, particularly in combination with the application of extended reality (XR) for design and engineering.
Design++ is an ETH+ initiative, which aims to develop greater capacity at the intersections between disciplines and create new professorships in future-oriented domains at ETH. Design++ therefore bridges domain expertise from Architecture, Civil Engineering and Computer Science, among others.
In order to achieve the intended interdisciplinary collaborations, we have established the following core activities to drive innovation and exchange at ETH an among the greater AEC industry:
- Drive collaboration and Knowledge Transfer with industry
- Design, build and operate the ETH Immersive Design Lab (IDL)
- Develop an Active Research Network in the fields of AI/ML and XR for AEC at ETH
- Establish a new Professorship for Augmented Computational Design at ETH Zurich
- Strengthen Education in Digital Literacy within the architecture & civil engineering curricula
- Lead innovative and Interdisciplinary Research Projects among research network member
