Ajla Akšamija, Ph.D., LEED AP BD+C, CDT, FTI Fellow (she/her)
Professor and Distinguished Chair for Resilient Places, Director, Transforming Places, Practices and Pedagogies Collaborative (TP3C)
email: ajla.aksamija@utah.edu office: Rm 327G, 375 S 1530 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112 website // LinkedIn
ARCH 6613 Comprehensive Building Technology II
ARCH 6760 Architectural Internship
ARCH 6879 Advanced Seminar (Research Methods)
ARCH 6975 M.S. Project
Ph.D. in Architecture (Technology and Environment Option), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2008
Master of Architecture, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2005
Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2003
Advanced Building Technologies
Research in Practice
Innovations in Architecture
Computational Design
Equity and Inclusion in Architectural Education and Practice
Books
Aksamija, A, (2021). Research Methods for the Architectural Profession, New York, NY: Routledge.
Aksamija, A., Kang, L., Xin, Y, and Ye, Z., (2018). Facade Design for Sustainable Buildings: Design Methods for High-Performance Building Envelopes, Beijing, China: China Architecture and Building Press (Chinese language translation of the Sustainable Facades: Design Methods for High-Performance Building Envelopes, published by John Wiley & Sons, 2013).
Aksamija, (2016). Integrating Innovation in Architecture: Design, Methods and Technology for Progressive Practice and Research, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons.
Aksamija, A., Haymaker, J. and Aminmansour, A., eds. (2015). Future of Architectural Research: Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium Conference, Chicago, IL: Perkins&Will,
Aksamija, A., (2013). Sustainable Facades: Design Methods for High-Performance Building Envelopes, New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons.
Selected Chapters in Books
Aksamija, A., (2022). “Foreword: Future Building Skins”, in Rethinking Building Skins: Transformative Technologies and Research Trajectories, Eugenia Gasparri, Arianna Brambilla, Gabriele Lobaccaro, Francesco Goia, Annalisa Andaloro and Alberto Sangiorgio, eds., Elsevier, Amsterdam: The Netherlands.
Aksamija, (2018). “BIM-Based Building Performance Analysis in Architectural Practice: Using Data to Drive Sustainable Design Strategies”, in Case Study Strategies for Architects and Designers: Integrative Data Research Methods, Magi Sarvimäki, New York, NY: Routledge, pp. 116-122.
Aksamija, A., and Wang, Y., (2017). “Regenerative Design for Achieving Net-Zero Energy Commercial Buildings in Different Climate Types”, in Architectural Research Addressing Societal Challenges, Manuel Couceiro da Costa, Filipa Roseta, Joana Pestana Lages and Susana Couceiro da Costa, eds., CRC Press/Taylor & Francis Group, Leiden, The Netherlands, pp. 527-534.
Haymaker, J., Aksamija, A., and Green, D., (2016). “Research Mechanisms and Projects at Perkins+Will”, in The Changing Shape of Practice - Integrating Research and Design in Architectural Practice, Michael Hensen and Fredrik Nillson, eds. New York, NY: Routledge, pp. 14-24.
Aksamija, A., (2014). “BIM-Based Building Performance Analysis in Architectural Practice: When, Why and How”, in Architecture and Sustainability: Critical Perspectives for Integrated Design, Ahmed Khan and Karen Allecker, eds. Brussels, Belgium: Sint-Lucas Architecture Press, pp. 221-230.
Selected Journal Articles
Milosevic, S., and Aksamija, A., (2022). “High-Performance Retrofit Strategies for Existing Science and Laboratory Buildings within Academic Institutions: Considerations and Design Strategies”, Perkins&Will Research Journal, Vol. 25, No. 1, pp. 35-59.
Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, A., (2021). “Impacts of Building Function on Normalized-Steam Consumption: Analysis of Floor Area Normalization vs. Linear Regression on Heating Degree-Days in Heating-Dominated Climate”, Journal of Green Building, Vol. 16, No. 3, 73-85.
Aksamija, A., Aksamija, Z., Counihan, C., Brown, D., Upadhyaya, M., (2019). “Experimental Study of Operating Conditions and Integration of Thermoelectric Materials in Facade Systems”, Frontiers in Energy Research, Special Issue on New Materials and Design of the Building Enclosure, Volume 7, Article 6, DOI: 10.3389/fenrg.2019.00006 (invited article).
Aksamija, A., (2018). “Thermal, Energy and Daylight Analysis of Different Types of Double Skin Facades in Various Climates”, Journal of Facade Design and Engineering, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 1-39.
Aksamija, A., (2017). “Impact of Retrofitting Energy-Efficient Design Strategies on Energy Use of Existing Commercial Buildings: Comparative Study of Low-Impact and Deep Retrofit Strategies”, Journal of Green Building, Vol. 12, No. 4, pp. 70-88.
Aksamija, A., (2017). “BIM and Creativity in Architectural Education: Teaching Advanced Digital Technologies to Beginner Designers”, The International Journal of Architectonic, Spatial, and Environmental Design, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 13-25.
Aksamija, A., and Peters, T., (2016). “Climate Change and Performance of Facade Systems: Analysis of Thermal Behavior and Energy Consumption in Different Climate Types”, Perkins and Will Research Journal, Vol. 8, No. 2, pp. 52-79.
Aksamija, A., (2016). “Regenerative Design and Adaptive Reuse of Existing Commercial Buildings for Net-Zero Energy Use”, Journal of Sustainable Cities and Society, Vol. 27, pp. 185–195, DOI: 10.1016/j.scs.2016.06.026.
Aksamija, A., and Peters, T., (2016). “Heat Transfer in Facade Systems and Energy Use: Comparative Study of Different Exterior Wall Types”, Journal of Architectural Engineering, DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000224.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “Design Methods for Sustainable, High-Performance Building Facades”, Advances in Building Energy Research, Vol. 10, No 2, pp. 240-262, DOI: 10.1080/17512549.2015.1083885.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “A Strategy for Energy Performance Analysis at the Early Design Stage: Predicted vs. Actual Building Energy Performance”, Journal of Green Building, Vol. 10, No. 3, pp. 161-176.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “Regenerative Design of Existing Buildings for Net-Zero Energy Use”, Procedia Engineering, Vol. 118, pp. 72-80.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “Integrating Building Performance Analysis with Design for High-Performing Facades”, Journal of the National Institute of Building Sciences, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 20-25.
Tang, M., Aksamija, A., Hodge, M., and Anderson, J., (2012). “Performative Computation-Aided Design Optimization”, Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) Journal, Vol. 9, No. 1, pp. 62-67.
Tang, M., Aksamija, A., Hodge, M., and Anderson, J., (2012). “Data Driven Transmutation: an Investigation of Performance Based Design and Adaptive System”, AIA Forward Journal, Summer 2012 Issue, pp. 95-105, (invited article).
Aksamija, A., and Iordanova, I., (2010). “Computational Environments with Multimodal Representations of Architectural Design Knowledge”, International Journal of Architectural Computing, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 439-460 (invited article).
Selected Conference Articles
Aksamija, A., Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, Z., (2022). “Novel Active Facade Systems and Energy Performance of Commercial Buildings: Impact of Thermoelectric Materials on Heating and Cooling in Different Climates”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2022, Los Angeles, CA, October 12-13.
Aksamija, A., Milosevic, S., Sanders, H., and Blakeslee, A., (2022). “Condensation Study of Windows: Comparative Analysis of Different Window Systems under Various Exterior Conditions”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2022, Los Angeles, CA, October 12-13.
Milosevic, S., and Aksamija, A., (2022). “Sustainable Retrofit Strategies for an Existing Laboratory Building: Analysis of Building Performance”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2022, Los Angeles, CA, October 12-13.
Aksamija, A., and Farid Mohajer, M., (2022). “Thermoelectric Facades: Modelling Procedure and Comparative Analysis of Energy Performance in Various Climate Conditions”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2022 Conference, Florida International University, March 2-5, pp. 407-414.
Milosevic, S., and Aksamija, A., (2021). “Performance Study of a Historically Significant Brutalist Building: Thermal and Moisture Analysis of Building Skin”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2021 Conference: Performative Environments, University of Arizona, April 7-10, pp. 15-22.
Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, A., (2021). “Comparison of Energy Usage Intensity in Higher-Education Buildings: Benchmarking Actual Case Study Buildings vs. CBECS Baselines”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2021 Conference: Performative Environments, University of Arizona, April 7-10.
Mahmoud, H., and Aksamija, A., (2021). “Cost-Effective Energy-Efficiency Retrofit Measures for Existing Buildings: Analysis for Reaching Net-Zero Energy Goals in Heating-Dominated Climate”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2021 Conference: Performative Environments, University of Arizona, April 7-10.
Aksamija, A., Aksamija, Z., Farid Mohajer, M., Upadhyaya, M., and Vignaeu, G., (2020). “Thermoelectric Facades: Simulation of Heating, Cooling and Energy Generation Potential for Novel Intelligent Facade Systems”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2020, Los Angeles, CA, August 5-27.
Minaei, M., and Aksamija, A., (2020). “Performance-Based Facade Framework Automated and Multi-Objective Simulation and Optimization”, Proceedings of the of the Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design (SimAUD) 2020, Vienna, Austria, May 25-27, pp. 479-486.
Farid Mohajer, M., and Aksamija, A., (2019). “Integration of Building Energy Modeling (BEM) and Building Information Modeling (BIM): Workflows and Case Study”, Proceedings of the Building Technology Educators Society 2019 Conference, Amherst, MA, June 19-22.
Minaei, M., and Aksamija, A., (2019). “Framework for Performance-Based Facade Design: Optimization of Energy, Comfort and Energy Costs”, Proceedings of the Building Technology Educators Society 2019 Conference, Amherst, MA, June 19-22.
Aksamija, A., (2018). “Methods for Integrating Parametric Design with Building Performance Analysis”, Proceedings of the EAAE/ARCC International 2018 Conference, Philadelphia, PA, May 16-18.
Aksamija, A., Aksamija, Z., Counihan, C., Brown, D., and Upadhyaya, M., (2018). “Experimental Study on Integration of Thermoelectric Materials in Exterior Walls for Heating and Cooling in High-Performance Buildings”, Proceedings of the Building Enclosure Science and Technology (BEST) 5 Conference, National Institute of Buildings Sciences (NIBS), Philadelphia, PA, April 16-18.
Aksamija, A., Aksamija, Z., Counihan, C., Brown, D., and Upadhyaya, M., (2018). “Thermoelectric Materials in Exterior Walls: Experimental Study on Using Smart Facades for Heating and Cooling in High-Performance Buildings”, Proceedings of the Facade World Congress 2018, Los Angeles, CA, March 12-13, pp. 171-180.
Aksamija, A., (2017). “Energy Performance of Different Types of Double Skin Facades in Various Climates”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2017 Conference, University of Utah, June 14-17, pp. 500-509.
Aksamija, A., (2017). “Integration of Parametric Design in Architecture and Building Performance Simulations: Applications for Facade Design”, Proceedings of the 3rd International Biodigital Architecture & Genetics Conference, Barcelona, Spain, June 7-10.
Aksamija, A., (2017). “Double-Skin Facades and Daylight Simulations: Comparative Study of Facade Typologies and Effects on Natural Light in Different Climate Types”, Proceedings of the Symposium on Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design (SimAUD) 2017, Toronto, Canada, May 22-24, pp. 203-210.
Aksamija, A., (2017). “Thermal and Energy Performance of Double Skin Facades in Different Climate Types”, Proceedings of PowerSkin 2017 Conference, Technical University of Munich, Germany, January 19, pp. 71-82.
Aksamija, A., (2016). “Double Skin Facades: Thermal and Energy Performance in Different Climate Types”, Proceedings of the Facade Tectonics 2016 World Congress, Los Angeles, CA, October 10-11, pp. 483-501.
Aksamija, A., and Peters, T., (2016). “Impact of Climate Change on Thermal and Energy Performance of Facade Types in Different Climates”, Proceedings of the Facade Tectonics 2016 World Congress, Los Angeles, CA, October 10-11, pp. 235-244.
Peters, T., and Aksamija, A., (2016). “Passive Solar Facades, Thermal Comfort and Climate Change: Predictive Simulations with Near and Distant Weather Patterns”, Proceedings of the Passive and Low Energy Architecture (PLEA) 2016 Conference (Cities, Buildings, People: Towards Regenerative Environments), Los Angeles, CA, July 11-13.
Aksamija, A., and Wang, Y., (2016). “Regenerative Design for Achieving Net-Zero Energy Commercial Buildings in Different Climate Types”, Proceedings of the EAAE/ARCC 2016 Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, June 15-18.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “Regenerative Design of Existing Buildings for Net-Zero Energy Use”, Proceedings of the International Conference on Sustainable Design, Engineering and Construction 2015, Chicago, May 10-13.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “High-Performance Building Envelopes: Design Methods for Energy-Efficient Facades”, Proceedings of the Building Enclosure Science and Technology (BEST) 4 Conference, National Institute of Buildings Sciences (NIBS), Kansas City, MO, April 12-15.
Wang, Y., and Aksamija, A., (2015). “Net-Zero Energy Retrofits for Commercial Buildings”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2015 Conference, Chicago, April 6-9, pp. 222-230.
Aksamija, A., (2015). “Innovation and BIM in Architectural Education: Teaching Advanced Digital Technologies to Beginner Designers”, Proceedings of the 31st National Conference on the Beginning Design Student 2015, University of Texas, Houston, February 26-28, pp. 28-35.
Aksamija, A., (2014). “Design of Sustainable, High-Performance Building Facades”, Proceedings of the 9th Energy Forum on Advanced Building Skins, October 28-29, Bressanone, Italy, pp. 217-234 (invited paper).
Aksamija, A., Abdullah, A., and Cross, B., (2014). “Whole Building Energy Analysis: A Comparative Study of Different Simulation Tools and Applications in Architectural Design”, Proceedings of the 2014 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, Pacific Grove, CA, August 17-22.
Aksamija, A., and Abdullah, A., (2013). “Building Technology Research in Architectural Practice: Lessons Learned from Implementations of Energy-Efficient Advanced Building Technologies”, Proceedings of the 2013 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Industry, Niagara Falls, NY, July 23-26.
Aksamija, A., and Green, D., (2013). “Visibility of Research in Design Practice: Current and Emerging Trends”, Proceedings of the Architectural Research Centers Consortium (ARCC) 2013 Conference, Charlotte, NC, March 27-30, pp. 661-668.
- Active facade systems with integrated thermoelectric materials for heating, cooling and energy generation
- Impacts of climate change on buildings’ performance
- Methods for designing high-performance facade systems
- Net-zero energy design strategies for existing buildings
- Energy-efficient retrofit design strategies for historically significant buildings