Investing in the future through ground-breaking research

The College of Design’s faculty, staff, students and partners envision an improved world, and the college invests in seeing those dreams becoming reality. By providing, supporting, and/or partnering with state-of-the-art, technologically-advanced research facilities, designers at Iowa State can brainstorm collaboratively, experiment and create through innovation.

Professor of Architecture teaching a class.

Institute for Design Research and Outreach

The Institute for Design Research and Outreach (IDRO) aims to stimulate and support research and outreach efforts in areas of strength and relevance to the design disciplines. The institute strives to promote interdisciplinary design research, to facilitate communication with design professionals and the public, and to respond to the needs of the people of Iowa in areas associated with the design disciplines.

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    Computation and Construction Lab

    The Computation and Construction Lab (CCL) works to connect developments in computation to the challenges of construction: through teaching, research and outreach.

  • Project Presentation

    Community Design Lab

    The Community Design Lab (CDL) partners with communities and organizations combining local knowledge and design research expertise to create equity and resilience through inclusive, transferable, innovative strategies and tactics.

The Center for Building Energy Research (CBER) focuses on the relationship between building design strategies and innovative technologies.

Learn more about the CBER

The Geographic Information Systems Support and Research Facility (GISF) supports the use of geographic information system (GIS) technology at Iowa State University, providing high level GIS research support for students, faculty and staff, and providing GIS education and outreach to the Iowa State community and the state of Iowa.

Learn more about the GISF

The Kies Sponsored Research Lab supports the research faculty, staff, and their graduate students who have externally-funded projects in the College of Design.

College of Design student working on class project.

A Cyclone in the Making

Find your place at Iowa State University’s College of Design, where we like to ask questions, poke and prod, create something new, and make a difference through design.