Kyounghee Kim, associate professor of architecture, was awarded a 2017 AIA Upjohn Research Initiative Grant ($30,000) for “Biophilic Architecture: Sustainable Materialization of Microalgae Facades” – in support of her research on high-performance building envelope design. This is her second AIA Upjohn Award; she received a 2013 AIA Upjohn Research Grant ($27,000) for “Sustainable Transparency: Kinetic Building Facades.”
Kim was trained as both architect and engineer; she holds degrees from Chonbuk National University in Jeonju, Korea, and the University of Michigan. Her expertise lies in performance-based design, innovative building systems integration and high-performance façades, including microalgae facades, micro-oculus facades and passive kinetic facades, as a way to improve the sustainability of the built environment.
Richard Upjohn (1802 to 1878) was a founding member and the first president of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The AIA Upjohn grant provides base funds for applied research projects that advance the value of design and professional practice knowledge. The AIA gives up to four awards annually in amounts between $10,000 and $30,000.