Research and Facilities

CAPPA FACILITIES

Discover the numerous resources that are available to transform your ideas into reality. Learn more about how to access these tools and any additional assistance.

Architecture and Fine Arts Library

The Architecture and Fine Arts Library (AFA) holds a core print collection and digital research resources related to art, architecture, and music.

AFA Library
Digital fabrication Lab

The Digital Fabrication Lab is a research facility focused on the testing and production of architectural components, modeling and simulation, and Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAM) equipment.

Digital Fabrication Lab
Metal Fabrication Lab

The Metal Fabrication Lab provides a teaching space and research lab with equipment to saw, cut, shear, brake, roll, and weld metal sheet and special shapes.

Metal Fabrication Lab
Photography Lab

Located within the Digital Fabrication area, CAPPA maintains a 270 sq. ft. Photography Lab for student and faculty use.

Photo Lab
Prototype Assembly Lab

The space is equipped with multiple large open work areas, dry material storage, mixing and casting equipment, and hand,wood and metal,working tools.

Prototype Assembly Lab
Wood Fabrication Lab

The Wood Fabrication Lab is a research facility focused on production of architectural components, models and furniture, both at scale and full-scale construction.

Wood and Fabrication Lab
UTA Community Design Build Lab

The new facility strives to revitalize central Arlington while creating an important bridge between the academic and non-profit communities of North Texas.

UTA Community Design Build Lab
Exhibition Space

Exhibits, events and student project reviews may be presented in the 3,740 square foot gallery space dedicated for use by all CAPPA programs.

Exhibitions
Smart Coast Initiative

The Smart Coast Initiative at UTA, established in 2019, combines engineering and architecture expertise to develop resilient, community-driven solutions for coastal sustainability and environmental challenges.

Smart Coast Initiative
Visiting Scholar Program

The Visiting Scholar Program at UTA’s College of Architecture, Planning, and Public Affairs offers scholars a unique opportunity to collaborate with faculty and contribute to impactful urban and regional research.

Faculty Research Grants

The Geisel grants will provide funding for projects to engage students and faculty in a project that impacts a municipality or underserved community in Texas or the US Southwest region.

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Research and Institutes

CAPPA has forged numerous partnerships with research institutes throughout the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to transform proposed ideas into tangible realities that will strengthen the community.

ARLINGTON URBAN DESIGN CENTER

The Arlington Urban Design Center aims to create public awareness about the importance of urban design and its impact on the quality of life, environment, and economic investment. This Design Center established a creative collaboration to allow CAPPA graduate students to work closely with City of Arlington staff on business and neighborhood development projects in Arlington. Students “learn by doing” as they work with City planning staff and benefit from the opportunity of working on real-world projects.

Learn more about AUDC

CENTER FOR ADVANCED DESIGN, RESEARCH, AND EVALUATION (CADRE)

This cross-disciplinary partnership with the Center for Advanced Design, Research, and Evaluation (CADRE) seeks to develop Agile Dwelling Units (ADUs) that can be adapted to respond to housing needs, with an initial focus on aging in place. With a focus on equity and providing affordable access to housing based on adaptive design, the partners are building on relationships they have established across the Dallas-Fort Worth area with underserved communities, to engage them in developing best practices for healthy aging in place through the use of technology

Learn more about CADRE

CENTER FOR METROPOLITAN DENSITY

The Center for Metropolitan Density set its mission to understand the value of density, development, and design through multidisciplinary research, education, and outreach by promoting economically feasible, environmentally responsible and socially equitable downtowns, urban areas and metropolitan regions. The center accomplishes this mission by conducting innovative interdisciplinary research among CAPPA disciplines as well as other allied disciplines across UT Arlington providing educational activities for students and industry members, and disseminating knowledge through service, and outreach primarily with private sector partners in Dallas-Fort Worth and other metropolitan regions across the globe.

Learn more about CfMD

CENTER FOR TRANSPORTATION, EQUITY, DECISIONS AND DOLLARS (CTEDD)

The Center for Transportation, Equity, Decisions and Dollars (CTEDD) strives to be the nation's leading University Transportation Center focused on equity in transportation planning and policy. We pursue the goal of a fairer and more productive transportation system through original research, community engagement, industry-university ties, K-12 educational initiatives, and the promotion of leadership training among STEM students. We seek to apply new methods, new technologies, and new human perspectives to solving our nation's transportation challenges.

Learn more about CTEDD

DIGITAL ARCHITECTURE RESEARCH CONSORTIUM (DARC)

DARC is a network of strategic industry partners who have joined the College of Architecture Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Texas at Arlington to conduct directed research into ways computational fabrication is transforming the AEC profession. DARC conducts innovative design research into a wide range of building components. From prototyping to simulation to computational analysis, DARC explores the interaction of structural performance, material science and new CAD/CAM technologies.

Learn more about DARC

DAVID DILLON CENTER FOR TEXAS ARCHITECTURE

The David Dillon Center for Texas Architecture was founded as a way to connect the School of Architecture to the public conversation about architecture and urbanism in north Texas. The Center sponsors student and faculty research projects and organizes public events that bring together architects, historians, planners, policy-makers, and everyday citizens to examine issues of critical importance to Dallas-Fort Worth. The Center honors David’s tradition of insightful writing about architecture and civic culture and his role as an advocate for better design in everyday life.

Learn more about David Dillon Center

INSTITUTE OF URBAN STUDIES (IUS)

The Institute of Urban Studies (IUS) is the principal research center for CAPPA. The Institute’s mandated mission is to conduct research and provide technical assistance to city and county governments, governmental agencies, and non-profit organizations, and to offer education and teaching opportunities to individuals either already in or contemplating public service careers.

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WATER AND HUMAN SETTLEMENTS

The Water and Human Settlements Initiative puts to work the special combination of design, planning, and policy that CAPPA offers to tackle water-related disasters with innovation and scholarly rigor. As the urban population continues to rise, infrastructure ages, and water-related disasters (flooding, hurricanes, landslides, storm-surges, waterborne diseases, drought) become more frequent, cities face a unique set of water challenges that require creative, impactful, and contextual solutions.

Learn more about Water and Human Settlements

Watershed Urbanism

Watershed Urbanism and the DFW Metroplex showcases pioneering design projects that respond to the challenge of how to design built environments that enlarge with and incorporate waterflows and aquatic life. Projects feature the region and its talented design community.

Learn more about Watershed Urbanism