Institute for Sustainable Architecture and Technology (IAST)

The IAST – Institute for Sustainable Architecture and Technology has been established at USI. The IAST promotes research and innovation in architecture by integrating preservation and adaptive reuse, structural design and engineering, digital technology, and sustainability strategies within a holistic approach. The institute shares with the Accademia di architettura an experimental and interdisciplinary spirit that connects theory with practice, and design with construction.

The scope of IAST’s work is not limited to a single context; where relevant, it addresses challenges at regional, national, and global scales. Particular attention is devoted to the reuse and conservation of existing buildings, and the rethinking of construction methods and materials. The institute supports and encourages collaborations and projects that contribute to the broader mission of the Accademia.

IAST brings together expertise across four key domains:

• Reuse and Heritage – adaptive reuse, preservation, and circular construction.

• Structural Design and Engineering – low-carbon systems, hybrid materials, and adaptive structures.

• Digital Technology – robotic fabrication, computational design, and AI-driven workflows.

• Sustainability and Circularity – strategies to reduce waste and energy consumption, optimize resources, and embed circular economy principles.

The Institute's programme includes a wide range of activities designed to develop knowledge and raise awareness of sustainable architecture and technology.
It promotes, initiates and coordinates research projects; organises lectures, conventions, seminars, symposia and conferences; supports exhibitions and public events; and publishes the results of research projects.