UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Cocosiello Real Estate Innovation Institute has awarded its first seed grant. These grants are designed to support collaborative, interdisciplinary research projects led by Penn State researchers that aim to have a significant impact on the future of the built environment and real estate practice. .
The Seed Grant Program funds an interdisciplinary team of faculty from a variety of disciplines over a 12-month period. Scarlett Miller, director of the institute, said the initiative encourages innovative research that integrates a variety of academic perspectives while engaging directly with the real estate industry. Priority was given to proposals that demonstrated exceptional intellectual merit, broad potential for impact, and strong engagement strategies.
“We are pleased to announce the first round of seed grants awarded by Penn State Cocosielo Institute for Real Estate Innovation,” Miller said. “These grants will foster groundbreaking research that bridges real estate and engineering, driving innovation that will shape the future of the industry. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we will advance what is possible in real estate. We aim to push the boundaries of what is possible and create a lasting impact in both academia and industry. ”
The selected projects cover a wide range of research areas consistent with the Institute’s key areas of focus, including next-generation building materials. Environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues. Future energy situation. and the dynamics of onshoring, offshoring, and reshoring. Miller said each project has the potential for sustained collaboration and is intended to generate preliminary data and proof-of-concept prototypes that will drive innovation in the built environment.
“LionGlass: Building a sustainable future for architectural glass”
Principal Investigator: John Mauro, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering. Julian Wang, associate professor of architectural engineering. The project aims to develop a prototype insulating glass unit using LionGlass, a glass composition that significantly reduces the carbon footprint of glass production. The goal is to optimize production and performance characteristics, such as reducing energy requirements and increasing damage resistance. Our main areas of focus are next-generation building materials and ESG.
“Designing Scalable and Adaptable O2 Grid Communities in Remote U.S. Regions: Implementing a Hybrid Renewable Energy System.”
Team Members: Lisa Iulo, Hamer Center for Community Design Director. Rahman Azari, Director of RE2 Lab. Seth Blumsack, Director of the Energy Law and Policy Center. Greg Pavlak, associate professor of architectural engineering; and David Kaneda of IdeAs Consulting Building Innovation. This project aims to create a flexible model for off-grid real estate development that uses advanced energy technology and efficient building design to support remote communities. The goal is to map areas of potential for off-grid energy solutions in the United States and provide practical living options that can inform broader real estate efforts. The main focus areas are ESG and the future energy landscape.
“Real estate market and solid production reshoring decisions”
Team Members: Brent Ambrose, Jason and Julie Borrelli Professor of Real Estate; Zhenzhen Yang, assistant professor of supply chain management; Xiaojing “Aaron” Sun, associate professor of economics at Oklahoma State University. Lily Shen, associate professor of finance at Clemson University; This project investigates how commercial real estate (CRE) supply influences corporate reshoring decisions by creating a county-level reshoring activity index. The objective is to analyze the relationship between CRE vacancy rate and reshoring through advanced data analysis techniques. This project is co-funded by the Borrelli Real Estate Institute. The main focus areas are onshoring, offshoring and reshoring.
“The awarding of these first seed grants marks a significant milestone for the Institute,” said Peter Cocosiello, the Institute’s founding chairman and CEO of Advance Realty Investors. “We are excited to see the research that will be facilitated by this support, as it reflects our commitment to advancing innovative ideas that drive meaningful change in the real estate industry.Technology, Sustainability, Community By investing in research at the intersection of development, we are laying the foundation for innovative solutions that will shape the future of real estate.”
For more information, please visit the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation website.
About Cocosiello Real Estate Innovation Institute
The Penn State Cocosielo Real Estate Innovation Institute is dedicated to fostering interdisciplinary research and collaboration to address the challenges facing the real estate industry. Through innovative programs and partnerships, the Institute aims to develop solutions that positively impact the built environment and promote sustainable practices.
