Architectural Engineering

Meet Assistant Teaching Professor Matt Jungclaus

sugl6437 — Thu, 20 Aug 2026 14:36:24 +0000

Meet Assistant Teaching Professor Matt Jungclaus sugl6437 Thu, 08/20/2026 - 08:36

Susan Glairon

What were you doing before joining the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering?

Immediately before stepping into this role, I taught two Masters of the Environment courses at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder on zero-carbon buildings and emerging decarbonization technologies while running my own consulting practice, Building Insights. Through Building Insights, I lead building and product life cycle assessment (LCA) for clients including Amazon, Microsoft, RMI and the Carbon Leadership Forum. This work deepens my expertise in sustainable building and product design while bringing real-world challenges directly into the classroom.

Before that, I earned a mid-career PhD in architectural engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, studying embodied carbon in the built environment with Dr. Wil Srubar and serving as the department’s lead teaching assistant. Earlier, at Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), I led techno-economic analyses that informed energy policy and building design for clients including the U.S. Navy, General Services Administration, REI, New York City Mayor’s Office for Sustainability, City of Pittsburgh and McDonald’s.

What are your primary interests or focus areas?

My professional and academic work centers on sustainable building and product design, with life cycle assessment as the throughline. I focus especially on embodied carbon, the emissions associated with materials and construction, which occur before a building ever turns on its lights, and on practical low-cost ways to reduce it through smarter material choices, better data and design strategies.

I bring that same perspective into engineering fundamentals. When teaching Mechanics of Materials during my PhD studies, for example, I incorporated cement and steel decarbonization and the structural potential of mass timber, helping students see sustainability as a thread throughout the discipline, rather than a niche elective.

What drew you to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

I am a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder alum: I earned my PhD in this department in 2025, so I already knew the people, culture and caliber of teaching well before considering a full-time faculty position. While I have enjoyed working as an independent consultant, I have always been drawn to the teaching, mentorship and service that come with a full-time role at CU.

One specific memory inspired me to apply for this position: At graduation in 2025, a former Mechanics of Materials student introduced me to his family and told me that my enthusiasm and encouragement had inspired him to pursue structural engineering. That moment has stayed with me as a reminder of the impact a teaching professor can have in helping the next generation of professionals find purpose in their work. Combined with my love for Boulder and the mountains, and a department where I already felt at home, the decision to return felt natural.

How does your work address real-world problems or applications?

My consulting work is the clearest evidence that this expertise solves real-world problems. On every project, I use life cycle assessment to help decision-makers understand the environmental trade-offs between different design and material choices. My current work with NSF International and Amazon uses LCA to help guide consumers toward more sustainable products. This directly enables consumers to make purchasing decisions that are more environmentally sound. My recent work with RMI and the Carbon Leadership Forum to develop Embodied Carbon Pathways to 2050 for the United States used building stock analysis and life cycle assessment to define actionable policy pathways to achieving national climate goals, which state policymakers can use to design more effective policies. Any resulting policies will affect our nation's building stock, and change the way that future architectural engineers design and construct buildings.

Are there any projects or collaborations you're especially excited to begin at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

I look forward to engaging with new programs in the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, such as the sustainability engineering minor. I am passionate about integrating sustainable building and product design throughout the curriculum, which is why I am excited to teach Sustainability in Action, a required course for the minor, in spring 2027.

What's something you're passionate about outside of work?

I am building an A-frame cabin in the mountains near Alma, Colorado, and the project has become an unexpected extension of my career. In addition to installing the structural framing, insulation, siding, wiring, plumbing and other components myself, I’ve experienced firsthand the decisions builders and developers make every day, albeit on a much smaller scale. My work has always focused on the environmental, economic and practical tradeoffs of different technologies, but that calculus changes when you are the one purchasing, handling and installing the materials. We’ve prioritized low-embodied-carbon materials and designed the home to be significantly more energy efficient than code requires. I look forward to using the cabin as a real-world case study in my classes.

When I am not in Alma, I enjoy playing jazz saxophone, chasing after my 3-year-old daughter and enjoying our beautiful state.

From sustainable building design to a hands-on A-frame project in the mountains, Matt Jungclaus brings real-world experience into the classroom as CEAE’s newest assistant teaching professor.

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Engineering students compete in national hospital design competition

sugl6437 — Tue, 19 May 2026 18:19:46 +0000

Engineering students compete in national hospital design competition sugl6437 Tue, 05/19/2026 - 12:19

Susan Glairon

Four �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder engineering students competed in a national healthcare design challenge, designing a fictional cancer center for an underserved community in Houston, Texas.

Architectural engineering undergraduates Colletta Schiller, Eli Cleary, Parker Cardozo and AJ Pacheco each served as the engineer on four different student teams in the 2026 American Society for Health Care Engineering Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) Student Challenge held in March at the PDC Summit in Houston, Texas.

“It was one of the most amazing weekends of my life,” said Cardozo, a junior who was a member of the winning team.

From left to right, Colletta Schiller, Parker Cardozo, Professor Gregor Henze, AJ Pacheco and Eli Cleary stand in the lobby of the Hilton Americas hotel in Houston.

During the 48-hour challenge, students from five universities and multiple disciplines—including architecture, engineering, construction management and nursing—collaborated in an intensive design charrette to create a fictional 40,000-square-foot cancer center for Houston’s Third Ward, a community facing both high poverty and cancer rates.

The students visited a modern 400,000-foot oncology institute to view how the spaces were organized, including imaging, radiology, infusion and surgery. Judges included individuals with engineering, nursing, architectural and construction management backgrounds.

The top two teams presented their design solution at a PDC Summit conference session.

“It was an extremely rewarding experience,” said Professor Gregor Henze, the group’s faculty advisor. “Each student grew beyond their original disciplinary focus to become an integral part of their design team, strengthening the solutions they developed together. I am immensely proud of their accomplishments and learned so much myself from the experience.”

Before the challenge, participants knew only that the project would be related to healthcare, said Cardozo. Although the competition is designed for graduate students, all of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s engineering participants were juniors.

“I knew it would be a challenge,” Cardozo said. “I also knew that the learning experience would be great. It was far greater than I could have imagined.

“The challenge pushed me to collaborate with students from different majors the same way professionals do,” Cardozo added. “Architecture students worked closely with engineers, and engineers and architects alike had to understand the roles and needs of nurses.”

Q&A with Parker Cardozo: "Connecting my role as an engineer to the overall patient experience"

What did you learn from the challenge?

I learned it's important to understand the community’s needs, that this primarily Black community experiences high cancer and high cancer mortality rates along with lower access to insurance and healthcare. I learned to think beyond the engineer’s role and consider the architect's perspective.

Parker Cardozo

What was it like being on a team with non-engineers?

One of our team members was a nursing student. That was especially impactful because she had firsthand experience caring for cancer patients. She brought a tremendous amount of heart to the project and consistently grounded our work in the human experience.

Her perspective helped us to consider the nurses’ working environment and how to make care more effective. At the same time, she pushed us to consider how the space could reduce stress and discomfort for patients going through difficult treatments. Her focus on the human side of healthcare reminded us that this was more than just a project or a grade. Our work could have a meaningful impact on people’s lives.

Was there anything that surprised you?

Before the event, people said, ‘you're not going to get any sleep.’ I thought that was a joke. But I didn't get much. Most participants slept less than six hours during the 48-hour challenge.

Also, I didn't know what to expect. I worried how I was going to complete complex calculations or build models that would normally take months. But it quickly became clear that the experience was more about connecting my role as an engineer to the overall patient experience.

For example, patients who undergo all-day infusion treatments may experience fatigue and vertigo. For those experiencing vertigo, a loud HVAC system can be especially uncomfortable. Larger ducts help reduce noise levels.

How did it feel to win?

Hearing our group announced as the winner definitely caught us off guard. From 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. on Sunday, we were just trying to stay focused. About 20 minutes before our presentation, we scrapped our original idea and pretty much winged it.

What was it like to participate in a competition that was primarily geared toward graduate students?

I'm only a third-year engineering student. I had many doubts going into the competition. I had never done anything like this before.

Professor Henze told me, ‘Just focus on what you're learning in class and you’ll be alright,’ referring to the building energy systems engineering class. He was right.

By Monday I was sad it was over. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I could have said no because I was scared and missed out on this opportunity, and I don't want anybody else to do that. If you want to participate, just do it.

Q&A with Colletta Schiller: "Designing to meet the needs of a community"

Why did you get involved in this competition?

I am very interested in mechanical systems engineering. While I did not know much about healthcare architecture before attending the competition, I knew it would be a great opportunity to learn about different applications of my degree and to work with different disciplines.

Colletta Schiller

What did you learn from it?

I learned to collaborate with different design disciplines and to communicate the importance of my work. I also determined how to best utilize my time while the design was being developed. Both in the team setting and, in the presentations, I had to adjust how I was communicating to highlight the main points rather than the technical aspects of engineering. I eventually focused on how design choices would impact users rather than the equipment and machinery.

What surprised you most from the challenge?

I was most surprised at how well thought-out and developed our design became. My team was able to finish with a detailed design of the building with several beautiful renders.

What was it like to present your design?

It was nerve-wracking and stressful, but incredibly rewarding. The professors and event coordinators provided a lot of feedback on effective presentation strategies and emphasized the pitch of the final presentation. The judges also provided great feedback.

What was your favorite part of the experience?

Collaborating with my teammates. Given the short time frame, we were not asked to design a full HVAC or structural system for the building, but rather to approach the design from one of three options—sustainability, resiliency or embodied carbon. At the end of the project, we were tasked to create boards describing the project, in combination with a presentation where we "pitched" our design to the judges. This was my first time designing to meet the needs of a community, and it was interesting to figure out how to pitch my work in a non-technical way.

Four �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder architectural engineering students participated in a national healthcare design competition typically geared toward graduate students, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to design a cancer center for Houston’s underserved Third Ward community. The experience challenged students to think beyond technical engineering and consider patient comfort, community needs and healthcare access in the design process.

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Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat

sugl6437 — Tue, 21 Apr 2026 20:27:23 +0000

Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat sugl6437 Tue, 04/21/2026 - 14:27

In this article in The Conversation, Professors Gregor Henze and Sean Shaheen explain how waste heat from data centers could be reused to warm nearby buildings if the centers are carefully designed, constructed and operated.

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Professor Gregor Henze awarded ASHRAE Fellow status

sugl6437 — Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:17:17 +0000

Professor Gregor Henze awarded ASHRAE Fellow status sugl6437 Fri, 02/20/2026 - 10:17

Susan Glairon

Professor Gregor Henze was recently awarded Fellow status by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE).

ASHRAE Fellow is a membership grade that recognizes individuals who have achieved distinction and made substantial contributions to Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVAC&R) and the built environment. Contributions may include leadership and impact in education, research, engineering design and consulting, publications, presentations and mentoring.

"Receiving this honor offers me the satisfying realization that the architectural engineering community, both academia and practice, recognize my contributions to the improvement of the built environment as well as the education of the next generation practitioners in the field," Henze said.

Henze is widely recognized for advancing simulation tools and techniques that improve energy efficiency, comfort and grid responsiveness in buildings and urban energy systems. His research portfolio includes more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and spans topics such as advanced building control, data science for energy and buildings, energy flexibility and novel district heating and cooling networks.

2026 ASHRAE Fellow Status awardee Professor Gregor henze. Widely recognized for advancing stimulation tools that improve energy efficiency.

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Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award

Susan Glairon — Wed, 26 Nov 2025 12:30:49 +0000

Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award Susan Glairon Wed, 11/26/2025 - 05:30

Susan Glairon

Caroline Mumm in front of Neuschwanstein Castle in the Bavarian Alps in southwest Germany.

While studying architectural engineering at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, Caroline Mumm participated in a summer abroad program at Freie Universität Berlin International Summer University (FUBis) in Berlin, Germany, where she took an intensive German language class as well as a sustainability and a business class. She also served as an ambassador for the university.

Mumm is the recipient of the College of Engineering and Applied Science Global Engagement Award.

“Caroline represented �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder and her department with professionalism and enthusiasm,” said Associate Professor Steven Ayer. “Her experience broadened her understanding of key topics such as sustainability, enabling her to bring valuable global insights back to Boulder and integrate them into her coursework and professional growth.”

Major

Architectural Engineering

Post-graduation plans

Visit family, then begin a lighting design position at WSP in Denver.

What sparked your interest in studying abroad?

When I was in the third grade, I lived in Germany with my family for six months. Since then, I’ve had only a few chances to travel abroad, but each one brought the same excitement of the unknown. Living in another country is an engaging experience that challenges what you perceive to be normal and pushes you out of your comfort zone. A summer abroad program felt like a fantastic way to explore again, while earning credits and gaining academic experience.

How did studying abroad shape the way you think about sustainability?

The sustainability class I took pushed me to think about building practices more broadly. Before this, I mainly focused on approaches used in the U.S. Studying in another country helped me see the different challenges and innovations happening elsewhere, and how the rest of the world is working to advance sustainable practices for the future.

How’s your German these days?

I still try to keep up with it! There are some great German shows to watch, and I stay in touch with a few people I met who live there. I’ve definitely lost some of my language skills, but I hope to regain them one day.

What was the most meaningful lesson from your global engagement experience?

The biggest lesson from my global engagement experience is that growth happens when you're uncomfortable. Navigating daily life, using transit and interacting with people on my own in a country with a different language often felt scary and uncomfortable. But through

Caroline Mumm and her student teammates present their final research project for a sustainability and business course in the FUBiS program at Freie Universität Berlin.

those uncomfortable moments, I met amazing people, saw incredible places, learned alongside students from around the world and ate amazing food. I came home with more confidence in my ability to take on difficult tasks, one moment, one minute, one step at a time.

Did this experience change the way you see yourself or the world?

Yes! This experience changed both the way I see myself and how I see the world. I see a new version of myself — a more confident, well-rounded and well-spoken person. I see the world as smaller and less intimidating. To be able to fully immerse yourself and experience different cultures is an eye-opening event. Why stay in your comfort bubble when there's so much to explore, so many sights to see and so many amazing people to meet?

If you could offer one piece of advice to students interested in global engagement, what would it be?

If you're interested in global engagement, just do it! Find a program, a project, anything that gets you out of your comfort zone. You'll meet amazing people, see beautiful places, try new foods and come home wanting to explore even more of the world.

Anything else you would like to add?

Completing my degree at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder was one of the best decisions I’ve made. I’ll miss this university I’ve called home for the past few years. Sko Buffs!

Learn more about study abroad for civil or architectural engineering students.

Caroline Mumm, an architectural engineering major, represented the department during a summer abroad program at Freie Universität Berlin International Summer University (FUBis). Mumm returned with a deeper understanding of the diverse challenges and innovations in sustainable building worldwide.

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Gregor Henze honored as IBPSA fellow for building simulation research

Susan Glairon — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 21:12:31 +0000

Gregor Henze honored as IBPSA fellow for building simulation research Susan Glairon Tue, 07/08/2025 - 15:12

Professor Gregor Henze of �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering has been named a fellow of the International Building Performance Simulation Association, one of the highest honors in the field. Building performance simulation uses detailed computer models to evaluate how buildings perform under varying conditions, in terms of energy use, carbon emissions and heating and cooling efficiency.

“Receiving this honor is a deeply satisfying affirmation that the community values my contributions to both the science and art of building performance simulation, as well as my efforts to educate the next generation of researchers in the field,” Henze said.

Henze was selected for his pioneering work in model predictive control, which uses mathematical models to predict building system behavior and optimize energy use and comfort; simulation model development, which involves creating and improving mathematical models to explore how buildings respond to factors like weather, utility price signals or occupancy; and building-to-grid integration, which connects buildings to the power grid so the former can respond to electric grid system needs, such as reducing usage during peak times. He is also recognized for his international leadership in research and education.

Charles Kutscher, a Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute (RASEI) fellow and former director of the Buildings and Thermal Systems Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), said in the nomination letter that Henze’s knowledge of building energy modeling and his ability to educate and encourage young staff made him an invaluable contributor to NREL’s building science research efforts.

“I was especially impressed by Professor Henze’s broad knowledge of the international research underway and how he applied that knowledge to the modeling of fifth generation district heating and cooling networks,” Kutscher said, referring to advanced urban energy systems which integrate renewable energy and recover waste heat. “His research resulted in many groundbreaking papers on this leading edge technology.”

Henze is widely recognized for advancing simulation tools and techniques that improve energy efficiency, comfort and grid responsiveness in buildings and urban energy systems. His research portfolio includes more than 200 peer-reviewed publications and spans topics such as advanced building control, data science for energy and buildings, energy flexibility and novel district heating and cooling networks.

Henze is also a co-founder and chief scientist at QCoefficient, Inc., a startup that creates technologies that help buildings proactively manage their energy use in real time to better integrate with the electric grid system operations.

He will be formally recognized in August at the Building Simulation 2025 conference in Brisbane, Australia.

Henze was selected for his groundbreaking work on smart energy control systems, advanced building simulation tools and technologies that connect buildings to the power grid. He is also recognized for his global leadership in research and education.

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Symposium advances structural engineering toward zero carbon

Susan Glairon — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 21:46:14 +0000

Symposium advances structural engineering toward zero carbon Susan Glairon Mon, 07/07/2025 - 15:46

Susan Glairon

�鶹��Ѱ��Boulder's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering and the Structural Engineering Institute co-hosted a symposium June 26-27 focused on advancing the structural engineering profession toward zero carbon.

The event, which drew 166 participants to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s campus, marked an industry-wide step toward cutting emissions tied to building materials like steel and concrete, said Assistant Teaching Professor Jay Arehart, the organizer of the event.

“Bringing together people from 65 different companies shows that sustainability isn’t limited to just a few firms—it reflects collective action across the structural engineering profession to drive toward zero carbon,” Arehart said.

Towards Zero Carbon 2025: Summit & Symposium explored design practices and materials that reduce embodied carbon—the greenhouse gases emitted during the production, transport and disposal of building materials. Achieving “zero carbon" means balancing the amount of carbon dioxide emitted with the amount removed from the atmosphere, resulting in no net emissions.

Arehart said he believed it was the largest gathering to date of structural engineers focused on embodied carbon reductions.

Teaching Professor Jay Arehart organized the event,
which attracted 166 participants.

Alexis Feitel, PE, an embodied carbon innovation and technical director with KL&A Structural Engineers in Golden, said KL&A’s entire “Team Carbon” and the company’s CEO attended the event.

“It boosted our embodied carbon technical training and energized us to progress toward zero carbon,” he said.

Utsav Dahal, a �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder PhD student in architectural engineering, said he decided to attend the symposium after taking a life cycle assessment class with Arehart.

“As someone who believes in sustainability—even in mechanical systems—I wanted to learn more about embodied carbon,” said Dahal, whose research focuses on building energy efficiency and the impact of retrofitting existing buildings.

Dahal said the symposium was enriched by the real-world insights from industry professionals, and that he would “definitely recommend this event” to others, noting that carbon reduction is a shared goal across all construction disciplines.

“There’s still a lot to learn,” Dahal added.

The event, which drew 166 participants to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder’s campus, marked an industry-wide step toward cutting emissions tied to building materials like steel and concrete.

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Four civil and architectural engineering undergraduates win college awards

Susan Glairon — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 18:56:44 +0000

Four civil and architectural engineering undergraduates win college awards Susan Glairon Mon, 04/21/2025 - 12:56

Each of these civil and architectural engineering undergraduates received an award recognizing excellence in one of four areas: community impact, global engagement, academics or research.

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Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory

Susan Glairon — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 17:18:11 +0000

Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory Susan Glairon Mon, 04/21/2025 - 11:18

Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory, an ongoing alliance between Deloitte Consulting LLP and �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder, will develop tools to reduce carbon: one for optimizing data center energy storage, led by Associate Professor Kyri Baker, and one for evaluating local materials in cement, led by Associate Professor Mija Hubler.

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As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions

Susan Glairon — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 22:19:18 +0000

As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions Susan Glairon Fri, 04/18/2025 - 16:19

Associate Professor Kyri Baker, of civil, environmental and architectural engineering, and Professor Bri-Mathias Hodge, of electrical, computer & energy engineering, propose that strategically located data centers with energy storage could operate entirely on clean energy.

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Architectural Engineering

Meet Assistant Teaching Professor Matt Jungclaus

What were you doing before joining the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering?

What are your primary interests or focus areas?

What drew you to �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder?

How does your work address real-world problems or applications?

Are there any projects or collaborations you're especially excited to begin at �鶹��Ѱ�����Boulder?

What's something you're passionate about outside of work?

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Engineering students compete in national hospital design competition

Q&A with Parker Cardozo: "Connecting my role as an engineer to the overall patient experience"

What did you learn from the challenge?

What was it like being on a team with non-engineers?

Was there anything that surprised you?

How did it feel to win?

What was it like to participate in a competition that was primarily geared toward graduate students?

Q&A with Colletta Schiller: "Designing to meet the needs of a community"

Why did you get involved in this competition?

What did you learn from it?

What surprised you most from the challenge?

What was it like to present your design?

What was your favorite part of the experience?

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Data centers don’t have to be a burden on local communities – and can even support them by generating power and repurposing waste heat

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Professor Gregor Henze awarded ASHRAE Fellow status

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Caroline Mumm honored with CEAS Global Engagement Award

Major

Post-graduation plans

What sparked your interest in studying abroad?

How did studying abroad shape the way you think about sustainability?

How’s your German these days?

What was the most meaningful lesson from your global engagement experience?

Did this experience change the way you see yourself or the world?

If you could offer one piece of advice to students interested in global engagement, what would it be?

Anything else you would like to add?

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Gregor Henze honored as IBPSA fellow for building simulation research

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Symposium advances structural engineering toward zero carbon

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Four civil and architectural engineering undergraduates win college awards

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Two department projects funded by the Climate Innovation Collaboratory

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As AI explosion threatens progress on climate change, these researchers are seeking solutions

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What drew you to �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?

Are there any projects or collaborations you're especially excited to begin at �鶹��Ѱ��Boulder?