At CODEC Lab (Collaboratory for Design, Environment & Cognition), we’re partnering with FIU Embrace to reimagine what student housing can be, creating spaces that truly support the daily lives of students with developmental disabilities.
Our current study centers on Everglades Hall at FIU, where we collaborate directly with students to better understand how sound, space, comfort, and distraction shape their residential experience. Through their stories, we’re uncovering how thoughtful architecture and interior design can promote focus, well-being, belonging, and inclusion.
By translating lived experiences into actionable design strategies, this research is helping to shape more inclusive, human-centered living environments, creating campus housing that supports every learner.
Technology and innovation are two of the driving forces behind the academic research unfolding at FIU’s School of Architecture. Projects like this exemplify how we continue to push boundaries and challenge conventions, empowering students to explore creative, data-informed solutions that enhance the quality of life and accessibility for all.
