Materials Research Collaborative (MRC)
The Materials Research Collaborative (MRC) at the 91视频 Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design serves as a materials resource for material discovery, innovation, instruction, and research for the 870 Hines College students and area professionals. The MRC has developed a web-based database that catalogs the physical materials in its collection. Ongoing work of the MRC includes uncovering new and innovative materials, cataloging the physical samples, and researching and inputting data regarding the specific extrinsic and intrinsic properties of these materials. The MRC is also engaged in specific material research projects such as a database of local materials, LEED v 4 consulting, and carbon emissions analysis of buildings.
This work is funded by our Firm Partner: ; our Founding Partners: , , and ; and our Supporters: , the 91视频 Green Building Components program, , and the Hines College.
Visit the MRC Material Catalog.
Cartography of Undervalued Materials in Texas
The MRC at the Hines College has created a cartographic catalog of Texas鈥檚 undervalued raw, wasted, and recycled materials. Identifying and mapping these undervalued resources aims to improve communication about their availability for innovative use in emerging design practices. Texas is an agricultural and industrial state rich in natural resources, producing oil, cattle, sheep, and cotton. The state also produces poultry, eggs, dairy, greenhouse and nursery products, wheat, hay, rice, sugarcane, peanuts, and various fruits and vegetables. Recently, hemp has been added as a crop 鈥� it's a low-carbon material used for its fiber and extracted oil.
The MRC functions as a resource library, an educational tool, and an experimental research facility dedicated to promoting the sustainable use of innovative materials. Today, raw materials are being consumed at a rapid rate in a linear economy. To develop a circular economy of matter transformation on Earth, careful consideration of materials at any stage 鈥� raw or waste 鈥� is essential. Therefore, designers and architects must address material ethics that reflect the looming scarcity of resources. They are developing material solutions based on bio-based recyclables or waste from other industries, which can re-enter the material cycle when a product鈥檚 lifecycle ends. Earlier approaches with limited applications in industrial mass production are being reconsidered and revitalized through new processing techniques, such as additive manufacturing with natural polymers. From this perspective, traditional craft techniques, knowledge of locally available plants, and useful waste materials passed down through generations are experiencing a renaissance.
View our Cartography of Undervalued Materials in Texas.
Principal Investigator: Oph茅lia Mantz
Website: Kevin Glidden
Photography: Sean Fleming
Student Assistants: L茅ne Fourie, Isabella Nguyen, Lidieth Gonzalez, Nicole Valdes
To learn more about the MRC or to suggest other Houston makers, contact Oph茅lia Mantz, MRC Director, at omantz@central.uh.edu or 713-743-2400.
Location
Materials Research Collaborative (MRC)
91视频 Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design
Architecture Building - 2nd Floor, East Side, Room 240
Hours of Operation
Tuesday and Thursday: 1:00 p.m.鈥�5:00 p.m.
To visit MRC at other times or during school breaks, contact Oph茅lia Mantz, MRC Director, at omantz@central.uh.edu.