Announcements

We are pleased to announce the winners of the Buildings 2023 Best Paper Award. All the papers published in Buildings (ISSN: 2075-5309) from 1 January to 31 December 2023 were considered for this award. After a thorough evaluation of the originality and significance of the papers, taking into account both citations and downloads, five winners were selected. 

Section “Architectural Design”
“Perception of Color in Architecture and Urban Space”
by Anna Jaglarz
Buildings 2023, 13(8), 2000; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13082000

Section “Building Energy”
“Comparative Analysis of ANN and LSTM Prediction Accuracy and Cooling Energy Savings through AHU-DAT Control in an Office Building”
by Byeongmo Seo, Yeobeom Yoon, Kwang Ho Lee and Soolyeon Cho
Buildings 2023, 13(6), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13061434

Section “Building Materials”
“Bending Properties and Vibration Characteristics of Dowel-Laminated Timber Panels Made with Short Salvaged Timber Elements”
by Lorenzo Giordano, Mohammad Derikvand and Gerhard Fink
Buildings 2023, 13(1), 199; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13010199

Section “Building Structures”
“Experimental Study on Inner Interface Mechanical Properties of the ESDCM Pile with Steel Core”
by Hua Bao, Jie Peng, Zhangjianing Cheng, Junqing Hong and Yuan Gao
Buildings 2023, 13(2), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13020486

Section “Construction Management”
“Robot-Enabled Construction Assembly with Automated Sequence Planning Based on ChatGPT: RoboGPT”
by Hengxu You, Yang Ye, Tianyu Zhou, Qi Zhu and Jing Du
Buildings 2023, 13(7), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings13071772

Each winner will receive CHF 500 and a chance to publish a paper in Buildings in 2025 after peer review.

Please join us in congratulating the winners of the Buildings 2023 Best Paper Award. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our authors for their continued support of our journal.

Buildings Editorial Office

World Architecture Day (WAD), created by the International Union of Architects (UIA) in 1985, is celebrated annually on the first Monday of October. This day coincides with the United Nations World Habitat Day, aligning the architectural community’s efforts with global urban development goals. This year, under the theme “Design for Strength”, we were sincerely honored to interview Dr. Paris Fokaides, Editorial Board Member of Sustainability (ISSN: 2071-1050), Topical Advisory Panel Member of Energies (ISSN: 1996-1073), and Guest Editor of Buildings (ISSN: 2075-5309).

The following is a short interview with Dr. Paris Fokaides:

1. Could you share a bit of your journey into architectural research?
My academic journey began in process engineering, where I focused on optimizing complex systems to improve efficiency, sustainability, and performance. During my PhD, my work centered on thermochemical processes, energy conversion, and the integration of sustainable technologies into industrial operations. Although my early career was firmly rooted in engineering, I became increasingly aware of how the same principles of optimization and resource efficiency could—and should—be applied to the built environment. Buildings, after all, are complex systems in themselves, with intricate interactions between materials, occupants, and environmental conditions. This realization marked the turning point that brought me into architectural research. I began collaborating with architects, building physicists, and urban planners to translate engineering methodologies into design strategies for sustainable buildings. Over time, my research shifted toward areas such as life cycle assessment (LCA), the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI), renewable integration in buildings, and performance-based retrofitting approaches. What continues to inspire me is the interdisciplinary nature of this field: architectural research offers a unique arena where engineering precision, environmental stewardship, and human-centered design converge. My process engineering background provides the analytical rigor to evaluate performance, while my work in architecture connects those results to tangible design outcomes. This bridge between disciplines has allowed me to contribute to innovative solutions that are both technically sound and contextually sensitive—solutions that aim to make our built environment not just more efficient, but also healthier, more resilient, and more responsive to the needs of its users.

2. Could you please share the most impressive breakthrough in your research career, either in terms of ideas or research results?
The most significant breakthrough in my research career was leading to the development of the very first European standard on Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) on-site assessments. As Chairman of the CEN Workshop Agreement (CEN WS Report), I had the privilege of guiding a diverse group of experts—ranging from policymakers and standardization specialists to researchers and industry stakeholders—in shaping a practical, harmonized approach for assessing building smartness in real operational contexts. Prior to this effort, the SRI was a promising concept at the EU level, but it lacked the concrete, field-based methodology needed for its effective implementation. Our work bridged that gap. We established clear procedures, assessment criteria, and reporting formats to ensure that SRI evaluations could be carried out consistently across different building types, climates, and national contexts. This standard was the first of its kind and set the foundation for integrating smartness into mainstream performance evaluations. For me, the breakthrough was not only the technical content but also the collaborative process—bringing together different perspectives and aligning them into a single, coherent framework. The resulting document is now a key reference for Member States as they move toward the large-scale adoption of SRI, helping translate policy goals into measurable and actionable outcomes. This experience reinforced my belief that impactful research is as much about building consensus and applicability as it is about technical innovation. It also demonstrated how academic leadership can shape tools with real-world policy and market implications.

3. How do you interpret the theme of “design for strength” from an academic perspective?
From an academic perspective, “design for strength” extends far beyond the traditional engineering notion of withstanding loads or resisting failure. In architecture and the built environment, strength is a multi-layered concept encompassing structural integrity, environmental resilience, social relevance, and long-term adaptability. Structurally, it refers to designing buildings and infrastructures that can safely bear intended loads, resist natural hazards, and maintain performance over their intended life cycle. However, when examined through the lens of sustainable architectural research, strength also involves the capacity of a design to adapt to changing conditions—climatic, technological, and societal—without losing functionality or value. In my research, I see “strength” as a product of synergy between engineering precision and human-centered design. A building may be physically robust, but if it fails to provide comfort, energy efficiency, and adaptability, its true strength is compromised. Therefore, academic work on “design for strength” must integrate performance simulations, life cycle thinking, and smart readiness assessments to ensure designs are not only safe and durable, but also sustainable and responsive. Strength can also be interpreted in terms of resilience—how well a building recovers from disruption, whether due to environmental events, energy system fluctuations, or changing user needs. In this sense, designing for strength is designing for continuity, ensuring that the built environment remains functional and relevant in the face of uncertainty. Ultimately, from an academic standpoint, “design for strength” is about uniting physical robustness with adaptability and sustainability, creating buildings that stand the test of both time and transformation.

4. Where do you see the future of architectural research?
The future of architectural research is moving toward a deeply integrated, interdisciplinary model where technology, sustainability, and human well-being converge. Historically, architecture has been perceived primarily as a creative and spatial discipline, while engineering and environmental sciences addressed performance and sustainability. This separation is dissolving. The buildings of the future will be conceived, designed, and operated as intelligent systems—able to adapt to climate conditions, interact with energy networks, and enhance occupant experience in real time. Digitalization will play a central role. The integration of Building Information Modeling (BIM) with real-time data from sensors, smart controls, and digital twins will allow researchers to simulate, test, and optimize building performance throughout its life cycle. Standardization—such as the Smart Readiness Indicator (SRI) framework I contributed to—will help ensure that these advancements are measurable and comparable across different contexts. Sustainability will remain a driving force, but the definition will expand to include circularity, biodiversity integration, and the social dimension of the built environment. Climate resilience will become a core research priority, especially in adapting buildings to extreme weather, energy volatility, and changing user needs. Collaboration between academia, industry, and policymakers will be critical. Research will increasingly need to produce tools and methodologies that are directly applicable in practice, influencing regulations and market adoption.

5. Do you have anything to say to your fellow scholars?
To my fellow scholars, I would say this: research in our field is not only about producing knowledge—it is about shaping the way people live, work, and interact with the built environment. We have the privilege, and the responsibility, to ensure that our contributions lead to spaces that are not just functional and aesthetically pleasing, but also sustainable, resilient, and inclusive. One of the greatest strengths we have as a community is our diversity of perspectives. Engineers, architects, social scientists, environmentalists, and policy experts all bring unique insights to the table. The most transformative solutions emerge when we allow these disciplines to interact freely and constructively. My own experience leading standardization work for the Smart Readiness Indicator has shown me the value of consensus-building—bringing together people from different backgrounds to create something meaningful and applicable beyond academia. I encourage colleagues to stay engaged not only with academic discourse but also with industry, policymakers, and communities. Our work gains relevance when it addresses real-world challenges and finds its way into practice, regulation, and everyday use. Finally, embrace curiosity and adaptability. The challenges of climate change, digital transformation, and societal shifts mean that our field will continue to evolve rapidly. New methods, tools, and even philosophies will emerge. By remaining open to learning and collaborating, we can ensure our research remains both rigorous and impactful—driving progress toward a built environment that serves both present and future generations.

6. As an Editorial Board Member of Sustainability, Topical Advisory Panel Member of Energies, and Guest Editor of Buildings, could you share your experience with MDPI journals?
Serving as an Editorial Board Member of Sustainability, a Topical Advisory Panel Member of Energies, and a Guest Editor of Buildings has given me a comprehensive perspective on the editorial process within MDPI journals. These roles have allowed me to engage with the research community from a different angle—evaluating submissions not only for their technical merit but also for their novelty, clarity, and potential impact. One aspect I particularly value about MDPI is the efficiency and transparency of its review process. The open access model ensures that high-quality research is freely available to both academics and practitioners, broadening the reach and potential influence of each publication. As an editor, I have witnessed how rapid but rigorous peer review can accelerate the dissemination of new findings without compromising quality.
My involvement has also deepened my appreciation for thematic Special Issues, which MDPI journals excel at organizing. These provide an excellent platform to cluster research efforts around emerging topics—whether in sustainable building design, smart readiness assessments, or advanced energy systems—helping to create coherent bodies of knowledge that can influence future research agendas. Equally rewarding is the interaction with authors and reviewers worldwide, which fosters a truly international exchange of ideas. This exposure to different academic cultures and approaches has been both enriching and inspiring. Overall, my MDPI experience has reinforced the importance of combining academic rigor with accessibility, ensuring that cutting-edge research serves the widest possible audience.

MDPI was proud to serve as a Gold-Tier Sponsor of the Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium (FEGRS) 2025, hosted by the University of Alberta, Canada. This annual event provides a vital platform for graduate students to present their research, exchange knowledge, and build connections across academic and professional communities.

As part of our sponsorship, MDPI hosted a Scientific Publishing Workshop on 19 August, providing graduate students with guidance on the fundamentals of MDPI’s scholarly publishing process and the benefits of open access. In addition, our representatives were present at the Industry Mixer on 21 August, engaging directly with participants to share insights into MDPI and opportunities to participate as authors, reviewers, and editors.

This collaboration between MDPI’s engineering subject, FEGRS, and the University of Alberta underscores a shared commitment to advancing scholarly research, promoting academic excellence, and supporting the next generation of engineers. By supporting initiatives like FEGRS 2025, MDPI continues to champion the principles of accessibility, collaboration, and innovation in publishing—empowering the next generation of researchers to thrive in their academic journeys.

For additional information on the event and our sponsorship, please see the event website here: https://www.ualberta.ca/en/engineering/research/graduate-student-research/faculty-of-engineering-graduate-research-symposium/index.html.

For additional information on MDPI’s promoted engineering journals, please visit the following websites:

• Aerospace;
• Applied Sciences;
• Bioengineering;
• Biomimetics;
• Buildings;
• Electronics;
• JMSE;
• Lubricants;
• Machines;
• Micromachines;
• Processes;
• Robotics;
• Smart Cities;
• Telecom.

MDPI Speakers:

Mr. Carlo Cunanan has a BSc and MSc in chemical engineering from the University of Waterloo. His expertise lies in energy systems and energy economics. He joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor for the Sustainability journal at the Toronto office and is now a Group Leader and Section Managing Editor. He travels across Canada and the United States, attending conferences and meeting with scholars.

Ms. Charlie Cai graduated from Queen Mary University of London and joined MDPI as an Assistant Editor in the Sensors journal at the Beijing office. She is currently a Section Managing Editor of the Sensors journal.

Organizers:

The University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering Graduate Research Symposium (FEGRS) is an annual event where graduate students can present their research to their colleagues and professors across all disciplines. This event gives many early career researchers a place to present their ideas to an interdisciplinary audience without the pressures of larger conferences. Additionally, we organize multiple career development workshops with industry partners and professional organizations and cap the event off with an Industry–Student Mixer. The whole event is organized and planned by graduate student volunteers.

A pioneer in scholarly open access publishing, MDPI has supported academic communities since 1996. Based in Basel, Switzerland, MDPI’s mission is to foster open scientific exchange in all forms and across all disciplines.

On 21 August 2025, MDPI, in collaboration with Taylor’s University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, hosted a half-day Academic Publishing Workshop at Taylor’s University. The event gathered undergraduates, PhD students, early career researchers, and faculty members from both institutions.

The workshop opened with remarks from Associate Professor Dr. Camelia May Li Kusumo, Head of the School of Architecture, Building and Design, Taylor’s University, before moving into a series of engaging sessions. Dr. Colin Wee (MDPI Singapore) introduced MDPI, the principles of open access, and the editorial process, followed by key insights on common reasons for rejection at pre-check.

Dr. Lee Wei Thye then covered how to effectively respond to peer reviewers and shared practical advice on writing and structuring an academic paper. His session concluded with an interactive “Reviewer Says, You Respond” Skills Lab, where participants practiced drafting responses to reviewer comments.

In the afternoon, Dr. Colin discussed AI in Academic Writing, outlining MDPI’s approach to its use in publishing. This set the stage for a panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Lee, featuring Prof. Ar. Dr. Lim Chin Haw (UKM), Prof. Wong Hyuk Nien (NUS), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Keith Tan Kay Hin (Taylor’s University), and Dr. Colin. The panellists shared their perspectives on AI as a tool in scholarly publishing, institutional challenges, and the need for clearer policies, with Professor Wong drawing parallels between AI-assisted language checks and traditional proofreading practices.

The workshop concluded with Prof. Wong Hyuk Nien offering valuable advice from his experience publishing in Q1 and Q2 journals, leaving participants with both practical strategies and words of encouragement.

MDPI warmly thanks Taylor’s University and Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia for their partnership, and the professors and speakers for their generous contributions. Above all, we are grateful to the participants whose enthusiasm and engagement made the workshop a success.

Date: 23 September 2025
Time: 11:00 a.m.–4:30 p.m
Location: The Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard Street West, Toronto

MDPI is thrilled to announce our participation in the University of Toronto’s largest career fair, taking place at the St. George Downtown Campus. This exciting event brings together thousands of students, graduates, and professionals looking to connect with top employers and explore career opportunities.

We invite all attendees to visit the MDPI booth to discover how you can be part of one of the world’s leading open access academic publishers. Whether you are passionate about scientific research, editorial work, marketing, or supporting global innovation in publishing, we want to meet YOU!

What to expect at our booth:

• Learn more about MDPI’s mission and global impact;
• Explore exciting career opportunities in publishing, editorial, communications, and more;
• Network with our team and ask questions about working at MDPI.

Whether you’re just starting your career or looking to take the next step, don’t miss this opportunity to connect with MDPI. Bring your resume, your curiosity, and your questions—we look forward to seeing you there!

For additional information on the Career Fair and Open MDPI positions, please visit the following links:

• Learn more about the U of T Career Fair;
• Explore Careers with MDPI Canada.

In celebration of World Architecture Day, MDPI is presenting a webinar, which is open to all who enjoy conducting any type of research on the topic of “Architecture Design for Strength” or are passionate about learning about this exciting and competitive research area. The webinar speakers will present new findings from basic to translational research. Any interesting ideas for topics and speakers for this webinar are most welcome.

Keywords: architecture design; design for strength; architecture resilience; architecture durability
Date: 6 October 2025 4:00 p.m. CEST | 10:00 a.m. EDT | 10:00 p.m. CST Asia
Webinar ID: 874 6114 8686
Website: https://sciforum.net/event/MWAD2025

Register now for free!

Program

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway and we will let you know when the recording is available to view.

Webinar Keynote Speakers:

• Prof. Dr. Derek Clements-Croome, University of Reading, UK;
• Dr. Paris Fokaides, Frederick University, Cyprus;
• Dr. Ehsan Harirchian, Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Germany;
• Prof. Dr. Umberto Berardi, the International Association of Building Physics, Canada.

MDPI invites you to join the very first MDPI Topic Editor Club. This new initiative was designed as a platform to highlight emerging research themes, share editorial experiences, and foster meaningful connections among Topic Editors worldwide.

MDPI Topics are collections of papers on a shared theme, published across two or more MDPI journals. They allow researchers from different fields to collaborate, explore common ideas, and reach wider audiences. Each topic is led by a team of Topic Editors with expertise in different areas and supported by MDPI’s simple and efficient publishing process.

The Topic Editor Club brings together several Topic Editors from various disciplines to showcase their work, discuss both challenges and successes, and share new ideas for developing impactful topics. It presents a great opportunity to learn from one another, explore cross-disciplinary collaborations, and support the growth of open access research together.

We hope you will join us for this exciting first session of the MDPI Topic Editor Club and welcome your thoughts and questions during the live Q&A segment. Please find the schedule and speaker list below.

Date: 4 September 2025 at 2:00 p.m. CEST | 8:00 p.m. CST (Asia)
Webinar ID: 837 6434 9842

Register now for free!

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information on how to join the webinar. Registrations with academic institutional email addresses will be prioritized.

Unable to attend? Register anyway, and we will inform you when the recording is available.

Webinar Keynote Speakers:

• Dr. Sakdirat Kaewunruen, Reader in Railway and Civil Engineering, University of Birmingham, UK;
• Dr. Constantinos G. Tsiafoulis, ¹ NMR Centre, Laboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, Greece; ² Collaborative Educational Personnel, School of Natural Sciences and Technology, Hellenic Open University, Greece;
• Mr. Aleksandar Markovic, Journal Relations Specialist, MDPI.

For more information about this webinar, please visit the following link: https://sciforum.net/event/MTEC2025.

Held by MDPI, this Author Training event empowers academic growth with the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE) Graduate Chapter at the University of Toronto, Canada. This event will be led by MDPI Regional Journal Relations Specialist, Kailyn Wanhella, on the topic of “How to Write Your First Journal Article and the Peer Review Process”.

Participants will gain practical guidance on essential aspects of writing academic articles, including manuscript preparation, navigating peer review, and best practices for citation.

Date: 29 August 2025
Time: 4:30 p.m. –6:30 p.m. (EDT)
Location: University of Toronto, Sidney Smith Hall, Room 2111, 100 St George St, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3
Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/27PHHB7

Schedule:

Speaker:

We are pleased to announce that MDPI will be attending the 15th International Workshop on Structural Health Monitoring, held from 9 to 11 September 2025 and organized by Stanford University, California, USA. IWSHM aims to provide a forum for information sharing, collaboration, and advancing research that is vital to our community.

The guiding theme of the 2025 IWSHM is “SHM: Ensuring Mobility and Autonomy with Sustainability”.  Papers related to the integration of SHM with condition-based maintenance and operational performance for enhancing mobility, autonomy, and sustainability are especially welcome. The workshop features reviews of the growth of SHM over the last two decades and examines opportunities for future SHM research and applications. The biennial workshop aims to assess the current state-of-the-art technologies and identify key breakthroughs and emerging R&D challenges that are critical to structural health monitoring. The workshop is also intended to promote communication exchange and cross-fertilization between multiple platforms. Technical presentations will be delivered by invited and selected distinguished speakers, and plenary discussions on the future directions and “road-maps” of this area of research will be organized. Potential applications of the techniques to military and civil structures will be discussed. An exhibition area will be available for product and technology demonstrations.

The following MDPI journals will be represented at the conference:

• Buildings;
• Sensors;
• Applied Mechanics;
• Biomimetics;
• CivilEng;
• Vehicles;
• Infrastructures;
• Machines;
• Technologies;
• Wind;
• Aerospace;
• NDT;      
• Vibration;  
• JETA. 

We invite you to visit MDPI’s booth to meet our representatives, explore our latest initiatives, and discuss potential collaborations.

For more details about the conference, please visit the official website: https://iwshm2025.sites.stanford.edu/. 

We look forward to meeting you at Stanford University!