The Science of a Better Built Environment

Chat with just a handful of CEE graduates who studied building science – whether as an undergraduate or a master’s student – and you’ll start to recognize certain trends.

Not in career paths, necessarily. Graduates go on to become specialists in architecture and engineering firms, government advisors, academics, startup founders – and the list goes on. What graduates share is a “Swiss Army knife” set of skills that allows them to take on any number of challenges and apply themselves to their chosen career path. Led jointly by USC Viterbi School of Engineering and USC School of Architecture, the CEE programs are designed and directed by David Gerber, professor of practice in civil and environmental engineering and architecture.

“The programs are influenced by what industry communicates as their needs, and from our own consistent engagement with industry as professionals,” said Gerber, whose international industry experience includes roles at Zaha Hadid Architects, Gehry Technologies, Moshe Safdie Architects, and Arup. His research focuses on the development of innovative systems that integrate computer science and robotics for the design of the built environment, and he is a leader in the advancement of digital twin technology.

Gerber’s students are encouraged to envision alternative futures for the built environment, with an emphasis on innovation in high-performance and sustainable building design. Both programs take a highly interdisciplinary approach, covering all aspects of building technology from site selection to building construction, exploring the use of computational tools to maximize energy efficiency, design for resilience, and improve quality of life.

“I’ve had job titles I didn’t know existed before I embarked on the program,” reflected Brittany Moffett (B.S. ’14, M.B.S. ’16), currently a senior resilience engineer at Arup. “The breadth and exploration of my experience in the building science master’s program has made taking the ‘choose your own adventure’ career path more possible.”

Moffett’s career path was guided by her choice of thesis project, which involved developing an interactive mobile application to communicate seismic hazards to building owners. The project not only refined her technical skills but also strengthened her ability to translate complex engineering data into accessible, user-friendly formats – a skill she now applies in her work in resilience consulting.

Chris Norton (B.S. ’08, M.B.S. ’13) used his master’s thesis to align his interest in historic conservation and music, focusing on computer aided parametric design of acoustic ceiling structures. As a senior project manager at the engineering firm Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc, he still manages to find time to serve as a field instructor of the Trojan Marching Band. In fact, he’s been a member of the band since he first enrolled at USC in 2004.

“As a master’s student, I applied for the Gesundheit Traveling Fellowship and was able to travel and research historic soundscapes in villages in Europe,” said Norton. “Soundscapes are what aurally define a place and your impression of it. I’m instinctively drawn to fact that our experience of the built and natural environments can be understood through multiple senses – including sound.”

Araxi Malazian’s (B.S. ’23) path as an undergraduate in the building science program has taken her to Princeton, where she’s pursuing a master’s in structural engineering with a focus on historic structures and architecture. Her final project – and her launchpad for Princeton – was to envision a design for a K-8 Armenian School in San Diego, inspired by her Armenian heritage and the colors and forms of the cave village of Khndzoresk.

“I wanted to take these historic influences and modernize them,” said Malazian. “My design arrays historic Armenian arches along the axis that looks towards the neighboring church, with the edges of the arches transforming into modern columns that extend towards the ocean. The idea is that my design honors the past while transitioning into the future. I strive to be an engineer who cares about – and achieves – daring aesthetics, and it was the USC building science program that first taught me that this was possible.”

To read more about the interests and career paths of CEE building science alumni, scroll down for the full interviews:

Chris Norton (B.S. ’08, M.B.S. ’13)

What prompted you to apply for a master’s degree in building science at USC?

After taking the building science emphasis for my undergraduate degree in civil engineering, I worked in the area of enclosures/facades where I had a coworker in historic conservation work. That inspired me to take continuing education courses in conservation, and one of the counselors suggested that I apply for a graduate program with scholarship support. I was drawn to the USC master’s in building science because it encompassed the work I was doing professionally, while enabling me to take electives in other subjects. As a musician (I still work with the marching band at USC) I was also interested in acoustics.

How did those initial interests develop during the program?

In blending my conservation and acoustics/sound interests, I applied for the Gesundheit Traveling Fellowship and was able to travel and research historic soundscapes in Europe, following a study conducted in the 1970s by R Murray Schafer. Soundscapes are what aurally define your impression of a place; our experience of the built and natural environment can be understood through multiple senses, including sound.

I also took an influential course on parametric design. With my background in engineering, I wanted to base parametric design on function, rather than just interesting patterns and forms. I developed various tools to automatically design column sizes or glazing mullions based on spacing and floor plates. This eventually led to my thesis, developing the parametric design of a ceiling system according to different acoustic situations.

In classes on modeling software, I gained an understanding of how different energy analysis programs work, the inputs that fuel them, the engines that do the calculations, and the mistakes that can result in misleading outcomes. I also developed a healthy skepticism for so-called “magic arrows” – the diagrams that architects will frequently include in concept drawings to illustrate a building science concept (stack effect, solar shading, ventilation strategies, etc) – learning the importance of in-depth analysis to prove the concept.

How have you applied the learnings of the program to your career?

Overall, working with the other master’s students in the USC School of Architecture granted me a great sense of community and shared aspiration, allowing me to better understand the needs and goals of clients. Our thesis classes were collaborative and we learned from each other’s research in addition to our own. The focus was on process, understanding, and learning as much as results. I still maintain contact with many professors and have kept involved by giving guest criticisms, lectures, and assisting with the Solar Decathlon team.

In addition, the program prompted me to always look to the data to cross-check claims for efficiency or performance when using new materials. Understanding how the modeling software works has been a great help when testing claims and aligning models to real life.

How has your career path developed since graduating, and what are your goals for the coming years?

I’ve been lucky to stay with one company since graduating, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Inc., and I recently become a partner at the firm. I’m currently focused on maintaining the strong relationships I’ve built with clients and partners in the AEC industry and expanding the ways I can help people solve their problems, building a healthier and more sustainable Los Angeles. Learning from industry professionals when I was at USC gave me an understanding of practical applications and prepared me for the professional sphere. One day, I’d love to teach a course at USC, helping future engineers and architects to understand the construction process, and how to evaluate and gain real performance from buildings.

Araxi Malazian (B.S. ’23)

Why did you choose to study building science?

When I started the building science emphasis in my freshman year, I knew three things: I loved buildings, I was good at engineering, and I loved being creative. Building science opened my eyes to an entire world of opportunities in the architecture, construction, and engineering (ACE) industry.

Building science is a challenging program, especially when combined with a typical civil engineering curriculum – but the payoff was well worth it. Through various courses, I learned how to be an architect, a structural engineer, and a construction manager – by the time of our final project, I learned how to play all those roles simultaneously. I am a much better structural engineer thanks to my ability to think like, and therefore understand, architects and contractors, allowing me to consider each of their concerns from the outset of a design or problem.

What did you learn along the way?

I fell in love with the architectural design process in our first year of studios. I learned how to translate abstract concepts into designed structures, iterate a design countless times, handcraft scale models, create 3D models in Rhino, and design appealing presentation materials.

In our second-year studio, I expanded upon those skills by applying them to a year-long solo design project. We designed a school from start to finish – selecting the site, defining the intended users, designating program spaces, planning the layout and circulation, determining the structural grid and system, designing the façade, landscaping, and incorporating sustainability aspects. Learning to take feedback weekly and continually evolve my design was the greatest lesson I learned. Building designs are constantly evolving in the real world, and this studio prepared me for that reality.

In our final year, we integrated structural calculations into a group project design. Calculating every aspect of our design meant that I learned to take ownership of every single design choice. If our building made a bold aesthetic decision, we had to be confident enough in the value of that design to go through the extensive calculations associated with it. Our final year of studios truly solidified my structural knowledge, and I fell in love with the process of acting as both an architect and engineer.

How have you brought those skills forward into your career?

The building science program taught me many valuable skills that I revisit and build upon on a near-daily basis. Fundamental skills such as 3D modeling in Rhino, coding in Grasshopper, handcrafting scale models, graphic design layouts, basic structural calculations, making diagrams, architectural design considerations, and using Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign are all tools I reach for constantly.

Additionally, I always approach problems with equal emphasis on aesthetic and engineering opportunities. This leads me to solutions that many of my colleagues might not consider.

What do you believe were some of the primary benefits of the program?

The small studio environment was an incredible benefit, enabling me to truly bond with and connect with my professors. Their belief in me and relentless encouragement to strive for high-level opportunities completely reframed what I perceived myself to be capable of. They helped me win numerous scholarships, get hired repeatedly as an intern, and apply to graduate school.

Another major benefit of the building science program was the associated organizations within the department. Being involved in design teams through clubs such as EERI (Earthquake Engineering Research Institute) and CMAA (Construction Management Association of America) reinforced my understanding outside the classroom and cultivated a greater sense of community on campus. The Seismic Design Competition and the Design-Build competition (as part of EERI and CMAA, respectively) acted as an extension of the building science program. These competitions gave me an additional environment to practice the interdisciplinary architecture/engineering/construction skillset that building science had given me.

How has your career path developed since graduating and what are your goals for the coming years?

After completing my master’s at Princeton, I will begin working as a structural engineer in Los Angeles at a firm called Nous Engineering. The building science program played a significant role in shaping the type of interdisciplinary firm I wanted to work at.

The overarching goal for my professional life can be distilled to this: I strive to be an engineer who cares about—and achieves—daring aesthetics. It was the USC building science program that first taught me how to be an engineer who values aesthetics. Now, I am building upon that foundational mindset, adding structural expertise that will hopefully allow me to expand the scope of architectural ambition.

Brittany Moffett (B.S. ’14, M.B.S. ’16)

How would you describe your work as a senior resilience engineer at Arup?

The area of risk and resilience is very complex, especially when it comes to natural disasters with severe consequences. I have a passion for taking technical details and analysis and visualizing them in engaging, accessible formats. I leverage my background in engineering and architecture to help develop tangible solutions for our clients, with the goal of boosting adaptive capacity.

Recently, my focus has involved quantifying co-benefit solutions for climate change mitigation measures and the preservation of affordable housing at a city and county scale. I have deeply appreciated the chance to dive into projects that actively work to incentivize social good.

What inspired you to apply for the building science M.B.S. program?

I learned about the M.B.S program when I was in undergrad at USC studying civil engineering. I was in the building science emphasis track of that program and the studios were consistently my favorite classes because they blended structural engineering and architecture.

How did those initial interests develop during the program, and what were some of the key skills that you learned?

The master’s program had the multi-disciplinary quality I loved, weaving in mechanical, energy, lighting design, acoustics, and more.  The diversity of coursework really widened my perspective of building performance. It was a good mix of analysis programs used in the industry and the first principles behind how buildings are constructed and how they perform. In addition to the strong building science courses, I also had the chance to take GIS (Geographic Information System) classes in the USC Spatial Sciences Institute and data visualization classes in the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

How have you brought those skills forward into your career?

The interests I discovered during my thesis research led me to my current position at Arup – a role I absolutely love. My thesis involved creating a prototype mobile application to communicate seismic hazards to building owners. That meant learning about earthquakes, structural damage, and building code evolution. It also meant taking complex information that’s hard to swallow – like risk – and trying to visualize it in a way that’s easier to digest. I started my career in façade engineering at Arup and, when an opportunity arose to join the resilience team, my prior work on my thesis helped me to win the role.

Published on April 29th, 2025

Last updated on April 29th, 2025