CASE Fall 2025 OPEN HOUSE
December 19th, 2025
CASE hosted our Fall 2025 Open House on Friday, December 19th. Our bi-annual event showcased a culmination of the semester's student and faculty research and projects brought together experts across industries to participate in the presentation and review of this semester's work in research, innovation, and applied design.
The presented research covered urban and community interaction, materials & systems, urban growth strategies, materials , AI and more. The event hosted two simultaneous sessions where students presented their work and engaged in feedback and discussion with the audience. After the presentations, guests stayed for networking and to continue the discussion with students and faculty about the presented work.
The following are the presented projects:
Elena Petruzzi, (4th year PhD) - is developing a clay/phase-change material composite and printing method for large scale additive manufacturing.
Frank (Fanghong) Xu, (2nd year PhD) is developing a Hemp based insulated siding material and automated high throughout manufacturing method.
Tooni Olaleye, Xenia Villaver and Megan Peters, (UGrad) are working with the startup, BIOM, to further develop a Biofilter technology based on Moss for building air purification.
Vivi Li, Vy Ting Lam, and Samantha Casas Calanco, (Ugrad) are working across scales on valorizing coffee supply chain waste to make acoustic panels.
Sitan Zhu, (1st year PhD) is working on developing a material and manufacturing method for a real Carbon negative Bacterial cellulose insulation for buildings.
Xinyu Liang, (1st year PhD) is developing a cryptocurrency that provides economic incentives and organizational infrastructure for Building materials to be reused in Construction.
Ahosan Habib, (MS) is developing AI tools that would allow digital files to become interoperable across a building life cycle.
Johann George, (MS) is developing an AI approach to integrating structural analysis at an early stage in the design process.
Alex Nathanson, (4th year PhD) is developing a renewable energy community virtual power plant technology for renters in NYC.
Tristan Guan, (UGrad) is working on understanding how distributed a data center model would work in the context of NYC.
Richard-Allen Foster, (MS) is developing a digital/physical AR/VR interface that enables critical engagement between stakeholders for Community Design.
Tessa Kelly, (1st year PhD) is studying how a circular economy could function in the rural Northeast, considering social, ecological, and economic dynamics.
Ilha Niohuru, (1st year PhD) is developing an urban planning platform that utilizes systems optimization principles for urban growth decision making.
Tristan Guan, Xenia Villaver, and Vy Ting Lam, (UGrad) are developing a vertical extension strategy for Norwood, Bronx, focusing on apartments and a public school.
Samantha Casas Calanco and Tooni Olaleye, (UGrad) are examining downtown Brooklyn lots for residential extensions, using mid- and high-rise case studies.
Media Contact:
Kathie Brill, Program Manager
Brillk@rpi.edu