Researchers for Advancement in Designed Environments

An interdisciplinary network advancing evidence-based environmental design to meet today’s social, ecological, and technological challenges.

About Us

EVENTS

BE-Simulate

Simulation in the Built Environment Symposium

February 06, 2026

Researchers for Advancement in Designed Environments (RAIDERS) is an interdisciplinary research network co-founded by scholars from five institutions.

The network was formed in response to the growing demand for holistic, evidence-based approaches to environmental design that address the urgent social, ecological, and technological challenges of our time.

Our Mission

Our purpose is to advance environmental design knowledge through collaborative research, innovation, and education. We connect scholars, practitioners, and emerging researchers across disciplines to develop forward-thinking solutions that enhance the built environment and address contemporary challenges.

Our Vission

To be a global leader in environmental design research, fostering innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, and education to strengthen the relationship between people and the built environment. RAIDERS aims to create a supportive community of researchers to develop robust methodologies and impactful research.

Upcoming Event

Simulation in the Built Environment Symposium

Simulation is transforming how we design, analyze, and experience the built environment. Across architecture, engineering, education, and urban planning, emerging technologies are turning ideas into immersive, data-driven realities.

Join us for this engaging symposium as leading experts and innovators explore how simulation enhances creativity, performance, and understanding in the built environment. This symposium will explore key themes including virtual reality, mockups, and energy simulation—powerful tools transforming how we design, test, and envision the spaces of tomorrow.

Through inspiring talks and discussions, participants will discover how simulation is redefining workflows, improving decision-making, and expanding what’s possible in creating smarter, more resilient environments.

Discover More

Research Curtails Creativity

This concern has been posed to me multiple times and, hence, my current attempt at digging deep. Does it? Or, should it? The definition of ‘research’ here pertains to the environmental design field. To have a meaningful discourse on any issue, definitions matter; in this context especially three to begin with – ‘creativity’, ‘creative problem solving’, and ‘innovation’. All three are critical to the health of the architecture/design profession and play a decisive role in the

Understanding How the Built Environment Affects Pregnancy-Related Falls

Did you know that nearly one in three pregnant women in the United States experiences a fall each year? That’s a staggering number is comparable to the risk level among older adults. Yet, when we talk about fall prevention, we often overlook pregnancy as a vulnerable life stage that deserves special attention. Most fall-risk assessments in maternity care focus on physical or behavioral factors, not on the spaces women move through every day. From home layouts to bathroom desi