David Costanza

David Costanza is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Architecture at Cornell University's College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP), where he also directs the Building Construction Lab (BCL). He is the principal of David Costanza Studio (DCS), a design-build practice based in Ithaca, New York. His interdisciplinary work integrates practice, research, and teaching, focusing on redefining architectural processes through engagement with making, materiality, and sustainability.

His research interests include:

• Low-carbon and sustainable construction methods
• Digital fabrication and computational design
• Reuse and recycling of plastics in building materials
• Structural use of stone in contemporary architecture
• Representation and material experimentation

Costanza’s research explores the intersection of historical construction techniques and modern technologies to address climate challenges in the built environment. His current projects, such as Bending Stone and the reuse of plastic in construction, reflect a commitment to decarbonizing the building industry by re-evaluating pre-industrial materials like stone and innovating with waste materials.

His work has been recognized with prestigious awards:

• Rome Prize in Architecture (2024–2025)
• Emerging Faculty Award, BTES (2023)
• Rotch Traveling Scholarship (2020)

He is actively involved in academic publishing and has presented his research at major conferences including ACADIA, ACSA, and ICSA. He is also developing a book with Routledge titled Curious Constructions: Around Materials, Labor, and the Environment. As director of the BCL, he leads a research team exploring innovative building systems and material applications. His teaching emphasizes hands-on learning, design-build practices, and the integration of technology in architectural education.