Ahmed K. Ali

Dr. Ahmed K. Ali is an Associate Professor and Harold L. Adams Endowed Professor of Architecture at Texas A&M University's College of Architecture. He leads the Resource-Based Design Research Lab (RBDR/Lab), focusing on transforming industrial waste into building materials. With a Ph.D. from Virginia Tech (2012) and prior academic roles at multiple institutions, he specializes in circular economy principles, sustainable construction, and architectural tectonics. His teaching includes courses on building materials, design studios, and construction methods, with notable curriculum reforms in the Master of Architecture program. Dr. Ali has secured over $465k in research funding, authored 8 journal articles, 1 book chapter, and 16 conference papers, while presenting globally and serving as a peer reviewer for top journals.

His research emphasizes industrial symbiosis and waste valorization, collaborating with entities like General Motors and Zahner to innovate building envelopes from automotive byproducts. Recognized with awards such as the J. Thomas Regan Interdisciplinary Prize (2016) and ARCC New Researcher Award (2018), his work bridges academic research with practical industry applications, advocating for systemic shifts toward resource efficiency in construction. Dr. Ali has advised 2 doctoral and 20+ master’s committees, fostering interdisciplinary education and design innovation.

Labs/Teams: Director of RBDR/Lab, collaborating with US BCSD, industry partners, and academic institutions to advance circular economy solutions through design and material innovation.