Corey Saft

Corey Saft is a Professor and Program Coordinator for Architecture in the School of Architecture and Design at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. A licensed architect and LEED-AP, he developed the first certified PassiveHouse in the hot/humid American South and the first LEED-platinum home outside New Orleans. He serves as Executive Director of the Louisiana Housing Lab, a non-profit advancing affordable housing and sustainable development.

Education:

• M.Arch, University of Oregon, 1999

His research focuses on sustainable architecture in subtropical climates, specializing in Passive House design, building envelope optimization, and affordable housing solutions. Work bridges academic theory with practical application through his non-profit and architectural practice, emphasizing energy efficiency and climate-responsive strategies.

Publications from 2010-2018 consistently address Passive House adaptation to hot/humid regions, natural ventilation systems, and conservation techniques. These works demonstrate translating high-performance building standards into viable solutions for the American South's unique environmental challenges.

Awards and Recognitions:

• University of Louisiana, Outstanding Master’s Mentor
• University of Louisiana, Eminent Scholar Award: Distinguished Professor
• University of Louisiana at Lafayette summer Commencement Speaker
• University of Louisiana, Sustainability Faculty Fellow
• University of Louisiana, Research Excellence Award
• Louisiana licensed Architect
• LA Division of Historic Preservation Fund Grant for HABS documentation (Richard Auction Barn, 2020)
• LA Division of Historic Preservation Fund Grant for HABS documentation (Gordon Hotel, 2019)
• LA Division of Historic Preservation Fund Grant for HABS documentation (Charles H Mouton House, 2018)
• LA Division of Historic Preservation Fund Grant for HABS documentation (Henri Penne House, 2017)
• Co-PI for 'Cellular Lightweight Fiberglass Structure' (2019, Barcelona)
• AIA SW Louisiana Award of Merit Honorable Mention (Green Housing category)
• AIA Walter Wagner Forum Competition winner
• Fulbright-Hays Scholar/Group Project in China

Dr. Saft mentors graduate students as evidenced by his Outstanding Master’s Mentor award. He secured over $100,000 in academic grants and $900,000 for non-profit initiatives, supporting historic preservation projects and sustainable housing research. His grant work directly informs community development in Louisiana.

He founded the Louisiana Housing Lab, collaborating with the Department of Architecture on affordable housing research and development. Through SaftArchitecture, his design practice achieves green certifications including LEED Platinum and Passive House, demonstrating real-world implementation of his academic research.