Kyle Konis

Kyle Konis is an Associate Professor of Architecture and Director of the Chase L. Leavitt Master of Building Science Program at the University of Southern California's School of Architecture. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture (Building Science) from UC Berkeley, an M.Arch from Yale University, and a B.A. in Architectural Studies from the University of Washington. His research focuses on aligning building performance with human needs through participatory evaluation techniques, data-driven design tools, and evidence-based practices in sustainability and healthcare environments.

Prof. Konis has led six externally funded research projects, including grants from the AIA Upjohn Initiative and California Energy Commission. His work emphasizes occupant-centric design, with notable contributions to daylighting strategies, circadian lighting in dementia care facilities, and energy-efficient building systems. He is a licensed architect in Washington and California.

• Education:
  • B.A. Architectural Studies, University of Washington
  • M.Arch, Yale University
  • Ph.D., Architecture (Building Science), UC Berkeley

His research interests include sustainable building practices, occupant well-being, and the application of technology to improve design outcomes. Notable projects include studies on thermal comfort databases, participatory sensing frameworks (TrojanSense), and circadian design tools. He has authored or co-authored over 30 peer-reviewed articles and a Springer-published book on daylighting.

• Awards:
  • 2016 ARCC New Researcher Award
  • 2015 ACSA New Faculty Teaching Award
  • 2015 ACSA Housing Design Education Award
  • 2015 BTES Emerging Faculty Award

Prof. Konis teaches courses on architectural sustainability, environmental systems, and interactive computing in design. His lab integrates real-world data collection with computational modeling to bridge gaps between design intent and building performance. Ongoing work explores climate-responsive interventions for at-risk communities and the role of lighting in mental health contexts.