Lawrence Sass

Lawrence Sass is a Professor and Chair of the Computation Group in the Department of Architecture at MIT's School of Architecture + Planning. His research focuses on design innovation using digital fabrication, particularly in low-cost housing and construction automation. He pioneered methods to reduce home construction steps through computational tools, including the concept of Snap Assembly building systems showcased at MoMA in 2008. His work has inspired startups in digitally fabricated housing.

• B.Arch from Pratt Institute (1990)
• Master’s (1994) and PhD (2000) from MIT

Research interests include sustainable construction techniques, 3D printing in architecture, and material optimization. He co-founded LuBan3D, a software system enabling large-scale 3D modeling with affordable tools. Current projects explore AI and robotic systems for home production.

Awards include the prestigious MacVicar Faculty Fellow recognition. His teaching includes courses like Design Computation (4.500) and Tiny Fab (4.501), emphasizing computational methods in architectural design.

Collaborations include work with Singapore-based researcher Prof. Lujie Chen on large-scale fabrication software. His lab focuses on integrating digital tools into physical production workflows, aiming to democratize construction through accessible fabrication technologies.