Ulrich Knaack

Professor Ulrich Knaack serves as Professor of Design of Construction in the Department of Architectural Engineering + Technology within the Architecture and the Built Environment faculty at Delft University of Technology. His work focuses on the fundamentals of construction, application of construction materials and elements, and joints between elements and materials, with special attention to façades and building systems.

Professor Knaack's research interests span glass structures, façade systems, prefabricated construction, and the systematics of the construction field. His work emphasizes the feasibility and implementation of innovative construction techniques and materials, particularly economic double-skin façades, integrated building services façades, and ICT-driven free-form architecture systems. His research demonstrates a deep integration of academic work with practical applications, where students test research results through model construction to understand large-scale implementation challenges.

His recent publications reveal strong trends in advanced façade technologies, with emphasis on energy efficiency, automation, and digital fabrication techniques. The research portfolio shows a clear progression toward integrating renewable energy systems with building envelopes and exploring novel manufacturing processes for construction components.

• TU Munich Ambassador (2017-12-3) - Awarded by Technical University of Munich recognizing his outstanding research contributions as a former guest scientist
• Research Prize of the Hochschule Ostwestfalen-Lippe (2012)

Professor Knaack maintains active secondary appointments, including research positions at TU Darmstadt from 2014-2027 and an industry position from 2024-2026. His educational approach integrates research directly into teaching through supervision of bachelor's and master's graduation projects, with teaching groups embedded across various program components. Students benefit from practical testing of research outcomes through model construction.