About
Located at the Politecnico di Milano, the Arch // Struct Lab (Architetture e Strutture sottili) sits at the intersection of architectural design and structural engineering.
The lab pioneers innovative, low-carbon, and resilient construction systems by leveraging the synergies between several core research pillars. This work integrates advanced manufacturing and robotics for the automated assembly of complex structures with the sustainable design of lightweight systems using thin-walled and lightweight steel. Furthermore, the lab advances circular economy principles by developing modular, dry-stack, and reusable construction methods, all while utilizing computational design and digital tools to achieve mass customization and structural optimization.
Group head: Ornella Iuorio
Ornella Iuorio is an Associate Professor in Architectural Engineering at the Politecnico di Milano (IT) and serves as a Visiting Professor at the University of Leeds (UK), where she previously held the position of Full Professor and Chair in Architecture and Structures. As the head of the Arch // Struct Lab (AS Lab), she has established an international reputation for innovations in the sustainable design of lightweight structures and the creation of resilient built environments. Her research explores the transformative potential of computational tools, prefabrication, and lightweight steel systems, specifically focusing on how advanced manufacturing and robotics can facilitate innovative low-carbon and circular construction systems.
Professor Iuorio is a leading voice in the global structural architecture community, currently serving as the Vice President of the International Association of Structures and Architecture (IASA) and Chairing the upcoming 7th International Conference on Structures and Architecture (ICSA 2027). In recognition of her pioneering contributions to the field, she was named one of the “Top 50 Women in Engineering: Inventors & Innovators” in 2022. Her work frequently bridges the gap between research and public discourse, exemplified by her installations at events such as the Venice Biennale 2023, where she presented “Set in Transition” — a robotically assembled, dry-stack self-standing shell structure - and Milan Design Week 2025, which saw the presentation of a kinetic sculpture.
With a research portfolio exceeding €6.5 million, Professor Iuorio has led high-impact projects funded by the EPSRC, ESRC, Innovate UK, the British Academy, and the World University Network (WUN_BRIC). Her academic output includes more than 100 peer-reviewed papers and edited books, most recently her 2025 Springer publication, From Mass Prefab to Mass Customization: Modern Methods of Constructions from Experimentation to Manufacturing. Her work in Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) and post-disaster infrastructure has been recognized with the Sir John Fowler Award from the Institute of Civil Engineers (ICE) for its significant societal and industrial impact.
Professor Iuorio holds a PhD in “Design, Analysis and Experimentation of Structures” from the University of G. D’Annunzio, Pescara and a Laurea (Cum Laude) in Architecture from the University of Naples Federico II. Her career includes a prestigious fellowship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT, USA), and she continues to shape the field as an Associate Editor for the journal Architecture, Structure and Construction and as a scientific committee member for numerous international conferences, including ICSA, fib, and SEEDS.