Design for manufacturing and construction degree to be offered at UB next fall

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning will soon offer a new degree concentration, called design for manufacturing and construction (D-MAC), that combines design, fabrication and construction.

This graduate degree concentration for students in the Master of Science in Architecture program was recently approved by the New York State Education Department for implementation in fall 2026. D-MAC is intended to meet the demand for skilled designers who can bridge the gap between design, architectural fabrication and construction to manage and deliver complex projects at different scales.

Led by Nicholas Bruscia, assistant professor in the Department of Architecture, this program will prepare students by giving them direct access to advanced digital and manual tools in the school’s 11,000-square-foot Fabrication Workshop, where they will engage in industry-leading design methods. As a 36-credit track, the program can be completed in one academic year, culminating in a summer studio that engages industry partners.

“This program will open doors to exciting career opportunities for our students,” says Erkin Özay, chair of the Department of Architecture. “We aim to help students build a versatile skillset, graduating as creative and adaptable designers.”

Graduates can expect to build a working knowledge of production-aware digital practices, material behavior, form optimization and design-to-fabrication workflows. From hands-on studios to advanced research, D-MAC dives into visualization techniques, technically driven inquiry, architectural geometry, construction and digital fabrication.

The university estimates that over 20 students will be enrolled in D-MAC by the fifth year of the program. Qualified Master of Architecture students in the school’s research track can elevate their experience by adding the D-MAC concentration, gaining enhanced access to design and fabrication opportunities with minimal extra requirements.

“This degree program is just the beginning, as we are already in the process of developing additional new programs for desired focus-areas across our disciplines,” says Julia Czerniak, dean of the School of Architecture and Planning. “We look forward to bringing more programs into the fold to offer truly interdisciplinary degree programs.”

The School of Architecture and Planning’s Fabrication Workshop is the hub of the school’s learning-through-making curriculum. Equipped for fabrication of all types, the shop serves both as a space to execute coursework and as a think-tank and makerspace for collaborative research with design practice and industry.

The Fabrication Workshop comprises distinct areas in Parker Hall on UB’s South Campus, including a shop for woodworking, metalworking and assembly, and the digital FabLab, giving students and faculty the versatility to work across multiple scales, from model and component building to full-scale prototyping and installations.

For preferred scholarship consideration, students should apply by Jan. 15, 2026. More information can be found on the school’s website.