Three professors from the School of Architecture at the Universidad de Málaga (Spain) presented a research seminar to faculty and staff in West Lafayette at the Bowen School of Construction in Purdue University’s Polytechnic college on Monday. Their visit is the next step in a growing collaboration between the two universities.
Jonathan Ruiz Jaramillo, María Dolores Joyanes Díaz, and Carmen María Muñoz González, professors in Málaga’s Department of Art and Architecture, shared insights from research spanning sustainable building energy systems, structural engineering with a focus on sustainability, innovative materials and concrete technologies, and architectural archaeology. The presentation was titled “Spain Constructs Tomorrow: Three Architects on Research and Innovation.”
The visitors were hosted by Bryan Hubbard, professor of construction management technology. During his 2025 visit as a Senior Fulbright Scholar to the Universidad de Málaga (UMA), Hubbard collaborated with them to develop academic relationships and identify mutual benefits for both institutions. Hubbard’s Fulbright grant research initially focused on modular construction of new buildings—but in Spain, he discovered a need to shift focus.
“I quickly learned when working with the faculty at UMA that the need was more in modular systems for renovation” rather than for new buildings, Hubbard said. “I shifted my research to applying modular/industrialized construction in renovation of existing buildings. The shift was driven by observations of Spain’s existing building inventory, ongoing renovation projects, and discussions with UMA colleagues in architecture and industrial engineering. We pivoted the research to industrialized renovation using prefabricated components, including wall panels, window assemblies, and energy-efficient modular HVAC systems, to improve sustainability, affordability and energy performance in existing residential buildings.”
During his time in Málaga, Hubbard also lectured in classes on construction innovations, participated in graduate student reviews, and sat in on architectural classes. His experiences there inspired a recent grant from the Purdue Global Partnership Program to bring UMA faculty to Purdue to strengthen the growing partnership. Since Purdue does not have a school of architecture, Hubbard identified a need to seek strategic international collaborations to expand global research efforts and to support Purdue’s Design and Construction Integration and Interior Architecture programs.
“UMA faculty have demonstrated both the enthusiasm and expertise necessary to contribute to our programs through teaching and research,” said Hubbard. “Jaramillo, Díaz and González represent a range of teaching and research expertise in architecture, construction, and design. Each is highly regarded within the UMA community and across Spain’s architectural academic circles.”
Hubbard’s collaboration with the UMA professors will continue next month during Spring Break, when he will take ten Purdue students on a Study Abroad trip to Málaga. The students will participate in classes, meet with UMA students and see architectural projects there. He hopes the visit will inspire additional research collaborations between faculty in Purdue’s Bowen School of Construction and UMA.
During their visit, Jaramillo, Díaz and González will also be lecturing and critiquing designs for Interior Architecture students at Purdue in Indianapolis and teaching in two Design and Construction Integration courses, CM 33000 and CM 33100.
In addition to the grant from the Purdue Global Partnership Program, the visit by the three UMA professors was made possible by support from the Bowen School of Construction.
