Building smarter

From this week's Science:

"Building construction is still dominated by traditional materials, and the conservative nature of architects and builders is understandable--it is hard to judge how a material may survive and perform during the 20- to 150-year lifetime of a building. However, the need to improve the energy efficiency and self-diagnostic capabilities of the built environment, along with a desire to improve the quality and functionality found in our interior spaces, has driven the adoption of new materials. Fernández (p. 1807) reviews this evolution in building design and fabrication and discusses how partnerships with the materials science community may accelerate the design and adoption of new materials."