Professor Jim Freihaut has been named interim head of Penn State’s Department of Architectural Engineering, effective Jan. 1. Credit: Jeff Xu/Penn State. All Rights Reserved.
James Freihaut named interim head of architectural engineering
January 18, 2023
By Mary Fetzer
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Professor Jim Freihaut has been named interim head of Penn State’s Department of Architectural Engineering, effective Jan. 1. Freihaut follows former department head Sez Atamturktur-Russcher, Harry and Arlene Schell Professor of Architectural Engineering, who served for more than four years.
“Dr. Freihaut has dedicated his career to improving safety, sustainability and quality of life in the built environment, both through research and training the next generation of engineers,” said Anthony Atchley, acting dean of the College of Engineering. “With the breadth of his research and teaching experience, I have no doubt that he will help Penn State remain an innovative leader in the field of architectural engineering.”
Freihaut earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Christian Brothers University in 1966, a master’s degree in physical chemistry from Rensselaer Polytechnic University in 1972, and a doctorate in fuel science from Penn State in 1980. He then worked as a research scientist at United Technologies Research Center (UTRC) in Hartford, Connecticut, performing research and development for Pratt & Whitney, Carrier, Otis Elevator and Sikorsky Helicopter, among others. Freihaut said that leading the building science and indoor air quality program for UTRC and Carrier inspired his career focus.
“I became interested in taking a systems approach to the design, construction and operation of buildings in a manner analogous to transportation systems and manufacturing facilities,” Freihaut said, explaining that a systems approach to buildings is now emerging as the primary path to achieve improved building performance and significantly reduce operational energy use and emissions. “UTRC did not have a business model paradigm in any of its building-related businesses that supported this approach to the building sector. Penn State’s Department of Architectural Engineering was the closest organization I could find that could take a systems approach to buildings with the underlying technical depth and practicing alumni that could lead to real implementation. So, when a faculty position opened, I was fortunate enough to be offered the position.”
Freihaut joined Penn State as an assistant professor in 2002, was awarded tenure and promoted to associate professor in 2008 and became a full professor in 2012. His research includes indoor air quality and building science, with a focus on the detection and elimination of indoor aerosol particles — viruses, bacteria and allergens — that can be harmful to building occupants.
Now, as interim head, Freihaut said he wants to ensure that architectural engineers at Penn State continue to lead by example.
“Hopefully, the Department of Architectural Engineering will work with other necessary disciplines at Penn State — energy, economics, legal, financial business model formulation, customer value proposition, community involvement — to help society realize the systems approach to buildings,” he said. “The realization of societal impact in the building industry depends on a coordinated, interdisciplinary development program in which the Department of Architectural Engineering will need to play a critical role and lead by example.”
A national search for the next department head will launch this spring.
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