Ulrike Passe

Professor, Architecture

Education

Dipl.-Ing. in Architecture at the Technical University Berlin, 1990
Registered Architect in Germany since 1993
Member of the BDA Berlin 2005-2010
International Associate The American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Board of Directors member to the Passive Low Energy Architecture (PLEA)
Past president of the Society of Building Science Educators (SBSE)
 

On the Web

http://www.cber.iastate.edu
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ulrike-passe-645572b8

Research Interests

Director to the ISU Center for Building Energy Research

Principal Investigator of the ISU PIIR (presidential initiative for interdisciplinary research) project: Big Data for Sustainable Cities Decision Making

https://sustainablecities.cber.iastate.edu/

My compass for research is the Passage du Nord-Ouest as taken by Michel Serres to describe the passage between the humanities and science.

Relationship of Free-flow open space, Air flow and Energy on building and urban (microclimate) scale. Sustainable Urban Systems. Integrated design and building energy performance evaluation. Materiality and construction, energy efficiency, sustainability in a critical cultural context. Energy efficiency in existing, retrofit and new buildings. I previously conducted research on the intertwining of culture, climate and nature in the work of Alvar Aalto.

Current Projects

2023: NSF SCC-IRG Track 2: A data-driven approach to designing a community-focused indoor heat emergency alert system for vulnerable residents (CommHEAT) ($1,200,000) https://www.commheat.org/

2022: Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) Iowa School Ventilation and Energy Efficiency Retrofit Assessment ($199,878)

2022: NSF DISES-RCN: Developing new strategies for urban-rural systems to overcome interconnected social, environmental, and technological challenges (URSYS), Dynamics in Social and Environmental Systems Research Network Program at the National Science Foundation ($500,000). https://urban-ruralsystems.org/

2020: Thompson, J., (PI), Ganapathysubramanian, B., Zhou, Y., Liebman, M., Schwab, N., Passe, (Senior Personnel), Krejci, C, Gassmann, P., ($2,5mio), NSF INFEWS / T1: Social and biophysical models to integrate local food systems, climate dynamics, built forms, and environmental impacts in the urban FEWS nexus. Four years interdisciplinary research grant awarded with start date Jan 01. 2020. U. Passe will act as project and communications coordinator and lead all building and urban energy modeling aspects of the project. https://iowa-urbanfews.cber.iastate.edu/

2019: Ulrike Passe (PI), Janette Thompson, Kimberly Zarecor, SUS_RURI: Developing a Convergence Sustainable Urban Systems Agenda for Redesigning the Urban-Rural Interface along the Mississippi River Watershed, NSF workshop grant 07/01/2019 - 12/31/2019 over $50,000. https://sus-ruri.pubpub.org/

Current Scholarship

• Recent Publication List: please see full CV, and my ResearchGate and Google Scholar Profiles, 10/08/2023

  Ulrike Passe ResearchGate Profile

  Ulrike Passe Google Scholar

  ISU Repository

• NSF INFEWS / T1: Social and biophysical models to integrate local food systems, climate dynamics, built forms, and environmental impacts in the urban FEWS nexus, 02/01/2020

  Thompson, J., (PI), Ganapathysubramanian, B., Zhou, Y., Liebman, M., Schwab, N., Passe, (Senior Personnel), Krejci, C, Gassmann, P., ($2,5mio),NSF INFEWS / T1: Social and biophysical models to integrate local food systems, climate dynamics, built forms, and environmental impacts in the urban FEWS nexus. Four years interdisciplinary research grant awarded with start date Jan 01. 2020. U. Passe will act as project and communications coordinator and lead all building and urban energy modeling aspects of the project. https://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2020/01/22/sustainablecitiesnsf

   

• SUS_RURI: Developing a Convergence Sustainable Urban Systems Agenda for Redesigning the Urban-Rural Interface along the Mississippi River Watershed,, 07/01/2019

  Ulrike Passe (PI), Janette Thompson, Kimberly Zarecor, SUS_RURI: Developing a Convergence Sustainable Urban Systems Agenda for Redesigning the Urban-Rural Interface along the Mississippi River Watershed, NSF workshop grant 07/01/2019 - 12/31/2019 over $50,000.

• Invited keynote: Indo-Swiss Building Energy Efficiency Project (BEEP), 02/03/2019

  Ulrike Passe was invited to give a keynote lecture at the 2018 BEEP Camp for Building Science Educators, which was held December 22-23, 2018 at the CEPT University in Ahmedabad, India.

• IDRO Research Grant: Integrating microclimate considerations into urban landscape typologies for energy and water regeneration and sustainability, 12/15/2018

  Synopsis: This research will develop landscape strategies and spatial design guidelines for a number of urban and suburban spatial typologies to improve urban microclimate for buildings and surrounding environments. ($10,000)

  Team: Ulrike Passe, Associate Professor, Architecture; Director, Center for Building Energy Research (CBER) & Mira Engler, Professor, Landscape Architecture

• "Dynamic Shading in Buildings: a Review of Testing Methods and Recent Research Findings" , 02/13/2018

  http://rdcu.be/GRfP

• ASHRAE 1710: Effect of Dynamic Shading Devices on Daylight and Energy Performance of Perimeter Zones, 09/01/2016

  Research Contract with Dr. Kristin Cetin, Assistant Professor in CCEE as PI, collaboration with the Iowa Energy Center and Pella Corporpation.

• ACSA/AIA Top 10 COTE for Students Competition, 08/21/2016

  Faculty advisor to one of ten ACSA_AIA COTE TOP TEN student teams. http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2016/05/11/arch-students

  http://www.acsa-arch.org/programs-events/competitions/2015-2016-cote-top-ten-for-students/2015-2016-cote-top-ten-for-students-winners/the-living-link

• A Hybrid Simulation Model for Urban Weatherization Programs, 08/21/2016

  Krejci, C.C., Passe, U., Dorneich, M.C., & Peters, N. (2016), “A Hybrid Simulation Model for Urban Weatherization Programs”, Proceedings of the 2016 Winter Simulation Conference, Arlington, VA, December 11-14.

• Methodologies for Studying Human-Microclimate Interactions for Resilient, Smart City Decision-Making, 08/21/2016

  Passe, U., Anderson, N., De Brabanter, K., Dorneich, M., Krejci, C., Poplin, A., Shenk, L., (2016), Methodologies for Studying Human-Microclimate Interactions for Resilient, Smart City Decision-Making, in: Proceedings of PLEA2016 Los Angeles - Cities, Buildings, People: Towards Regenerative Environments, 11-13 July, 2016.

• Simulating the future microclimate to identify vulnerable building interior conditions, 08/21/2016

  Kalvelage, K., Dorneich, M., & Passe, U. (2015, 7-9 Dec), Simulating the future microclimate to identify vulnerable building interior conditions. Proceedings of the 14th International Conference of the International Building Performance Simulation Association, Hyderabad, India.

• Typological Studies For Passive Design Strategies Based On Coupled Measured And Modelled Data, 08/21/2016

  Passe, U., Deza, M., Ganapathysubramanian, B., He, S., Vansice, K., Xu, S, (2016), Typological Studies For Passive Design Strategies Based On Coupled Measured And Modelled Data, Proceedings of the 2016 Simulation for Architecture and Urban Design (SimAUD) conference, May 16-18, 2016, London.

• Designing Passive Solar Heated Spaces, 08/21/2016

  Book Chapter published in:

  Low Energy Low Carbon Architecture, recent advances and future directions, ed. by Khaled a. Al-Sallal,  CRC Press, Taylor & Francis Group, London UK, 2016.

• ISU PIIR Big Data for Sustainable Cities Decision Making, 07/01/2016

  http://www.sustainablecities.cber.iastate.edu/

• Architectural Student’s Attitude towards Building Energy Modeling: a Pilot Study to Improve Integrated Design Education, 12/07/2015

  He, S., Passe, U. (2015). Architectural Student’s Attitude towards Building Energy Modeling: a Pilot Study to Improve Integrated Design Education. Paper presented at the IBPSA International Conference 2015, Hyderabad, India, 7-9 December.

• Simulating the future microclimate to identify vulnerable building interior conditions, 12/07/2015

  Kalvelage, K., Dorneich, M., & Passe, U. (2015, 7-9 Dec). Simulating the future microclimate to identify vulnerable building interior conditions.  Proceedings of the 14th International Conference of the International Building Performance Simulation Association, Hyderabad, India.

• Changing climate: The effects on energy demand and human comfort, 11/26/2015

  Kalvelage, K., Passe, U., Rabideau, S., & Takle, E. S. (2014). Changing climate: The effects on energy demand and human comfort. Energy and Buildings, 76(0), 373-380. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2014.03.009

• The Potential Energy Efficiency of a Hybrid Designed House: A Post-occupancy Case Study on the Heating and Cooling System, 11/26/2015

  He, S., Passe, U. (2014). The Potential Energy Efficiency of a Hybrid Designed House: A Post-occupancy Case Study on the Heating and Cooling System. Paper presented at the ASHRAE 2014 Annual Conference, Seattle, WA,  June 28- July 2.

• President-Elect of the Society for Building Science Educators (SBSE), 10/31/2015

  President-Elect of the Society for Building Science Educators (SBSE)

  http://www.sbse.org/announcements/documents/ballot2015.pdf

• Incorporation of future building operating conditions into the modeling of building-microclimate interaction: A feasibility approach, 10/06/2015

  Kalvelage, K., Passe, U., Krejci, C., & Dorneich, M. (2015, 5-7 Oct). Incorporation of future building operating conditions into the modeling of building-microclimate interaction: A feasibility approach. In K. P. Lam (Co-chair), The First International Symposium on Sustainable Human-Building Ecosystems (ISSHBE). Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA.

• The Interlock House: Communicating Sustainable Practices through Architecture, 09/09/2015

  Fleenor, K., Passe, U., He, S. (2015). The Interlock House: Communicating Sustainable Practices through Architecture. Paper presented at the PLEA 2015- Architecture in Revolution, Bologna, Italy, 9-11 September.

• Big data for sustainable city decision-making., 09/01/2015

  Passe, U., Anderson, N., De Brabanter, K., Dorneich, M., Goodwin, J., Krejci, C., Poplin, A., Shenk, L., Anderson, C., & Graham, L. (2015). Big data for sustainable city decision-making. Iowa State University, Presidential Initiative for Interdisciplinary Research in Data Driven Science.

• Five years on: building science research with a Solar Decathlon home, 07/31/2015

  http://solar2015.ases.org/speaker/prof-ulrike-passe-2/

• Energy Efficient Dehumidification by Solar Driven Liquid Desiccant Systems for Residential Application, 07/06/2015

  Everly, R., Murillo, E., Passe, U. (2015) . Energy Efficient Dehumidification by Solar Driven Liquid Desiccant Systems for Residential Application. Paper presented at the ASHRAE 2015 Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA, June 27- July 1.

• Designing for the future changing climate: testing parametric adaptation strategies,, 05/13/2015

  Ulrike Passe, Designing for the future changing climate: testing parametric adaptation strategies, in: Redressing Resiliency, panel at The National Adaptation Forum, St. Louis, May 12-14, 2015

• 2014-2015-cote-top-ten-for-students-winners, 05/01/2015

  Faculty advisor to three out of ten ACSA_AIA COTE TOP TEN student teams.

  http://www.acsa-arch.org/programs-events/competitions/competition-archives/2014-2015-cote-top-ten-for-students/2014-2015-cote-top-ten-for-students-winners/2014-2015-cote-winner3

• Designing Spaces for Natural Ventilation: an Architect's Guide, 04/27/2015

  http://www.taylorandfrancis.com/articles/designing_spaces_for_natural_ventilation/

  About the Book

  Buildings can breathe naturally, without the use of mechanical systems, if you design the spaces properly. This accessible and thorough guide shows you how in more than 260 color diagrams and photographs illustrating case studies and CFD simulations. You can achieve truly natural ventilation, by considering the building's structure, envelope, energy use, and form, as well as giving the occupants thermal comfort and healthy indoor air. By using scientific and architectural visualization tools included here, you can develop ventilation strategies without an engineering background. Handy sections that summarize the science, explain rules of thumb, and detail the latest research in thermal and fluid dynamics will keep your designs sustainable, energy efficient, and up-to-date.

• In pursuit of Iowa's first 'net zero' building, 04/20/2015

  cited: http://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/money/business/development/2015/04/11/iowas-first-net-zero-building-market-one/25596209/

• Typological Studies for passive design strategies based on modelled and measured data, 04/06/2015

  Passe, U. (2015, April 6-9), Typological Studies for passive design strategies based on modelled and measured data. Presentation at the ARCC (Architecture Research Center Consortium): The future of architectural research, Chicago.

• Nordic Light in Italy, 02/12/2015

  Alvar Aalto Researcher Network

• Vacuum Insulated panels: Next Generation Insulation Material for Appliance, Transportation and Building Systems, 12/31/2014

  Co-PI to the IEC opportunity grant over $76,960 to PI Mufit Akinc, Material Science and Engineering, other co-PI: Ganesh Balasubramanian Mech. Eng.

  The primary objective of the project is to develop cost-effective nanoporous materials that can be used as core material in vacuum insulation panels (VIP), with thermal conductivity (TC) of less than 10 mW/m•K. The VIP material system will have direct implementation in residential (appliances), industrial and housing (insulation systems), agricultural (food preservation and processing) and transportation (refrigerated containers) sectors. Furthermore, nanoporous VIPs will reduce the insulation wall thickness of the system which in turn increases the “effective volume” of the system under consideration.

  http://www.nanowerk.com/nanotechnology-news/newsid=38275.php

• The future of solar (is) Architecture, 11/21/2014

  Invited Keynote at Solar 2014 in Izmir Turkey

  http://www.solartr.org.tr/ulrike_passe.pdf

• The Harran Houses as a case study for solar assisted passive ventilation and cooling, 11/01/2014

  Passe, U., Ganapathysubramanian, B., & Yesilata, B. (2014), The Harran Houses as a case study for solar assisted passive ventilation and cooling. In B. Yesilata, K. Bayraktar & G. Kocar Eds.), Proceedings of the Turkish Solar Energy conference SolarTR, Izmir.

• Miller Faculty Fellowship: Active Collaboration for Sustainable Technological Integration, 09/01/2014

  collaborative fellowship with Rob Whitehead, Andrea Wheeler, Kris Nelson ($9,000)

  http://www.celt.iastate.edu/for-faculty/miller-faculty-fellowships/2014-2015/

  This proposal was funded to assist the implementation of a second phase of improvements into our award-winning undergraduate building technology sequence in the Department of Architecture. Specifically, this work involves the integration of a series of sustainability-themed learning exercises that simulate the highly-integrated nature of contemporary architectural practice environments.

• Iowa EPSCoR Broader Impacts Mentoring and Outreach Award, 07/22/2014

  Sriram Sundararajan, Iowa NSF broader impacts platform leader commented about Passe’s accomplishments, “Ulrike has been outstanding at engaging K-12 students in her research activities related to energy efficiency in buildings. Even more remarkable is how she has instilled this passion for engagement into her research group. She is a very deserving candidate for this award.”

  http://iowaepscor.org/news/annual/2014/Passeaward

• Pursuit funding for a NSF CyberSEEs proposal on green buildings: Preliminary Validation Work, 06/01/2014

  $79,591 in funding awarded as Co-PI with Dr. Baskar Ganapthysubramanian

  http://www.iowaenergycenter.org/grant-and-research-library/?sphrase=pursuit+funding&program_area=all&applicable_year=all&focuses[]=0

  The overarching vision of our proposal to be submitted to NSF CyberSEES program is to enhance the utilization of naturally occurring energy flows within buildings to achieve thermal comfort and air quality, while minimizing fossil fuel consumption. The goal of our research is to push whole building performance prediction, evaluation and simulation to higher levels, while improving human comfort.

• Towards a Dynamic Daylight Understanding, 04/10/2014

  Leysens, I., Passe, U. (2014). Towards a Dynamic Daylight Understanding. Paper presented at 8th Windsor Conference: Couting the Cost of Comfort in a Changing World, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK, 10-13 April.

• Workshop on sustainable buildings using efficient energy harvesting materials and models based on traditional Harran Adobe House, 02/24/2014

     Workshop on sustainable buildings using efficient energy harvesting materials and models based on traditional Harran Adobe House

  http://gapyenev.harran.edu.tr/eng/?p=232

• Improving air flow performance models for passive solar and natural ventilation design: Comparing Simulation and Preliminary Measurements, 09/10/2013

  He, S., Passe, U. (2013). Improving air flow performance models for passive solar and natural ventilation design: Comparing Simulation and Preliminary Measurements. Paper presented at the PLEA2013- 29th Conference of Sustainable Architecture for a Renewable Future, Munich, Germany,  10-12 September.

• NSF EFRI EAGER, 09/01/2013

  EAGER 1345381: Multi-scale material and dynamic thermo-fluid computational models and controls for sustainable buildings using efficient energy harvesting materials

• Building Science Webinar, 04/23/2013

  http://agenergyia.org/webinars/#building

  https://connectpro51639880.adobeconnect.com/_a839956711/p39q4ijutv9/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal

• Exploring Alternatives to the" Typical Meteorological Year" for Incorporating Climate Change into Building Design, 12/31/2012

  Rabideau, S. L., Passe, U., & Takle, E. S. (2012). Exploring Alternatives to the" Typical Meteorological Year" for Incorporating Climate Change into Building Design. ASHRAE transactions, 118(1), 384-391.

• United States Green Building Council Research to Practice Project, 11/20/2012

  USGBC R2P2 (United States Green Building Council Research to Practice Project) in collaboration with multiple faculty, the ISU F,P&M and ISU Council on Sustainability.

  Award to attend Greenbuild 2012 in San Francisco

• Integrating Thermo-Fluid Computational Models into Understanding Sustainable Building Design, 06/01/2012

  He, S., Passe, U., & Wang, Z. (2012). Integrating Themro-Fluid Computational Models into Understanding Sustainable Building Design. Paper presented at The ACSA, Barcelona, Spain. June 2012

• Interlocking a House with the Sun (Interview), 05/24/2012

  https://vimeo.com/60823727

  In May 2012, the CTU team invited Ulrike Passe, the coordinator of the Iowa team that participated in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2009 competition. An optimistic and vigorous architect arrived and shared her experience. Her Prague lecture interconnected design, research and technologies. During the joint workshop the AIR House was directed to passive design and common sense.

  Ulrike Passe teaches at the College of Design Iowa State University, focusing on research on energy-efficient buildings. As far as the building physics is concerned, Ulrike uses the architecture point of view. She says: "The space itself works as effective technology."

• Future context for thermal comfort: Impact of a changing climate on energy demand and human thermal comfort., 04/12/2012

  Mann, B., Passe, U., Rabideau, S., & Takle, E. (2012). Future context for thermal comfort: Impact of a changing climate on energy demand and human thermal comfort.  Proceedings of the 7th Windsor Conference: The changing context of comfort in an unpredicatable world, Cumberland Lodge, Windsor, UK, 12-15 April, 2012.

• Iowa EPSCoR: Harnessing Energy Flows in the Biosphere to Build Sustainable Energy Systems, 09/02/2011

  Investigator in a state wide research initiative funded by the National Science Foundation

  http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/sep/EPSCoR

• Predicting Natural Ventilation Flows in Whole Buildings Part 2: The Esherick House, 08/20/2011

  Stoakes, Preston, Ulrike Passe & Francine Battaglia: Predicting Natural Ventilation Flows in Whole Buildings Part 2: The Esherick House; in: Building Simulation: An International Journal BUILD    SIMUL (2011) 4: 000–000 DOI 10.1007/s12273-011-0046-3) Tsinghua University Press and Springer.

  http://www.springerlink.com/content/up65060868268757/

• Predicting Natural Ventilation Flows in Whole Buildings Part 1: The Viipuri Library, 08/20/2011

  Stoakes, Preston, Ulrike Passe & Francine Battaglia: Predicting Natural Ventilation Flows in Whole Buildings Part 1: The Viipuri Library Building Simulation: An International Journal; DOI: 10.1007/s12273-011-0046-3; Tsinghua University Press and Springer.

  http://www.springerlink.com/content/r37677l4604542w2/

• College of Design Investment Grant, 06/01/2011
  College of Design Investment Grant
• Iowa State University Alumni Association IMPACT Award 2010, 10/01/2010
  Granted to recognize individuals, businesses, organizations, or units whose programs or accomplishments brought broad recognition to the university and increased the involvement of ISU constituents in the life of the university during the year prior to being nominated.
• Iowa State Live Green! Excellence in Sustainability Award, 02/20/2010
  For the Solar Decathlon team to recognize an impact on the campus’ sustainability efforts by generating awareness and interest through initiatives that focus on teaching, research, outreach and/or operations.
• Improving Energy Efficiency in Schenker Lgoistics' Warehouses in Iowa City, Iowa, 11/25/2009
  IPRT Company Assistance Research collaboration with DBSchenker Logistics
• The Interlock House, 10/01/2009
  Department of Energy's 2009 Solar Decathlon competition and public exhibition on the National Mall in Washington DC. The Interlock House is an 800 sft solely solar powered house designed by ISU students under leadership of faculty adviser and principal investigator Ulrike Passe.
• College of Design Faculty Award for Extraordinary performance, 04/15/2009
  "Ulrike Passe has assumed a key role in the architecture technology curriculum, increasing the emphasis on sustainable design principles and integrating her extensive "green" practice experience in Germany into design studio. She is committed to interdisciplinary efforts... As the principal investigator for ISU's Solar Decathlon project, Ulrike has engaged with students and faculty across campus and throughout our College in the design and construction of a solar-powered house. ... Ulrike handles this ambitious range of projects with flexibility and humor"
• Passe, Kaelber Architekten: Haus Marxen's interior, 01/01/2009
  Passe, Kaelber Architekten: Haus Marxen's interior analyzed in the Chapter 'Colour' in: Ro Spankie: Basics Interior Architecture: drawing out the interior, AVA Academia Lausanne, 2009. p.130-131.
• Solar Decathlon 2009, 01/14/2008
  Principal Investigator and main faculty advisor for the Iowa State Solar Decathlon Team to build a solely solar powered 800sqft house for the international competition on the National Mall in Washington D.C.
• 1000 European Houses, 01/19/2007

  Editor: Braun Verlag, Berlin
  

  Publication of built work: House Marxen
  

• The Fluid-Dynamics of Air-Flow in Free Flow Open Space: An Architectural Approach to Energy-Efficient Buildings., 12/21/2006

  Research Grant by the Boston Society of Architects (BSA) 2007

  Collaboration with Prof. Francine Battaglia, Professor in Mechanical Engineering, ISU

  http://www.architects.org/news/index.cfm?doc_id=148