How would this differ from an graduate industrial design program? For example, Parson's ID program is heavily focused on materials and furniture design. Is this something that interests you?

There might be something for you at Eindhoven in the Netherlands..

JG - i am not familiar at all with industrial design programs, but from a friend who attends the art institute in pasadena, it seems like industrial design programs are geared towards making objects (themometers, cd players, etc). i am more interested in architectural elements (translucent concrete, walls, floors, doors, etc.). i assume the studies at an industrial design program are most likely applicable to architecture as well, but it is not my intention to go to school and learn to design objects.

at parsons, is the focus on materials geared towards making "new" materials or doing interesting things with existing materials?

susan - are you refering to the Design Academy Eindhoven or somewhere else?

taboho, I follow ya. Parsons may not be what your looking for but they do infact research existing materials and you can I guess try to make new materials but I haven't seen much of that.

I'm not sure how deep you want to get into an engineering focus, but maybe what you're looking for is a materials science degree? It may be more technical than what you need to develop architectural products, but if you're looking to invent new materials it's probably a good area to look into.

Some schools that offer this:
http://www.seas.ucla.edu/ms/
http://www.engr.wisc.edu/interd/msp/
http://neon.mems.cmu.edu/

I also agree that industrial design programs generally don't accommodate this particular field - they're typically more focused on consumer products and sometimes furniture design, though this is often in its own separate department anyway.

look into the master of science in building technology (smbt) in the archy dept at mit, and i think that you can also get the ms arch in bt (smarchs), not the same thing... look here for more info:

http://architecture.mit.edu/degrees/masters/smarchs/areas.html

" " Topics of inquiry might, for example, relate to specific aspects of the building industry as well as the constructional systems and fabric of buildings, material technologies and assemblies, advanced skins and enclosures, networks and infrastructures, prefabrication technologies, and advanced methods of fabrication. The program encourages inquiry into deeper understanding and research of issues relating to sustainability. An underlying value is the need to provide for intelligent environments responsive to the physiological needs of the individual, efficient in the use of resources and energy, that demonstrate a commitment to a more sustainable future. " "

...one more thing: the advantageous thing about the program at mit is that BT will give you very good working space mixed in with the phd's. you'll probably learn more from some of them than from the faculty.

anybody else?