UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State’s Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation has awarded its inaugural seed grants. These grants are designed to support interdisciplinary research projects that foster collaboration led by Penn State researchers, aiming to make a significant impact on the future of the built environment and real estate practice. 

The seed grant program provides funding for interdisciplinary teams composed of faculty members from diverse disciplines over a 12-month period. The initiative encourages innovative research that integrates various academic perspectives while engaging directly with the real estate industry, according to Scarlett Miller, director of the institute. Priority was given to proposals demonstrating exceptional intellectual merit, broad potential impact and robust engagement strategies. 

"We are thrilled to announce the first round of seed grants awarded by the Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation," Miller said. "These grants will catalyze groundbreaking research that bridges real estate and engineering, driving innovations that will shape the future of the industry. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we aim to push the boundaries of what’s possible in real estate, creating a lasting impact for both academia and industry." 

The selected projects cover a wide range of research areas aligned with the institute’s key focus areas, including next-generation building materials; environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues; the future energy landscape; and the dynamics of onshoring, offshoring and re-shoring. Each project has the potential for sustained collaborations, Miller said, with the aim of generating preliminary data and proof-of-concept prototypes that will drive innovation in the built environment. 

“LionGlass: Building a Sustainable Future for Architectural Glazing” 

• Principal investigator: John Mauro, Dorothy Pate Enright Professor of Materials Science and Engineering; Julian Wang, associate professor of architectural engineering. 
• This project aims to develop a prototype insulated glazing unit using LionGlass, a glass composition that significantly reduces the carbon footprint of glass manufacturing. The goal is to optimize production and performance characteristics, including lower energy requirements and improved damage resistance. 
• The key focus areas are next-generation building materials and ESG.   

“Designing Scalable and Adaptable O2-Grid Communities in Remote U.S. Areas: Implementing Hybrid Renewable Energy Systems” 

• Team members: Lisa Iulo, director, Hamer Center for Community Design; Rahman Azari, director, RE2 Lab; Seth Blumsack, director, Center for Energy Law and Policy; Greg Pavlak, associate professor of architectural engineering; and David Kaneda, IdeAs Consulting Building Innovation. 
• This project aims to create flexible models for off-grid real estate development using advanced energy technologies and efficient building designs to assist remote communities. The goal is to map potential regions in the U.S. for off-grid energy solutions and provide practical living options that can inform broader real estate initiatives. 
• The key focus areas are ESG and future energy landscape. 

“Real Estate Markets and Firm Production Reshoring Decisions” 

• Team members: Brent Ambrose, Jason and Julie Borrelli Faculty Chair in Real Estate; Zhenzhen Yan, assistant professor of supply chain management; Xiaojin “Aaron” Sun, associate professor of economics, Oklahoma State University; and Lily Shen, associate professor of finance, Clemson University. 
• This project investigates how the supply of commercial real estate (CRE) affects firms' reshoring decisions by developing a county-level reshoring activity index. The aim is to analyze the relationship between CRE vacancy rates and reshoring through advanced data analysis techniques. This project is co-funded by the Borelli Institute for Real Estate Studies. 
• The key focus area is onshoring, offshoring and re-shoring. 

“The awarding of these initial seed grants marks an important milestone for the Institute,” said Peter Cocoziello, founding chairman of the Institute and chief executive officer of Advance Realty Investors. “It’s exciting to see the research that will be fueled by this support, as it reflects our commitment to advancing innovative ideas that drive meaningful change in the real estate industry. By investing in research at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and community development, we’re laying the groundwork for transformative solutions that will shape the future of real estate.” 

Visit the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation website to learn more.  

About the Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation 

The Penn State Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation is dedicated to advancing research and collaboration across disciplines to address the challenges facing the real estate industry. Through innovative programs and partnerships, the institute aims to develop solutions that will positively impact the built environment and promote sustainable practices.