At Advance Realty Investors, we believe innovation is essential to building stronger, more sustainable communities. That’s why we’re proud to highlight the work of Scarlett Miller, Paul Morrow Professor of Engineering Design & Manufacturing at Penn State and research adviser for the newly launched Cocoziello Institute of Real Estate Innovation, founded in partnership with Advance.
In a recent interview, Miller discusses how cross-disciplinary research is transforming real estate from AI-driven design to sustainable materials and 3D-printed construction. Her insights align closely with Advance’s commitment to creating high-quality spaces rooted in environmental stewardship, long-term resilience, and thoughtful community impact.
Read the full Q&A here:
https://pennstatermag.com/faculty-expertise/qa-scarlett-miller
Miller outlines several areas where research and industry collaboration are needed most:
Sustainable Materials & Energy Efficiency
Innovations like LionGlass and next-generation building envelopes can dramatically reduce environmental impact, a key focus of Advance’s long-term ESG initiatives.
Automation & Workforce Transformation
With nearly half of construction tasks projected to be automated by 2057, new tools and training models will help ensure safer, more efficient job sites.
Affordable Housing & Scalable Construction
Technologies such as 3D concrete printing offer pathways to lower-cost, higher-performance housing, an important step toward addressing regional housing shortages.
AI in Design & Development
AI-driven modeling and massing tools are opening new opportunities for smarter planning, reduced waste, and more sustainable building outcomes.
The Cocoziello Institute’s work reflects Advance’s belief that meaningful progress happens when academia, technology, industry, and community work together. From brownfield redevelopment to sustainable material research, innovation sits at the core of our development philosophy.
For those interested in exploring the future of real estate, Scarlett Miller’s full interview provides a compelling look at where the industry is headed:
https://pennstatermag.com/faculty-expertise/qa-scarlett-miller
