"Nowadays, resource-efficient structural design plays a key role in the development of a sustainable built environment for our future"

Patrick Teuffel is a Full Professor and Chair of Innovative Structural Design (ISD) at the Faculty of the Built Environment of the Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). Patrick’s   vision for the research of ISD focuses on lightweight and adaptive structures, as well as the application of innovative materials, such as smart materials or bio-based materials.

In the context of lightweight and adaptive structures he is using numerical and experimental models to optimize the design and construction processes. In addition, he is conducting research for the development of 'smart skins' using textiles with integrated smart materials, which have variable properties in shape, stiffness, viscosity and transmission.. Based on this research, he is building a connection between structural design to building physics criteria such as light, acoustics and wind.

The research on bio-based materials focuses on innovative composite materials, based on hemp, flax or mycelium, in order to find new application in the built environment, such as the world-wide first pedestrian bio-based bridge, realised in Eindhoven in 2016.

Patrick Teuffel studied civil engineering at the University of Stuttgart from 1991 to 1996 with a focus in Conceptual Structural Design. He began his career at Arup in London, where he was involved with the structural engineering of projects such as the Messehalle 3A in Frankfurt with Grimshaw Architects, Arnhem Central Station with UNStudio, IIT Student Campus in Chicago with OMA or the RAI in Amsterdam with Benthem Crouwel. From 1999-2003 he carried out his PhD, about the application of adaptive systems in architecture and engineering, at the University of Stuttgart.

In 2003 he founded Teuffel Engineering Consultants, an engineering consultancy with focus on building structures and façade as well as temporary and lightweight structures. Patrick has worked as a Senior Lecturer in Architectural Engineering at the University of Leeds and as Professor for Architectural Engineering at TU Delft, before he was appointed at TU/e in 2012.