Architecture of Flexibility in the UK: Towards Broader Customisation in Industrialised Construction (Ref: MMC2-Flexibility)

One of the core benefits of Industrialised Construction (IC) is the repetitive standardised advantage gained, allowing broader efficiency, quality, and an inheritable learning process across different projects. However, one of the most obvious disadvantages of such an approach is undermining Architects’ site-specific designs, design flexibility, and creativity. Given the increasing need to change ways construction projects are delivered, there is a need to critically involve architect insight to ensure the feasibility of the overall national change programme for broader IC in the United Kingdom. The project includes rethinking how manufacturing facilities producing full-scale modules, through either volumetric or modular approaches, can benefit from the best of both worlds- repetitiveness and standardisation for one, and the flexibility and customisation for another. The PhD is expected to investigate how reconfiguring manufacturing facilities and production systems can be reconfigured to include enhanced architectural capability for variations within the same (whole) highly repetitive process. This would enhance our understanding of enhanced uses of manufacturing in construction, creating conditions of which can make offsite factories more efficient and capable of meeting various client preferences. The project may focus on a certain building typology, such as residential or educational buildings, or a combination of residential and non-residential buildings. This PhD projects welcomes applicants from Architecture and/or Construction Management backgrounds, preferably with experience or exposure to fabrication and/or construction.

Name of primary supervisor/CDT lead:

Dr Ali M. Saad a.saad@lboro.ac.uk

Names of secondary supervisors:

Dr Sura Al-Maiyah , Dr Aya Al Kadi Jazaierly

Entry requirements:

Applicants should have, or expect to achieve, at least a 2:1 honours degree (or equivalent) in a relevant subject. A relevant master’s degree and/or experience is desirable.

English language requirements:

Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website (http://www.lboro.ac.uk/international/applicants/english/).

Bench fees required: No

Closing date of advert: 30th June 2026

Start date: July 2026, October 2026

Full-time/part-time availability: Full-time 3 years

Fee band: 2025/26 Band RB (UK £5,006, International £28,600)