CAPLA's Ryan Smith Elected to National Academy of Construction

Ryan Smith, PhD, director of the School of Architecture at the University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture (CAPLA), has been elected to the National Academy of Construction (NAC) as one of 45 new members of the Class of 2026. 

“I am humbled to join an elect cadre of design and construction leaders across the country. At the same time, induction into the Academy is validation of a career focused on knowledge management in offsite constructed housing,” Smith said. 

Founded in 1999, the NAC is an organization of more than 500 industry leaders—including constructors, engineers, architects, consultants, attorneys, academics and other professionals—who have made significant, lifelong contributions to the construction industry. Election to the Academy is among the profession's highest honors and recognizes individuals whose leadership, innovation and service have advanced the effectiveness of the engineering and construction industry. 

According to the Academy, "Ryan Smith was elected to NAC for his global leadership in offsite construction shaping research, code development, and global collaborations by advancing housing technology, policy, education and workforce development." 

Offsite construction is a manufacturing approach - the design and fabrication of building elements in a factory environment that are then transported and assembled into a completed building. 

Mohamed Al-Hussein, PhD, is a professor within the civil and environmental engineering department at the University of Alberta. He nominated Smith to NAC and has been familiar with Smith’s work for more than 20 years.  

"Over two decades, Dr. Smith has advanced offsite construction theory and practice through rigorous research and educational leadership," Al-Hussein said. "He has shaped construction education by mentoring hundreds of students and advancing global offsite practices through impactful research, innovative frameworks and cross-disciplinary collaboration." 

Since joining CAPLA in 2022, Smith has led the School of Architecture while continuing a career that bridges academia, industry and government. Prior to the U of A, he held faculty and leadership positions at Washington State University as director and the University of Utah, where he served as associate dean for research and director of the Integrated Technology in Architecture Center. He also co-founded MOD X, a research-based advisory group that works internationally. 

Smith's work continues to influence national conversations around housing innovation. Earlier this year, he co-authored a report with Ivan Rupnik and Tyler Schmetterer, his collaborators and fellow co-founders of MOD X, outlining a comprehensive strategy to expand the role of offsite construction in addressing the nation's housing challenges. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report is titled “HUD’s Past, Present, and Future Role in Accelerating U.S. Offsite Construction for Housing: A Comparative Study and Action Plan.” 

Smith's contributions have earned national and international recognition. He is the founding chair and current board member of the National Institute of Building Sciences Offsite Construction Council and received the organization's Member Award. His additional honors include designation as a Fellow of the Modular Building Institute and awards from the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture and the Architecture Research Centers Consortium. 

"Ryan has positioned himself as a connector among academia, industry and government," said Nancy Pollock-Ellwand, dean of CAPLA. "His work has influenced how the construction industry approaches innovation, workforce development and housing delivery." 

She added: “His election to the National Academy of Construction reflects the profound impact of his work on the built environment and the future of construction.”  

The Class of 2026 was elected by current Academy members following a peer-review process that concluded with a final vote in May. Smith and other elected members will be formally inducted during the NAC Annual Meeting in September.