A new partnership hopes to combine academic research with real-world industry knowledge to better engineering design and construction in the future.

New York University Tandon School of Engineering recently announced the creation of the Institute of Design and Construction (IDC) Innovations Hub. The “industry supported and membership-based center will promote innovation in construction, engineering design, and management” with a commitment to maximize safety, efficiency and sustainability within the construction sector, according to the university’s announcement.

It will be run by Michael Horodniceanu, an internationally prominent transportation and construction executive, who is a professor within the department of urban and civil engineering. NYU hopes the center serves as a model of a partnership between industry and research and solve problems that often cause projects to have schedule delays and run over budget.

Some of the center’s stated goals include:

• Help industry executives devise creative solutions to project design and construction issues.
• Provide access to consultancy services from experienced, independent experts.
• Sponsor in-depth informational seminars on topics ranging from organizational issues to best practices in the selection of materials and machinery.
• Support training programs provided by academics and industry leaders.
• Promote networking opportunities among a wide spectrum of organizations in the construction sector.
• Serve as a national clearinghouse for sharing information on consulting and construction opportunities.