The USC Emami Construction Management Institute is a bold new initiative that will redefine how we design, deliver, and sustain infrastructure in the 21st century. Housed within the Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering, the Institute will serve as a collaborative hub for research, education, and real-world impact.

What sets the Emami Institute apart is its commitment to deep integration between academia and industry. By building strong, ongoing partnerships with leading construction firms, infrastructure owners, and public agencies, the Institute ensures that research is grounded in practice. Industry residencies, co-designed curricula, and applied field projects will empower students and faculty to engage directly with the complex challenges shaping our built environment.

The Institute will emphasize emerging technologies at every level from AI and machine learning in construction planning, to robotics and digital twins on the jobsite, to cyber-physical systems that connect physical infrastructure to intelligent digital platforms. Los Angeles, a global megacity with some of the world’s most ambitious infrastructure investments, will serve as a real-world living lab for testing and scaling these innovations.

In addition to technical leadership, the Emami Institute will develop the next generation of construction leaders through high-impact executive forums, seminars, and experiential leadership development programs. With a strong focus on communication, systems thinking, and ethical decision-making, graduates will be prepared not just to participate in the future of construction—but to lead it.

The Institute will take a transdisciplinary approach, bringing together experts from engineering, computer science, public policy, architecture, economics, and behavioral science. This cross-sector collaboration will support holistic solutions that address not only performance and cost, but also climate resilience, social equity, sustainability, and the well-being of construction workers and communities.

A key priority will be workforce transformation, developing training and upskilling pathways for construction professionals and ensuring broader access to emerging technologies. The Institute will lead efforts in human-robot collaboration, remote operation, and inclusive jobsite innovation to ensure that the evolving workforce is safe, diverse, and future-ready.

By aligning cutting-edge research with real-world deployment, the USC Emami Construction Management Institute will position USC as a global leader in infrastructure innovation, policy, and leadership.

Stay tuned for updates as we launch this transformative initiative!