MechE Colloquium: Under Construction: Building with Robots Beyond Automation
Event details
| Date | 03.03.2026 |
| Hour | 12:00 › 13:00 |
| Speaker | Prof. Stefana Parascho, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, EPFL |
| Location | Online |
| Category | Conferences - Seminars |
| Event Language | English |
Abstract: Construction robotics has historically been driven by the goal of full automation. Yet the inherent variability of construction tasks and environments, combined with the current limitations of robotic systems, has rendered complete automation largely unattainable. Humans, by contrast, possess a rich repertoire of skills - ranging from craft knowledge and adaptability to intuition and the ability to respond to unforeseen conditions in unstructured settings - that make them indispensable to construction work. We argue for a collaborative workflow in construction, one that leverages robots’ strengths in precision, load-bearing capacity, and endurance, while foregrounding human capabilities within intuitive and cooperative workflows. The lecture will explore complementary roles for humans and robots, discuss control frameworks and interaction strategies, and present emerging robotic applications that support more sustainable construction practices at scale.
Biography: Stefana Parascho is a researcher, architect, and educator whose work lies at the intersection of architecture, robotics and computational design. She is currently an Assistant Professor at EPFL where she founded the Lab for Creative Computation (CRCL). Through her research, she has explored multi-agent fabrication methods, and their relationship to architecture. Her current work focuses on human-robot collaborative processes and the relationship between robotic construction and the built environment. Her goal is to strengthen the interdisciplinary nature of the field by increasing accessibility of digital tools and connecting technical research with societal aspects. Before joining EPFL, Stefana was an Assistant Professor at Princeton University, where she led the CREATE Lab Princeton. She completed her doctorate in 2019 at ETH Zurich. Previously, she received her Diploma in Architectural Engineering from the University of Stuttgart and worked with several engineering and construction consulting practices.
Biography: Stefana Parascho is a researcher, architect, and educator whose work lies at the intersection of architecture, robotics and computational design. She is currently an Assistant Professor at EPFL where she founded the Lab for Creative Computation (CRCL). Through her research, she has explored multi-agent fabrication methods, and their relationship to architecture. Her current work focuses on human-robot collaborative processes and the relationship between robotic construction and the built environment. Her goal is to strengthen the interdisciplinary nature of the field by increasing accessibility of digital tools and connecting technical research with societal aspects. Before joining EPFL, Stefana was an Assistant Professor at Princeton University, where she led the CREATE Lab Princeton. She completed her doctorate in 2019 at ETH Zurich. Previously, she received her Diploma in Architectural Engineering from the University of Stuttgart and worked with several engineering and construction consulting practices.
Practical information
- General public
- Free