Kyoung Hee Kim named to 2026 Class of National Academy of Inventors Senior Members

Professor of Architecture Kyoung Hee Kim has been named to the 2026 Class of Senior Members of the National Academy of Inventors, a recognition honoring academic inventors whose work has made a measurable impact through patents, commercialization and mentorship.

Kim, director of the Integrated Design Research Lab, develops building systems that reduce energy use and improve environmental quality. She holds a U.S. patent for a sustainable curtain wall and leads research on microalgae‑driven, nature‑based technologies that position buildings as active environmental contributors. Her biochromic window technology is being scaled through EcoClosure, a UNC Charlotte spinout.