After graduating from Chung-Ang University, Professor Heo Yeon-sook worked at a design office for two years then going on to earn a master’s and doctoral degrees in Architectural Environment at the Georgia Institute of Technology. During her Ph.D. coursework she also worked as a researcher at the University of Cambridge for six months and later at the Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago. She is an expert in the field of urban energy environment who has won several awards including best thesis at the International Building Performance Simulation Association (IBPSA) in 2013, and the Young Scientist Award in the International Institute of Architecture and Environment. Let’s meet with Professor Heo Yeon-sook, a Chung-Ang University alumni who taught architecture at University of Cambridge and is currently a professor of Architecture, Social and Environmental Engineering at Korea University.
1. Please introduce yourself to Chung-Ang University students and readers of CAH.
Hello, I am Heo Yeon-sook, and I graduated with a degree in Architectural Engineering from Chung-Ang University in 2001. After 4 years of undergradu - ate life at CAU, I studied in the U.S to obtain my master’s and doctoral degrees. I also worked as an assistant professor at the University of Cambridge in the UK. Currently, I am an associate professor in the School of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering at Korea University. Nice to meet you!
2. What motivated you to enter the Department of Architecture at Chung-Ang University, and do you have any memorable classes?
I had dreamed of architecture since high school. So, when I was in my second year of high school, I naturally decided on this career path and went to Chung-Ang University. When I think back on my school days, I think of Professor Lee Eon-goo among the professors in the Department of Architecture at Chung-Ang University. Professor Lee was a person who had a great interest in the environmental aspect of architecture and design. At that time, it was not common to integrate an environmental view in the architectural design process. He also had just opened a studio called ‘Building Environment Studio’. It was a great opportunity to get to know a new dimension of building design. I think the research and classes I had with the professor at that time made me think for the first time that I can consider envi - ronmental aspects in building design. I decided on a career path later, and it is closely connected with the research I am currently focusing on.
3. After graduating from the Department of Architecture at Chung-Ang University, you worked at a design office for two years and then went to study in the United States. What kind of work did you do in the architectural design office?
Building design seems to be a combination of engineering and art. It is important to understand the building performance while creating building design. The nature of design buildings was very interesting because it was about creating buildings that meet practical conditions. As I was working in the office, there were times when I realized a discrepancy between actual practice and what I had imagined, but in the end, I was able to learn about eco-friendly design through practice. It seems that this narrowed down my specific areas of interest and led me to study abroad.
4. Then, what motivated you to study abroad in the United States?
The two years of experience in the architecture office were a bit of a ‘reality check’ for me. Through this experience, I had various opportunities to put vague ideas about design into practice. More than anything else, I had come to realize how important it is to build solid foundations for more specific areas in the field. What did studying abroad in the U.S mean to you? Overall, it was a such a great experience. If I had gone to study abroad for my master’s immediately after grading from CAU, I would have been not as motivated. However, since it was my own decision drawn after work experience, I think I was more motivated and I was able to feel the preciousness of the opportunity. The process of freely interacting with the professors while studying what I wanted was so enjoyable.
5. Was there any difference between education in Korea and education abroad?
I have experienced being both a student, and a professor in Korea, the U.S., and the U.K. In the process, I think I was able to discover slightly different educational philosophies from country to country. The U.S and Korea have very similar educational curricula, which aim for comprehensive education for all students. The U.K, on the other hand, seems to emphasize on 1:1 tutoring tailored to individual students while providing a reduced set lectures.
6. We know that you worked as a researcher at the U.S National Argonne Energy Laboratory. We are curious about what you researched there.
The U.S Argonne National Laboratory is a national laboratory under the U.S Department of Energy. It plays a role in developing policies on how to save energy used in buildings across the United States. During the time there, my lab was located near Chicago and I remember working on a project that aimed to reduce the energy consumption of all commercial buildings in Chicago by 30%. To achieve this goal, we developed methods to evaluate the energy efficiency of every building in Chicago and provide the optimal strategy to enhance the energy performance of individual buildings.
7. After working as a researcher, you came to Korea University as a professor. After becoming a professor, what has been the most different from what you had imagined?
It was a very satisfying and good opportunity to work as a researcher in the U.S. I was able to devote 100% of my time to research. However, because it was a government-affiliated organization, the scope of research topics is somewhat limited to be related to government agenda. That is why I considered going back to academia, and I am currently very satisfied to work on a wider range of research topics in academia. What was different from what I thought after coming back as a professor was that I found out that I enjoyed teaching students a lot more than I had expected. This was a very nice surprise. I was able to feel a lot of rewards while teaching students and watching them grow as good engineer/researchers. Of course, I still do enjoy undertaking research challenges, but I now have great passion for education as well.
8. What is the research area you are focusing on?
The answer to this question would be closely related to the name of my laboratory, which is “Urban Energy Environment Lab.” When it comes to the building environment, traditionally it was important to design a single building well, but now it is an era where it is important to think in terms of the whole city, not just a few buildings. The environmental goal of “carbon neutrality” has become a big promise not only for Korea but also the world. The design of “some” buildings is no longer important. I wondered how to increase the energy efficiency of existing and new buildings throughout the city, and how to supply eco-friendly energy. I was fascinated by these themes, and so I started researching eco-friendly city design and energy. So, I have been continuing to conduct overall research on urban regeneration, energy, and architecture, such as analyzing the energy of the entire city, which eco-friendly systems make the city healthy, and how to alleviate the heat island effect of urbanization.
9. What do you think is the appeal of the field you are currently researching (urban architecture)?
It seems attractive that it is a topic that anyone can understand, even if you are not an expert. It is good because it is easy to talk about professional research topics with anyone who has own experience of living in buildings and cities. It is perfectly natural to find research challenges or ideas from my living experience. Architects often say that no two buildings are the same. Every building has a different story and structure. Therefore, from the perspective of research, I think that it is a differentiated field by not only knowing one building, but constantly exploring what designs and alternatives can be applied to various buildings in general. The fact that my life and research are connected to a certain extent, and that I can get small ideas related to research in my life, also seems attractive.
10. CAH wants to ask you about the “Development of Integrated Housing Welfare Services for the Elderly through Extended Living Lab,” which you discussed at the presentation on the theme of the 4th Industrial Revolution and Convergence Talent. Please explain what kind of research you have been doing in detail.
It is a research project that I am currently working on in line with the trends of convergence research which is rapidly growing these days. The reason why ongoing research is called convergent research is that when we think of smart homes, we only think of engineering parts such as smart home technology, which corresponds to architectural engineering, residential environments, and electrical and electronic fields. However, we thought that the technology of smart homes could be used for welfare, so we conducted a study on using it as one of the welfare benefits by giving this service to vulnerable people. Since the people who spend the most time at home are the elderly, we collaborated with professors who focus on elderly research and welfare and worked with them. However, in order to provide services for the elderly, it was necessary to understand their directly, not just reading papers. Living Lab has two meanings. First is hearing what users (old people) need for themselves, and second is installing sensors in the space where they live to help researchers understand their real lives. Both were implemented, and in fact, about 10 living labs at Gimje Senior Welfare Center were installed. We presented the results at the Living Lab Forum.
11. While researching, collaboration is essential. What do you think is the most important thing about collaborating?
Whatever you do, collaboration is essential, and research has very active collaboration. I think the most important thing in collaboration is an open mind. Like convergence research, when people who are studying different fields gather and work together, they use different terms even if they talk about the same thing. In this regard, I should not just stick to the direction I think of, but I should have an open mind to find out why the other person is talking. If you don’t have this mindset, even if you do joint research, you may end up stuck with your own opinions.
12. CAH would like to ask you what kind of experience and study would you like to give to students who are majoring in architecture?
I think what can be done at a university is only the most basic part of architecture theory. Students should get it through hands-on experience as to how they can utilize theory. Since students can have various experiences when they are undergraduates, I think it would be better to do various activities rather than experience limited to only one field. Through this, they can understand what kind of person I am and know what I like. Therefore I recommend having various experiences regardless of major.
13. Have you ever experienced a slump until you reached your current position? If you had, CAH would wonder how you overcame it.
Of course, there are tough times when it comes to making turning points in a situation. I think in those difficult times I was very persistent to continue to pursue and luckily realized at some point that I was very close to accomplish important (yet very challenging) tasks. I believe a strong motivation and ambition made me keep pushing my boundaries persistently.
14. In an interview with NewsOne, CAH saw that you said, “If I have a chance, I want to teach at Chung-Ang University.” What kind of place is Chung-Ang University to Professor Heo Yeon-sook?
The Alma mater would be a special place for everyone. It was the first place where I could experience many things, people, and exchanged information, so it was the starting point of my adult life and was a precious place that set my life on its path.
15. Would you like to give a word of advice for young people in their 20s who are running toward their dreams in their lives?
The period in your 20s is the most uncertain, and everyone goes through difficult times, particularly these days due to employment. I did too. The time felt like a crisis. However, now I think uncertainties may mean many possible opportunities. There is no need to jump into a conclusion quickly and I think that it is very important to embrace possible opportunities as much as you can and make a decision on the basis of your own experience. Later on, when you look back, you will realize those experiences became stepping stones in your career and life trajectory.
16. Besides your goal as a professor, do you have any goals in life as a human being?
I want to be a person who gives positive influence in my place. I think balancing goal-oriented attitudes with contentment is the task of life. I want to live a life: ‘Being satisfied and happy in the process of achieving the goal.’
Professor Heo Yeon-sook, who studies to create a better urban energy environment. During the interview, we were able to confirm her enthusiasm for the field she was studying and her firm belief as an educator and researcher. We applaud the passion and vision she has shown. CAH will continue to pay attention to the professor’s future moves to see what she can accomplish.
