Nihar Pathak
Nihar Pathak (MSSD ‘19) is a Graduate Instructor and Ph.D. Candidate in Architecture–Engineering–Construction Management at Carnegie Mellon Architecture.
Nihar is an architect with a blueprint for sustainability and a knack for turning buildings green in more ways than one. Starting her journey with a passion for passive architectural design, she’s now all about bio-based materials and indoor environmental quality, blending creativity with eco-consciousness.
When she’s not busy analyzing the life cycles of building materials or plotting ways to boost indoor air quality, you’ll find her leading courses on how to make buildings healthier, more energy-efficient and just plain better for the planet. She teaches graduate level courses including “Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ): Energy, Health and Productivity” and “Sustainable Design” for the UDream program.
In the wild world of construction, Nihar has green-stamped everything from homes to high-rises, even massive logistics parks, making sure they all earn their eco-friendly badges. She’s also the go-to person for companies and campuses aiming for near-zero status in energy, water, waste and carbon — because why stop at just “green” when you can aim for “practically invisible”?
Outside the world of design and sustainability, Nihar is a campus dynamo, balancing her time between academic responsibilities and leadership roles. She’s a key player on the Graduate Student Advisory Committee (GSAC) for Carnegie Mellon Architecture and is currently rocking her second term as the Vice-President of Finance for the Graduate Student Assembly (GSA) at CMU.
Meet a coffee-fueled adventurer who believes life is best lived one espresso shot at a time. Her idea of a perfect day? A new recipe to conquer in the kitchen, a fresh brew and a stack of manga or an anime marathon queued up. Basically, Nihar is a foodie-fueled, coffee-powered, manga-loving anime machine!
Research Interests
- Life cycle assessment (LCA)
- Bio-based materials
- Indoor environmental quality (IEQ)
Fall 2024 Teaching
This course is an introduction to the importance of the indoor environment and human health and productivity. Throughout the semester, the course lectures challenge students’ intellectual curiosity as it relates to the built environment.
Advisors
Associate Professor, CBPD Co-Director & DDes Track Chair
Associate Teaching Professor & AECM Track Chair
