Research at the School of Architecture is usually associated with one or more of the following Research Centers:

Design Research & Informatics Lab (DRIL)
(www.dril.coa.msstate.edu)

The Design Research and Informatics Lab is a multi-platform visualization web based design and cad cam environment for carrying out interdisciplinary research projects. In this environment digital modeling, visualization, and web based communication tools are developed and applied in new ways and in novel areas. Projects done in DRIL include website development, software design and development, 3D modeling and visualization, and animation. The lab supports various research and outreach activities involving faculty, graduate, and undergraduate students.

The Educational Design Institute (EDI)
(www.edi.msstate.edu)

The Educational Design Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing school planners, administrators and staff the resources to fully capitalize on opportunities to better their schools. The Educational Design Institute, in collaboration with students, parents, educators, school administrators, school boards and communities, promotes and encourages the creation of safe, accessible, flexible and developmentally-appropriate learner-centered environments that will challenge and motivate our students' minds, strengthen their bodies, and commit them to their communities.

The Carl Small Town Center (CSTC)
(www.smalltown.sarc.msstate.edu)

Through interdisciplinary activities, the Center seeks to 1) find opportunities through research and service to link Center activities to the towns of Mississippi in order to foster improved design and quality of life; 2) serve as a national forum for gathering, storing, disseminating and applying information pertinent to significant small town issues; 3) initiate theoretical and applied research; 4) provide an arena for teaching, learning and designing with an emphasis on town planning and design to address a wide range of issues that focus on improving quality of life; and 5) provide university students with town planning, design research and service opportunities.

The Jackson Community Design Center (JCDC ) (www.coa.msstate.edu/jackson/index.html)

As a service component of the School and as a specific outreach of the fifth-year program, the Jackson Community Design Center brings design services to those who demonstrate a need. The mission of the Center is to provide architectural design guidance, leadership, and support to non-profit organizations and individuals working toward improving the public realm. Additionally, the Design Center offers educational programs to the public and works with fourth- and fifth-grade children in the Jackson Public Schools. Finally the Design Center strives to promote generally the profession of architecture, in general.