Marianne Saab

• Led UT Austin's submission for the Housing Innovation Challenge, a national design-build competition in partnership with the City of Charlotte focused on affordable offsite housing. Our entry, the Fresh Air House, is a modular-panelized proposal that reduces conditioned space by up to 50% through a central open-air great room, targeting households at or below 80% AMI. • Developed the full Phase 1 Implementation Plan: bottom-up cost estimating ($150–$175/SF delivered), H.O.M.E. framework analysis, 18-month development schedule, and Charlotte-area partner/supplier strategy. Research covered zoning compliance, ICC/MBI offsite standards, modular logistics, biobased materials, and solar PV feasibility. • Selected as one of 10 finalist teams advancing to Phase 2 out of 33 submissions nationwide, with the Fresh Air House advancing toward a full-scale demonstration at the Housing Innovation Summit in October 2027.

The Urban Information Lab, directed by Dr. Junfeng Jiao at The University of Texas at Austin, focuses on data-driven urban research. As part of The Equitable Technologies for Housing Innovation Center (ETHIC) in collaboration with HUD, I conducted research on affordable housing, land development, and urban planning using GIS, spatial analysis, and digital modeling to support data-informed decision-making. • Equity Score Analysis: Developed a composite equity score for affordable housing in Austin by integrating accessibility, diversity, clustering, and cost burden indices. This GIS-based tool helps map housing inequities and provides quantitative insights for policy recommendations. • ADU Digital Twin: Developed a GIS-based interactive tool that allows developers and policymakers to assess where Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) can be built across Austin by analyzing zoning regulations, land costs, and prefab feasibility at the parcel level. Manuscript under review at Applied Spatial Analysis and Policy.

• Supported project management on mixed-use, multifamily, and office relocation projects by attending OAC meetings, preparing minutes, tracking follow-ups, documenting progress, and assisting with site visits and punch-list tasks • Assisted with RFPs, vendor coordination, and FF&E procurement, including bid evaluations and comparison matrices • Contributed to pro forma reviews, budget/scope tracking, and internal documentation • Firmwide Capstone: Conducted competitive benchmarking research with interns nationwide and presented findings to leadership

Researched sustainable demolition and material reuse under Dr. Chris Rausch as part of a UT Austin Green Fund study on the Frank Erwin Center deconstruction. • Conducted literature reviews on material recovery, waste diversion, and circular economy strategies. • Assisted in on-site material cataloging to establish a hierarchy of reusable components. • Processed LiDAR-based digital field data and performed quantity take-offs from 3D point clouds. • Contributed to the final published report, serving as a model for sustainable deconstruction in urban redevelopment.

Member, McCombs Real Estate Center — participated in industry treks, networking events, and speaker series with real estate professionals.