Guest Editors:
Katherine A. Liapi, Ph.D., Professor, University of Patras, Greece
Jason E. Charalambides, Ph.D., P.E., M.ASCE, R.A., ENV SP, Avant-Garde Engineering, LLC

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in building structures that are able to change their form to meet new needs, and/or be transformed from compact to fully expanded configurations, which can be designed as load-bearing structural systems. Such structures can have a positive impact on the economy of environmental resources, as they offer an alternative solution to massive building structures, minimize the required workforce and the total construction and erection energy, and are often reusable and adaptable. They can be implemented as temporary structures, such as emergency shelters, traveling exhibits, movable theaters, and temporary storage facilities. The following classes of structures can be used for such applications, despite their significant differences in spatial and/or kinematic conception: Scissor-hinge Linkage Systems, Structural Rigid-Origami, Tensegrity, and Reciprocal Frame structures. Other potential applications of reconfigurable structures include building systems or parts that change shape and form to adapt to different functions, or environmental conditions, such as dynamic façade or retractable roof systems. Rapidly assembled structures also fall in this category as they can replace traditional construction systems when safety and/or erection or construction time are of critical importance. Modular construction, including robotically fabricated structures from interlocking structural elements for extraterrestrial environments, belong to this category. More specifically, this special collection compiles high quality papers that explore related topics such as: critical design issues including geometric and kinematic conception, assembly, erection and deployment methods, morphological studies, geometric modeling, kinematic simulations, structural analysis methods, environmental performance evaluation, constructability and fabrication processes, as well as challenges and drawbacks in their design, analysis and applications in the building sector.