Bio
Nolan Hayes is a Research and Development Associate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he's helping redefine the future of building construction. His work focuses on transforming how buildings are designed and constructed, making the process faster, smarter, and more affordable through innovation-driven industrialization.
With a background in construction management and engineering, Dr. Hayes tackles some of the most pressing challenges in modern construction. His research spans a diverse and highly collaborative set of focus areas, including:
- Construction automation and robotics that boost productivity and streamline complex building tasks
- Prefabricated and modular construction strategies that accelerate project timeline and improve scalability
- Artificial intelligence tools that enhance building design, automate quality assurance and control, and enable data-driven decision-making
- Advanced materials and sensing technologies designed for high-performance, resilient building systems
Dr. Hayes earned both his B.S. and Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville with support from the U.S. Department of Energy. He is passionate about translating cutting-edge science into real-world solutions to shape the future of industrialized construction.
Awards
- 2024 R&D 100 Award for Real-Time Evaluator for Fast and Accurate Installation of Prefab Components
- 2019 & 2015 Extraordinary Professional Promise Award, University of Tennessee Knoxville
- 2017 Tennessee Fellowship for Graduate Excellence, University of Tennessee Knoxville
Education
- PhD in Civil Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2020
- BS in Civil Engineering, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2015
Trademarks and Patents
- Hayes NW, Maldonado BP, Hun DE. Flat and Level Analysis Tool (FLAT). Invention Disclosure 202305305.
- Maldonado BP, Hun DE, Hayes NW. FASTER Façade Information for Low Rise to Skyscraper Buildings. Invention Disclosure 202205259.
- Maldonado BP, Hun DE, Hayes NW. Automatic segmentation of point cloud data for building envelopes using machine learning. Invention Disclosure 202205251.
- Hun DE, Wang P, Hayes NW, Maldonado BP, Boudreaux PR, Killough SM. Real-Time Evaluator to Optimize Prefab Retrofit Panel Installation. US Patent App. 18/509,721.
- Hun DE, Hayes NW, Yeole P, Vaidya UK. Composite overclad panels for buildings. US Patent App. 18/375,104.
- Hayes NW, Hun DE, Yeole P, Vaidya U, Ma ZJ. Non-corroding tieback and bearing embedded connector for precast insulated panels. Invention Disclosure 202205129.
- Hun DE, Vaidya U., Sheriff S, Hiremath N, Hayes NW, Ma Z. Oak Ridge National Laboratory, USA. Non-corroding stripping lifting inserts. US Patent 11,661,741.