Joe Wheeler honored with emeritus status
Joe Wheeler M.Arch. '98, professor of architecture in the College of Architecture, Arts, and Design at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors.
The emeritus title may be conferred on retired faculty members who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands in recognition of exemplary service to the university. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive a copy of the resolution and a certificate of appreciation.
A member of the Virginia Tech community for more than 32 years, Wheeler made significant contributions as a recognized innovator in the areas of housing industrialization, environmental sustainability, and technology integration.
He was the co-founder and co-director of the Center for Design Research beginning in 2011 and served as lead investigator for four major Solar Decathlon projects, five Solar Decathlon competitions, and multiple research initiatives. Additionally, for more than two decades, he guided student researchers and collaborated with industry, government, and academic partners to address global housing challenges through smart, efficient, affordable, and sustainable design.
Wheeler’s work has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards, including the HIVE 100 Award from Builder Magazine, the American Institute of Architects Honor Award, the National Council of Architectural Recognition Boards Prize, the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects Research Prize, and the XCaliber University Prize for Excellence in Outreach.
He led Virginia Tech’s interdisciplinary teams in multiple competitions, including the LumenHAUS project, which won the 2010 Solar Decathlon Europe title in Madrid in 2010 and received the American Institute of Architects Architecture Award in 2012. Wheeler also led the FutureHAUS project, which won the 2018 Solar Decathlon Middle East competition and was invited to exhibit at the 2020 World EXPO.
In the classroom, Wheeler taught a wide variety of undergraduate and graduate classes in the areas of architecture design.
Wheeler received his bachelor’s degree in architecture from Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University and his master’s degree in architecture from Virginia Tech.
Written by Emily Southern ’26
