Silas Kalmbach — Researcher & Developer

Hey, my name is Silas. Welcome to my website!

I studied civil engineering at Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences, Universidad de Jaén (Spain), and the University of Stuttgart. From March to June 2025, I joined Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California as a visiting researcher, working on reinforcement learning for building energy systems.

Currently, I am a research and teaching assistant at the Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK) at the University of Stuttgart, where I am completing my doctoral dissertation under Prof. Dr.-Ing. M.Arch. Lucio Blandini.

My research focuses on reinforcement learning for the control of adaptive facade systems, specifically switchable glazing. The goal is to optimize both energy efficiency and occupant comfort (thermal and visual) through intelligent, data-driven control strategies.

Beyond my core research, I am passionate about sustainable architecture, digital manufacturing, and innovative technologies that support a climate-friendly built environment.

Curriculum Vitae

since 07/2019 — Academic Assistant & Doctoral Candidate, ILEK, University of Stuttgart
Doctoral research on reinforcement learning for the control of adaptive facade systems under Prof. Dr.-Ing. M.Arch. Lucio Blandini. Part of the Collaborative Research Centre SFB 1244 (Adaptive Skins and Structures) and the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC (Integrative Computational Design and Construction). Responsible for the institute's Facade Test Building. Teaching design studios such as ILEKlab1244, adaptive textile skins and high-rise design, and supervising 25+ theses in civil engineering and architecture.
- 07/2019 – 08/2022 · Research project Adaptive membrane facade modules — multi-layer, textile and foil-based facade modules
- 01/2023 – 12/2025 · Research project DigiConCyc — energy-efficient, automatable manufacturing of modular, sustainable lightweight buildings
03/2025 – 06/2025 — Visiting Researcher, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, California
Member of the Windows & Daylighting group, focusing on reinforcement learning for facade systems.
10/2016 – 03/2019 — M.Sc. Civil Engineering, University of Stuttgart
Specialization in structural engineering.
- 11/2016 – 02/2017 · Structural design, STARK Ingenieure
- 11/2017 – 10/2018 · Student assistant, Institute for Lightweight Structures and Conceptual Design (ILEK)
- 06/2018 – 07/2018 · Student assistant, Institute of Structural Design (KE)
03/2016 – 11/2016 — Structural Engineer / Project Manager, STARK Ingenieure, Besigheim
09/2011 – 03/2016 — B.Eng. Civil Engineering, Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences (HFT)
Specialization in structural engineering.
- 06/2012 – 02/2013 · Site management, Rahm Project Management Schlüsselfertigbau GmbH
- 02/2013 – 07/2013 · Semester abroad, Universidad de Jaén, Spain
- 08/2013 – 09/2013 · Sawmill Rentschler
- 04/2014 – 05/2014 · Structural design, Julius Berger International GmbH, Wiesbaden
- 05/2014 – 09/2014 · Site management, Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, Abuja
- 05/2015 – 02/2016 · Site management and work preparation, Bilfinger SE, Stuttgart
09/2010 – 07/2011 — Fachhochschulreife
Entrance qualification for universities of applied sciences.
06/2010 – 09/2010 — Design Engineer (Konstrukteur), Ingenieurgesellschaft Bühler mbH, Altensteig
09/2007 – 06/2010 — Apprenticeship as Draftsman, Ingenieurgesellschaft Bühler mbH, Altensteig
Specialization in civil engineering.

Timeline

2026-07 — Outreach: 2nd KI-Stammtisch, AKBW
Second KI-Stammtisch at the AKBW Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg (July 2026): Experts and practitioners joined on-site and online to discuss the practical use of AI agents in architectural offices. I contributed to the panel discussion representing ILEK, University of Stuttgart.
2026-06 — Outreach: KI-Kodex Workshop II, Architektenkammer Berlin
Second KI-Kodex workshop at the Architektenkammer Berlin (June 2026): Concretizing principles and shaping responsibility — refining and prioritizing the regulatory proposals from the first workshop into a clear, practice-oriented compass for the planning profession.
2026-05 — Outreach: KI-Kodex Workshop I, Architektenkammer Berlin
Contributing to the KI-Kodex for the planning professions: At the first workshop hosted by the Architektenkammer Berlin (May 2026), experts from across Germany started developing practical professional guidelines for the responsible use of AI in architecture and planning — covering sustainability, fairness, data protection, copyright, and accountability.
2026-03-03 — Talk: FRADS-GYM: A Reinforcement Learning Framework for Holistic Building Automation with Energy and Daylight Simulation
Silas Kalmbach

deRSE26 — 6th Conference for Research Software Engineering in Germany, Stuttgart

doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18854194

Presenting FRADS-GYM at the deRSE26 conference: A novel reinforcement learning framework that bridges the gap in building control by bringing daylight simulation into the loop. By seamlessly coupling EnergyPlus and Radiance, it empowers researchers to train intelligent agents for adaptive facade control. Optimizing both energy efficiency and visual comfort. A huge step towards reproducible, config-driven research for sustainable architecture.
2026-02-18 — Publication: Thermal behaviour of switchable liquid crystal glazing under real environmental conditions
Silas Kalmbach, Walter Haase, Jens Osterodt, Lucio Blandini

Glass Structures & Engineering 11 (1), Art. 4

doi.org/10.1007/s40940-025-00313-3
2026-02-06 — Software: frads-gym v0.1.1 — Initial Release
Silas Kalmbach

Research software, archived on Zenodo

doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18504305
2025-12-04 — Interview: Adaptive Fassaden: minimaler ökologischer Fußabdruck und maximale klimatische Anpassungsfähigkeit
Building Technologies · Messe Frankfurt

Smart Building Façades for Sustainable Performance: Adaptive systems for energy efficiency and comfort. Exploring how intelligent control strategies can optimize facade behavior.
2025-11-17 — Outreach: Premiere of the KI-Stammtisch, AKBW
Premiere of the AI Roundtable on Nov 17 2025 at AKBW Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg. Discussing the future of AI in architecture. It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas with other architectural offices and researchers on the application of AI in our field.
2025-05-08 — Dataset: Data for: Thermal behaviour of switchable liquid crystal glazing under real environmental conditions
Silas Kalmbach, Walter Haase, Jens Osterodt, Lucio Blandini

DaRUS — Data Repository of the University of Stuttgart

doi.org/10.18419/darus-5044
2024 — Publication: Entwicklung adaptiver Membranfassadenmodule
Walter Haase, Christina Eisenbarth, Silas Kalmbach, Jan Bolay

BBSR-Online-Publikation 83/2024

doi.org/10.58007/cktw-py23
2022-05 — Publication: Ganzheitliche Raumregelungen mit maschinellem Lernen individuell gedacht
Silas Kalmbach, Walter Haase, Lucio Blandini

1. Fachkongress Konstruktiver Ingenieurbau, Technische Akademie Esslingen
2020-09 — Publication: Anwendung von Methoden des maschinellen Lernens zur ganzheitlichen Raumregelung
Silas Kalmbach, Walter Haase, Werner Sobek

BauSIM 2020 — 8th Conference of IBPSA-Germany and Austria, TU Graz

Projects

Research

Exterior view of ILEK's Facade Test Building, which is used for evaluating various facade systems as well as for assessing control algorithms in building automation. ILEK Adaptive Facades
Presenting FRADS-GYM at the deRSE26 conference: A novel reinforcement learning framework that bridges the gap in building control by bringing daylight simulation into the loop. By seamlessly coupling EnergyPlus and Radiance, it empowers researchers to train intelligent agents for adaptive facade control. Optimizing both energy efficiency and visual comfort. A huge step towards reproducible, config-driven research for sustainable architecture.
Sharing our vision at deRSE26: Buildings consume roughly 40% of global energy, and intelligent facades are a powerful lever to change that. FRADS-GYM makes this complex co-simulation accessible to the Research Software Engineering community with a simple 'pip install'.
Smart Building Façades for Sustainable Performance: Adaptive systems for energy efficiency and comfort. Exploring how intelligent control strategies can optimize facade behavior. Read Article
Interior view of the Facade Test Building, showcasing switchable glazing from Merck, model s350. Long-term investigations are conducted here on the thermal behavior of the glazing under real environmental conditions. Additionally, the space serves for evaluating reinforcement learning algorithms. eyrise® Solar
The Facade Test Building in front of D1244 of the Collaborative Research Center CRC1244 SFB1244 Website
EnergyPlus models created using Rhino/Grasshopper for Reinforcement Learning applications, including coupling with Radiance for integrated energy and lighting simulation.
Basic concept of Reinforcement Learning applied to building automation and control systems.
First Reinforcement Learning simulation setup with TRNSYS - 2019. Already featuring a combination of energy and lighting simulation.
DigiConCyc - Development of innovative manufacturing technology for modular energy-efficient lightweight residential buildings. The project aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both production and operation of lightweight construction buildings through automated and sustainable manufacturing processes.

Outreach

Second KI-Stammtisch at the AKBW Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg (July 2026): Experts and practitioners joined on-site and online to discuss the practical use of AI agents in architectural offices. I contributed to the panel discussion representing ILEK, University of Stuttgart. Read Article
Contributing to the KI-Kodex for the planning professions: At the first workshop hosted by the Architektenkammer Berlin (May 2026), experts from across Germany started developing practical professional guidelines for the responsible use of AI in architecture and planning — covering sustainability, fairness, data protection, copyright, and accountability. KI-Kodex — A Compass for Practice
Second KI-Kodex workshop at the Architektenkammer Berlin (June 2026): Concretizing principles and shaping responsibility — refining and prioritizing the regulatory proposals from the first workshop into a clear, practice-oriented compass for the planning profession. Second KI-Kodex Workshop
Premiere of the AI Roundtable on Nov 17 2025 at AKBW Architektenkammer Baden-Württemberg. Discussing the future of AI in architecture. It was a great opportunity to exchange ideas with other architectural offices and researchers on the application of AI in our field. Read Article
Impressions from the AKBW AI Roundtable. Presenting our work and engaging in lively discussions about the potentials and challenges of AI in the building sector. Read Article

Teaching

The ILEKlab at the University of Stuttgart is an established teaching format that equips architecture and civil engineering students with skills for experimental design. The ILEKlab1244 connects design practices directly to the research topics of the Collaborative Research Center 1244, exploring the role of adaptivity in our built environment. Project supervision: Dipl.-Ing. Architektin und Stadtplanerin Irina Auernhammer & M.Sc. Silas Kalmbach. Shown: 'atmosymbiosis' by Mykola Tsyharin, Amay Shah & Lukas Maier (Winter 2020/21) - a project exploring how architectural atmosphere can become a medium of communication between humans and AI through reaction-based modulation. ILEKlab1244
High-rise buildings could address increasing urbanization, with growing demand for urban densification in Germany, particularly in Hamburg. This design studio explores sustainable high-rise solutions for Hamburg, examining social and ecological measures. Building on the winter semester's 'Sustainable Highrise' seminar, architecture and civil engineering students collaborate on architectural parameters, structural components, and sustainability. Top designs have the opportunity to participate in the CTBUH Student Competition. Project leadership: Benedikt Strahm (M.Sc.), Silas Kalmbach (M.Sc.), Dr.-Ing. Stefanie Weidner. Image: © ILEK, High-Rise Design: CapaCity; Anna Konzelmann, Carola Grupp, Jonas Weinbrenner, Quang Anh Bui High-Rise Design Studio
Skills for Future - Interaction and Adaptation Concepts: A four-day block seminar introducing students to innovative techniques in engineering, science, and architecture. Topics include methodological design, AI tools, augmented reality, parametric design, 3D printing, interactive architecture with microcontrollers, and AI development. The seminar at Design Factory Stuttgart (ARENA2036) taught students design thinking methodologies. Project leadership: Silas Kalmbach (M.Sc.) & Amay Shah (M.Sc.). Design Factory Stuttgart
Guest lecture by Jenny Sabin from Cornell University as part of the Skills for Future seminar, providing students with insights into cutting-edge approaches in computational design and adaptive architecture. Jenny Sabin Studio

Spare Time Projects

A foosball table that automatically counts the goals and announces a winner. In case of disagreement between the parties, there is an additional button to increase or decrease the number of goals. Implemented are the international rules of the world federation, as they can be found on Wikipedia.
A retro gaming console and media station in an antique frame. The goal is to build a photo box out of this. But in the meantime, it is used for playing old classics like Worms, Mario Kart or Mario Party.
Paragliding - I completed my A-license in Lüsen, which was an incredible experience. Unfortunately, I rarely find the time to pursue this amazing hobby nowadays.
Montessori Solar System: True-scale planets based on NASA topographical images for tactile learning. Includes all 8 planets plus the sun with realistic surfaces. Each planet features an eyelet for easy attachment. Perfect for young astronomy enthusiasts! Available on Etsy
Montessori Solar System: True-scale planets based on NASA topographical images for tactile learning. Includes all 8 planets plus the sun with realistic surfaces. Each planet features an eyelet for easy attachment. Perfect for young astronomy enthusiasts! Available on Etsy
Montessori Solar System: True-scale planets based on NASA topographical images for tactile learning. Includes all 8 planets plus the sun with realistic surfaces. Each planet features an eyelet for easy attachment. Perfect for young astronomy enthusiasts! Available on Etsy
A variometer for paragliding. Equipped with a temperature sensor, pressure sensor and relative humidity sensor, the values are displayed on a screen, which can also be deactivated to save power. In addition, a small speaker is implemented, which indicates whether the air pressure is rising or falling by using tones.
A notebook whose internal graphics card broke. I have at least breathed new life into the screen by now using it as my second screen in the home office. The portrait format is really good for looking over long texts or program code.