Department of Architecture

Academic qualification

• Ph.D. in Civil Engineering, 2015-2019, Construction Engineering & Management Division, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa. Sri Lanka.
• PG Dip. In Urban Design, 2013-2014, Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. Sri Lanka
• B. [Arch] – Bachelor of Architecture Degree, 2007- 2012, (First class), Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. Sri Lanka.

Non-academic qualification and professional training

• GREENSL® AP, 2015,
  Associate Professional of Green Building Council, Sri Lanka (GBCSL) – ASSP-09-529
• Successfully completed professional training programme on consultant development in ISO 50001:2018, Energy Management System (EnMS) conducted on February, 2020 by National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka.

Professional qualifications/ Affiliations

• Associate Member of Institute of Architects, Sri Lanka (SLIA) – CA 15186
• Associate Professional of Green Building Council, Sri Lanka (GBCSL) – ASSP-09-529
• Life Member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) – 10090/C
• Member of Institute of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka ( IEPSL) – M00681
• Associate Member of Institute of Urban Designers in Sri Lanka (IUD)

• Advanced Construction Technology
• Sustainable Design & Alternative Technology
• Urban Design
• Urban Climate and Climate Sensitive Design
• Office Management
• Construction Contract Administration

Current research

• Earthen thin shell slab systems for low-cost housing in Sri Lanka
• Fabric Mud-Concrete
• Textile reinforced Mud-Concrete
• 3D printing through Mud-Concrete technology
• Opinion Mining relating to Green Building Rating Systems in Sri Lanka
• Developing educational models to enhance knowledge on sustainability applications in buildings

Other research involvements

• Working as a team member of the research project conducted under Erasmus+ grant from 2019 to date. Project Title: Integrating education with consumer behaviour relevant to energy efficiency and climate change at the Universities of Russia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (BECK) – (http://beck-erasmus.com/index.php/about-project/)

Journals

• Rathnayake, R. M. A., Jayasinghe, R., Nanayakkara, I., Arooz, R., & Halwatura, R. (2021). Developing singly-curved earthen slab system for houses using mud-concrete. 214–220.
• Arooz, F. R., Abeyrathna, M., Gunawardana, A., Jayasinghe, R. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2021). Perceptions of Civil Engineering Undergraduates on Using Learning Management System (LMS) and Zoom Platform for Online Design Studio Teaching.
• Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2017). Mud-Concrete Block (MCB): Mix design & Durability characteristics. Case Studies in Construction Materials.
• Galabada, G. H., Rajapaksha, M., Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. (2019). Identifying the Impact of Concrete Specimens Size and Shape on Compressive Strength: A Case Study of Mud Concrete. Engineering, Technology & Applied Science Research, 9(5), 4667– 4672.
• Gunawardana, A., Arooz, F. R., Peramunugamage, A., & Halwatura, R. U. (2020). Critical analysis of lecturer’s perception on integrating concepts of sustainability in university curricular. Integrated Science Education Journal, 1(3), 109–121. 
• Manufacturing framework and Cost optimization for Building Mud concrete
• Blocks (MCB), Methodology, 2016, Volume:12, Pages : 1- 13

Conference Proceedings

• Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2019). Life cycle costing and embodied energy analysis of self-compacting in-situ cast mud-concrete load-bearing walling system (MCW) – An innovative earth based walling material application for energy efficient buildings. iiSBE Forum of Young Researchers in Sustainable Building 2019, 98–107. 
• Arooz, F. R., Ranasinghe, A. W. L. H., & Halwatura, R. U. (2015). Mud-Concrete Block Constructon : Community centers for war victim communities in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. In Making built environments responsive (pp. 186–200). Colombo,Sri Lanka: Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka. 
• Arooz, F. R., Madujith, S. C., Mendis, M. S., Nandapala, K., & Halwatura, R. U. (2018). DEFINING THE EFFECTIVE SIZE AND PROPORTIONS OF A MUD-CONCRETE BLOCK. Emerging Technologies for Industrial Sustenance, 171–175. 
• Arooz, F. R., Perera, K. L. T. ., Madujith, S. C., & Halwatura, R. U. (2018). Experimental investigation on the optimal lifting height of a self-compacting in-situ cast mud-concrete load-bearing wall segment. In Sustainability for people – envisaging multi-disciplinary solution (pp.346–353). Galle, Sri Lanka. 
• Arooz, F. R., Babilegedara, T. D., & Halwatura, R. U. (2017). Effect of Aggregate Percentage on Compressive Strength of Self-Compacting In-Situ Cast Mud – Concrete Load Bearing Walls (p. 48). Presented at the 3rd International MERCon 2017, University of Moratuwa,Sri Lanka: IEEE.
• Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016). Mud-concrete block: A sustainable building material for green construction in developing countries. In National Conference on Green Practices 2016 (p. 36). Water’s Edge,Battharamulla,Sri Lanka.
• Arooz, F. R., Udawattha, C., & Halwatura, R. U. (2017). Community empowerment through Mud-Concrete Technology Sustainable building techniques to revitalise the war victim communities in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. In World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2017, Hong Kong (Vol. 17). Hong Kong: Construction Industry Council and Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited. 
• Rukshan, R., Nanayakkara, I., Arooz, R., & Halwatura, R. (2019). Catalan Vault Inspired Earthen Slab System for Houses in Sri Lanka: Form-Finding. Challenges, Trends and Opportunities of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVAT), 3–8. 
• Mendis, M. S., Arooz, R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2019). Being Tectonic: Social Innovation Through Mud-concrete (MC) Technology. 2019 From Innovation to Impact (FITI), 1–5. 
• Suluxan, S., Nanayakkara, I., Arooz, R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2020). A Preliminary Study on Fabric Formwork for a Mud-concrete Slab System. 2020 Moratuwa Engineering Research Conference (MERCon), 84–89. 
• Perera, N. G. R., Emmanuel, M. P. R., & Arooz, F. R. (2012). Indoor Comfort Implications of Urban Microclimate: Case study of office buildings in Colombo. In Emerging Built Environments: Reflections of Culture, Technology and Politics in Space (Vol. 04, pp. 135–146). Galle, Sri Lanka: Faculty of Architecture Research Unit, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka.
• Bandara, B. V. D., Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016). Investigation of thermal optimization of Mud-Concrete. In Civil engineering research symposium-2016 (pp. 58– 61). University of Mortuwa: Faculty of Engineering.
• Bandara, D. M. H., Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016). Effect of Gravel size on strength of Mud-Concrete. In Civil engineering research symposium-2016 (pp. 62–65). University of Mortuwa: Faculty of Engineering.
• Udawattha, C., Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016a). Energy content of walling materials- A comparison of Mud-Concrete Blocks, Bricks, Cabook and Cement Blocks on tropics. In Sustainable Buildings and Infrastructures (Vol. 7). Earl’s Regency, Kandy
• Udawattha, C., Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016b). Manufacturing framework and cost optimization for Building Mud-Concrete Blocks. In Science for the people: Mobilizing Modern Technologies for Sustainable Development in Asia (pp. 326–331). Colombo, Sri Lanka: National Science Foundation, National Academy of Sciences of Sri Lanka.
• Udawattha, C., Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016c). New earth walling material: Integrating modern technology onto ancient mud wall. In Green Technology, Green Energy & Sustainable Renewable Energy (Vol. 7). Earl’s Regency hotel, Kandy, Sri Lanka.

Published Abstracts

• Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016). Mud-concrete block: A sustainable building material for green construction in developing countries. National Conference on Green Practices 2016, 36. 

Poster presentation

• Arooz, F. R., Udawattha, C., & Halwatura, R. U. (2017). Community empowerment through Mud-Concrete technology Sustainable building techniques to revitalise the war victim communities in Batticaloa, Sri Lanka. World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2017, Hong Kong, 17. 
• “TECNO”, Poster presentation and product display – Product “Self-compacting in-situ cast Mud-Concrete load-bearing system & Modular formwork system”, 2016 and 2018 at Colombo.
• Exhibition on Green construction organized by GBCSL, Poster presentation and Product display – Product “Self-compacting in-situ cast Mud-Concrete load-bearing system & Modular formwork system”, 2016 at Colombo.

Full paper presentation in conferences

• Arooz,F.R., & Rupasinghe, H.T., (2019). “Women in Architecture- Reference to Sri Lankan context”, presented at the 2nd International Conference on FUTURE OF WOMEN ’19 held on February 14th-15th, Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Journals (non-referred)

• The Acquiring of Two Patents, ‘Vidya’-Official News Paper Ministry of the Science, Technology and Research, December 27th of 2017, Sri Lanka, Page:06 (http://www.mostr.gov.lk/web/images/pdf/2017/english_dec_2017.pdf)
• Self-compacting in-situ cast Mud-Concrete loadbearing walling system, Vidya’-The quarterly newsletter of the National Science Foundation, Volume 22, No-01, March 2020, (ISSN- 1391-4367)
  (http://www.nsf.ac.lk/images/pdf/Vidya-Newsletter/Vidya-Volume-2201.pdf)
• Down to Earth – Self- Compacting In-situ Cast Mud-Concrete load bearing walling System, ‘Vidya’-Magazine- Ministry of the Science, Technology and Research, November 13th -2019, Sri Lanka, Page:09 (https://www.mostr.gov.lk/web/images/magazine_thumbnails/2019/nov/vidya_nov_en-min.pdf)
• Where do faith and Architecture meet? A journey through religious Architecture – Pictorial,-The Architect – Journal of Sri Lanka Institute of Architects , APRIL – JUNE 2016 | Volume 117 | Issue 2torial (http://slia.info/sliaweb/thearchitect/index.html#)
• Self-compacting in-situ cast mud-concrete load bearing walling system, Sri Lankan Consulting Engineer, March 2020, Page: 04 (https://www.acesl.org/download/newsletters/Newsletter35-March-2020.pdf)
• ‘Ahikuntika’ , The Architect – Journal of Sri Lanka Institute of Architects , APRIL – JUNE 2014| (http://slia.info/sliaweb/thearchitect/index.html#)

Articles for online journals (non-referred)

• ‘Ahikuntika’ – Sri Lankan Nomad Community Cultural Centre, ARCHALLEY, 2017, https://www.archalley.com/2017/05/04/ahikuntika/
• Mud Concrete Wall (MCB) for wall construction – UN- Habitat Sri Lanka, Sustainable Construction Using Alternative Technologies, 2016,
  (https://unhabitat.lk/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Mud-Concrete-Blocks-MCB-for-Wall-Construction.pdf)
• Building Environmentally Friendly Community Infrastructure: Multi-Purpose Community Centre, Batticaloa District, UN – Habitat Sri Lanka, 2015,
  (http://unhabitat.lk/news/project-for-rehabilitation-north-east-news/building-environmentally-friendly-community-infrastructure-multi-purpose-community-centre-batticaloa-district/)

Patents

• Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2016). Self-Compacting in-situ cast Mud-Concrete load bearing wall system (National Intellectual Property office, Sri Lanka Patent No. 18762).
• Arooz, F. R., & Halwatura, R. U. (2017). Modular Formwork system for in-situ cast walls made out of self-compacting soil-based materials (National Intellectual Property office, Sri Lanka Patent No. 18879).

• Consulting Chartered Architect + Green Associated Profession – Free Lance ( From March 2015 to December 2020)
• Research Assistant at Dept. of civil engineering, University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka (from June, 2015 to February, 2019)
  
  • Grant was awarded from National Science Foundation (NSF), Sri Lanka.
  • Grant Number: RG/2015/EA & ICT/02
  • Project Title: Investigation of Mud-Concrete for in-situ cast load-bearing walls
  • Status: Successfully completed with few research papers published in indexed journals and obtained two patents for the inventions done through the research.
• Chartered Architect at HF Architects, No: 19, First Lane, Kirulopone, Colombo 05, Sri Lanka. (From August 2013 to March 2015)
• Architect – at Prasad Botejue Architects, No: 48/4, Horana road, Miriswatta, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka. (August 2012 to July 2013)
• Trainee Architect at Prasanna Jayalath Associate [Pvt] Ltd, No: 291, Miriswatta, Piliyandala, Sri Lanka. (From September 2009 to October 2010)
• Student Trainee – Research on ancient monuments and buildings – Funded by Archaeological Department, Sri Lanka. (August 2007- October 2007)
• Consultant at Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Years: June – 2019 to January – 2020)
• Visiting Lecturer at Department of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Years: 2013 to 2020)
  
  • Design Tutoring, B.Arch. Level I (Semester I & II), at Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Years: 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020)
  • Design Tutoring, B.Arch. Level II (Semester I & II), at Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Years: 2013/2014, 2014/2015)
  • Design Tutoring, B.Arch. Level IV (Semester II), at Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Years: 2019/2020, 2020/2021)
  • Research/ Thesis Tutoring, B.Arch. Level – V, at Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Years: 2016/2017, 2017/2018)
• Visiting Lecturer at City School of Architecture (CSA), Colombo. (Academic Years: 2017 to 2020)
  
  • Module Name: Sustainable Design & Alternative technology, B.Arch. – Level III, City School of Architecture (CSA), Colombo.
• Visiting Lecturer at University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), Rathmalana. (Academic Years: 2018 to 2020)
  
  • Module Name: Applications to Architecture and Urban Planning, Bachelor of Technology in Construction Technology and Resource Management Semester – III at University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), Rathmalana. (Academic Years: 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021)
  • Module Name: Construction Contract Administration, Bachelor of Technology in Construction Technology and Resource Management – Semester- IV, University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), Rathmalana. (Academic Year: 2018/2019, 2019/2020, 2020/2021)
  • Module Name: Construction Technology – I, Bachelor of Technology in Construction Technology and Resource Management – B-1 Semester- II, University of Vocational Technology (UNIVOTEC), Rathmalana. (Academic Year: 2020/2021)
• Visiting Lecturer at Faculty of Built Environment and Spatial Sciences, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University, Rathmalana (Academic Years: 2019 to 2020)
• Visiting Lecturer at E-soft Engineering College, Katubedda. (Academic Years: 2017 to 2020)
  
  • Module Name: Construction Information, Pearson BTEC level 4&5, Higher National in Construction and Build Environment, E-soft Engineering College, Katubedda. (Academic years: 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020)
• Visiting Instructor at Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa (from 2015 to 2018)
  
  • Building Design Process and Applications, BSc.(Eng.) –Semester II, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, (Academic year- 2015/2016, 2016/2017, 2017/2018)
  • Project Management & Cost Estimation , BSc.(Eng.) –Semester II, Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa, (Academic year- 2016/2017)
• Marking Examiner:
  
  • Built Environment I & II, City & Guilds, Graduate Diploma Examination for the years of 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018
  • Research/ Thesis – Marking examiner, B.Arch. Level – V, Department of Architecture,
  • Faculty of Architecture, University of Moratuwa. (Academic Year 2016/2017, 2017/218)
  • Research Essay – Marking examiner, PART 01- Diploma in Architectural Studies –
  • City School of Architecture (CSA), Colombo. (Academic Year 2017/2018, 2018/2019, 2019/2020)
  • Research/ Thesis – Marking examiner, B.Arch. Level – V, Department of Architecture, Faculty of Architecture, General Sir John Kotelawala Defense University (KDU). (Academic Year 2019/2020)
• Research Team Member:
  
  • Working as a team member of the research project conducted under Erasmus+ grant from 2019 to date.
    
    • Project Title: Integrating education with consumer behaviour relevant to energy efficiency and climate change at the Universities of Russia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh (BECK) – (http://beck-erasmus.com/index.php/about-project/)
  • Training received under the project:
    
    • 3rd Coordination Meeting and Training of Lecturers at Vilnius, Lithuania. (From12th -15th November, 2019)
    • 4th Transnational Project Meeting and Training of Lecturers at Bologna, Italy. Participated on-line (From10th -12th March, 2020)
    • 5th Coordination Meeting and Training of Lecturers and other Stakeholders, Virtual Meeting. Organisers: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), Moscow State University of Civil
    • Engineering (MGSU) and M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) (From 29th -30th June, 2020)
    • 6th Virtual Meeting, Organisers: Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VGTU), (on 23rd September, 2020)
• Research Supervision:
  
  • MSc – Investigation on development of an educational model to enhance knowledge on sustainability applications in buildings (Name of the student – Ms. S.A.S. Gunawardana, Institute – University of Moratuwa) – Ongoing
  • MSc – Construction Methods for Earthen Thin Shell Slab Systems (Name of the student – Mr. R.R. Jayasinghe, Institute – University of Moratuwa) – Ongoing
  • PhD – Opinion Mining for Using Energy Efficient Technologies in Green Buildings in Sri Lanka (Name of the student – Ms. M.P.W.P. Abeyrathna, Institute – University of Moratuwa) – Ongoing
• Worked as a Reviewer for high impact journals:
  
  • Energy and Buildings, Elsevier, https://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy-and-buildings
    (awarded since July 2019)
  • Energy Policy, Elsevier, https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/energy-policy (awarded May, 2017)

• Annual Research Award -2021, Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA)
• Annual Publication Award -2021, Sri Lanka Institute of Architects (SLIA)
• Award of excellence by Sri Lanka Institute of architects for the best overall performance at the Bachelor of architecture examination 2012, at the Inauguration of Annual sessions held on 20th February 2013.
• Gold medal for the Architectural Grandaunt who obtained the highest overall grade point average of 3.8 or above at the Bachelor of Architecture Degree examinations at a convocation 31st July on 2013. [Donated by Sri Lanka Institute of Architects.]
• Presidential awards 2018 – Merit recognition in the field of public work and infrastructure Engineering. (organized by Sri Lanka inventors commission )
  Patent holder:
• Patent: 01) Self-Compacting in-situ cast Mud-Concrete load bearing wall system -2016 (National Intellectual Property office, Sri Lanka Patent No. 18762).
• Patent: 02) Modular Formwork system for in-situ cast walls made out of self-compacting soil-based materials -2017 (National Intellectual Property office, Sri Lanka Patent No. 18879).
• Selected to attend Commonwealth Science Conference (CSC) 2017 held in Singapore as one of the PhD candidates from Sri Lanka. Grant scheme fully funded by Royal Society, UK.
• Selected as a semi-finalist in SLAYS (Sri Lanka Academy of Young Scientists) 3MT Competition in 2018.
• Academic student design project (Year 04 – Semester II) of Nomad community cultural centre which was done to empower, “Ahikuntika”- Gypsy community at Kudagama in 2010 funded by Dilmah Conservation was selected for actual construction under the supervision of public consultancy unit of University of Moratuwa. (commenced in December 2010 – completed in August 2012) – https://www.dilmahconservation.org/initiatives/heritage/conserve-gypsy-heritage.html, https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/54309907/the-ahikuntaka

• Associate Member of Institute of Architects, Sri Lanka (SLIA) – CA 15186
• Associate Professional of Green Building Council, Sri Lanka (GBCSL) – ASSP-09-529
• Life Member of Sri Lanka Association for the Advancement of Science (SLAAS) – 10090/C
• Member of Institute of Environmental Professionals Sri Lanka ( IEPSL) – M00681
• Member of Institute of Urban Designers in Sri Lanka (IUD)