Jenny Y.

About Jenny Y.

Jenny (Xinyu) Ye is a third-year Master of Architecture student at Cornell University specializing in energy performance, housing retrofits, and the evolving demands of urban living. With a background in psychology and design from the University of British Columbia, she studies how architecture, human behavior, and environmental performance intersect and shape one another.At Cornell’s ReAL Regenerative Lab, Jenny researches sustainable housing futures by examining historical building types, energy codes, and retrofit pathways across New York State. Her ongoing work directly informs her thesis, which explores the origins of New York City’s brownstone typology, its adaptation to shifting standards of modern living, and the technical, economic, and carbon implications of upgrading these structures to meet contemporary expectations of comfort and energy efficiency. Her goal is to develop a practical and replicable retrofit methodology that bridges performance, cost, and long-term carbon impact, enabling homeowners and small developers to make informed, sustainable decisions.Beyond research, Jenny brings extensive experience in digital fabrication and technical operations. She manages 3D printing systems, develops workflow guidelines, and supports daily operations in Cornell’s NYC fabrication shop, where she oversees equipment use, trains students, and maintains a consistent digital-to-physical production workflow.Across all facets of her work, Jenny is committed to advancing a built environment that is low-carbon, energy-intelligent, and human-centered. She aims to create accessible tools and strategies that help scale high-performance retrofits across housing and support equitable decarbonization.

Experience

1. Architectural Intern

   Rebuild Workshop

   Sep 2025 — Present · Brooklyn, NY, US

   Produced detailed drawing sets, including interior elevations, plans, and sections, for residential retrofit projects across schematic design, design development, and DOB permitting phases-Documented existing conditions and developed Revit models for brownstones and multifamily buildings, supporting design decisions related to layout, material selection, and retrofit feasibility-Assisted project architects in preparing filing documents for DOB submissions, gaining experience with NYC code compliance, permit workflows, and regulatory constraints in retrofit work-Supported team workflows through technical drafting, documentation updates, and communication with consultants and fabricators.

Education

• The University of British Columbia

  Bachelor of Design, Architecture

  2018

• Cornell University

  Master of Architecture - MArch, Architecture