Professor and architect Patricia Harrison focuses her research on the design of housing and other service facilities for low-income families in non-urban communities. To accomplish her research she collaborates with nonprofit housing and community groups to develop affordable housing projects. In this process she works with low-income families to design projects that address their cultural and lifestyle needs, while incorporating issues of energy efficiency and creative use of building materials within very restrictive budget and site constraints.In the past she has been involved with development of over 200 dwelling units and her current projects will add another 188 units of housing to the total.

Pat was the Chair of the Design Program/Department for nine years. During that time she led the transfer of Design from the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to the College of Letters and Sciences (HARCS); initiated the designation from a program to a department; and with Professor Michael Siminovitch established the California Lighting Technology Center. 

Client groups she has worked with include farm workers, Southeast Asian immigrants, senior citizens, homeless groups, and mentally and physically disabled individuals.