AbstractAn efficient civil infrastructure system is essential to every country's productivity, security, and quality of life. Basic research and development in smart structures and designer materials have shown great potential for enhancing the functionality, serviceability, and increased lifespan of civil infrastructure systems. New construction and the intelligent renewal of ageing and deteriorating civil infrastructure systems include efficient and innovative use of high‐performance designer materials, sensors, actuators, and mechanical and structural systems. High‐performance designer materials, in particular, require new methods of computational materials science, some of which are described herein. In this paper, some examples of National Science Foundation (NSF) funded awards, some examples of National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) ‘designer material’ projects, and future research needs, as well as new research initiatives on nanotechnology, are presented.