Abstract Efficient computational tools are developed to model, visualize, and feel the structural-acoustics of shells in a virtual reality environment. These tools aim at building the structural-acoustic models of shells from an array of basic building blocks including: beams, shells, and stiffeners. The concepts of finite element analysis, sub-structuring, model reduction, meta-modeling, and parallel computations form the main steps to be followed for building simplified computational models of complex shell systems. The resulting models are particularly suitable for the efficient application of multi-criteria optimization techniques in order to select the optimal design parameters of these complex shell systems. The developed integrated analysis tools enable the engineers to design complex systems in a cost effective and a timely manner. Furthermore, engineers will be immersed in an audio-visually coupled tele-operated environment whereby direct interaction and control of the design process can be achieved. In this manner, the behavior of synthetic models of shells can be monitored by literally walking through the shell and adjusting its design parameters as needed to ensure optimal performance while satisfying design and operational requirements. For example, engineers can move electronic wands to vary the number, size, type, and location of stiffeners in the shell, monitor the resulting structural-acoustic visually or by haptic feedback and simultaneously listen to the radiated sound pressure field. Such manipulations of the virtual shells in the scene are carried out while the engineer is navigating through and around the shell to ensure that the vibration and sound levels, at any critical locations, are within the acceptable limits. The developed integrated approach also serves as a means for virtual training of students and engineers on designing and operating complex smart structures on the site as well as through collaborative efforts with other virtual reality sites. Such unique capability will enable engineers to design prototypes of expensive vehicles without building them. Examples of these vehicles include aircraft, submersibles, torpedoes, and others that can share this virtual experience and can be profoundly impacted upon by the proposed approach. The presented optimal design approach is implemented in the Virtual Reality CAVE Laboratory at the University of Maryland that is controlled by an eight parallel processor Silicon Graphics Infinite Reality (ONYX2) computer.