DALLAS/ FORT WORTH, UTA SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE
THURSDAY, 02/27/13 THROUGH SUNDAY, 03/03/13

This years workshops pushed the boundaries on many fronts. It was our most ambitious with a 4-day workshop led by Mode Collective with attendees traveling from as far as Rome, Italy. We also leveraged the network to once again bring in the best people possible from around the country, with Chris Lasch from Aranda\Lasch, Case Inc.’s David Fano and Nathan Miller, Jason Kelly Johnson from Future-Cities-Lab, Travis McCarra from Buffalo Design and finally Jon Bailey, Ben Compton and Ryan Gathmann from HKS|Line Studio. With all the workshops sold out satisfaction and interest were at a high for TEX-FAB 5. Stay tuned.

CRAFTING MATERIAL EFFECTS
STUDIO COLLECTIVE
Crafting Material Effects illustrated an approach to design and making that centers on an association between processes of craft production, whereby the hand is the primary means of information exchange, and computational techniques, characterized by the deployment of procedural logic and iterative working methods. In our practice design is always structured around this coupleing, enabling each project to embark on a path of discovery while still allowing for precise mechanism of control. Our use of contemporary tools and technology is mediated by this condition and a hands-on approach to design and making.

PARAMETRIC DESIGN FUNDAMENTAL
TRAVIS MCCARRA
The Parametric Architecture Fundamentals workshop covered the essentials of basic and parametric 3D modeling by taking two designs from start to finish using Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Vray, Adobe Illustrator, and Weaverbird. The first day’s sessions centered around re-creating the 2010 Shanghai Expo Spanish Pavilion by modeling the form, panelizing the facade, and rendering drawings and images for presentation. The second day focused on rapid-prototyping a personalized case for the iPhone5 by inputting the subject dimension, modeling a parametric skin, fit-checking, and exporting for production.

BEYOND PAVILION ARCHITECTURE
HKS|LINE Studio (Jon Bailey, Ben Compton and Ryan Gathmann)
This intermediate workshop focused on the utilization of parametric software aimed at an integrated project workflow via the customization of software tools and components for real-world large-scale built projects. By means of creating custom components that aim to increase efficiency, profitability and productivity from the initial design stages through completion of an architectural project. The workshop explored, through case studies and hands-on instruction, the use and implementation of the parametric modeler Grasshopper, scripting platform Python, and BIM modeler Revit.

DESIGN SCRIPTING
CHRIS LASCH
This workshop provided an introduction to using Python for Rhino. Attendees were led through a progressive series of tutorials and design exercises to provide an overview of Python syntax, data management and script control within the context of Rhino’s scripting facilities. Attendees learned to automate Rhino through its Python script editor, and learn how to build a scripted component in Grasshopper and integrate it into the flow of a GH definition.

ROBOTIC PROTOTYPES
JASON KELLEY JOHNSON
This workshop explored the use of Grasshopper, Firefly and Arduino as creative and technical tools in the design, simulation and fabrication of robotic architectural prototypes, responsive building systems and intelligent skins. Firefly is a new set of comprehensive software tools dedicated to bridging the gap between Grasshopper, the Arduino micro-controller, the internet and beyond. It allows near real-time data flow between the 3D digital and physical worlds, and will read/write data to/from internet feeds, remote sensors, connect with machine vision protocols, and more.

WORKFLOW RIGGING
DAVID FANO / NATE MILLER
In this workshop, Dave and Nate from Case Design Inc worked with participants to implement design and documentation workflows spanning Rhino Grasshop- per and Revit. Participants designed a conceptual parametric bridge system in Grasshopper with multiple variables and parameters. They then implemented workflow strategies for translating the Grasshopper systems into native Revit. Elements including massing forms and adaptive components which can be documented and scheduled.