On December 14th TEX-FAB initiated the construction of a half scaled model of Minimal Complexity in the Digital Fabrication Lab at the University of Texas Arlington. This process was the result of a 3-week collaborative conversation conducted with Vlad Tanu, the winning designer of the REPEAT design competition. The TEX-FAB Co-Directors & Vlad collectively worked through design development issues to resolve fabrication and assembly questions prior to full-scale construction.
On October 12th Brad Bell delivered a public lecture at the University of Oklahoma entitled “Hybridization, Aggregation, Computation” as part of the semester long series called Managing Dilemmas: Net-Zero Energy / Eco Footprint in the Built Environment. Brad lectured on the application of digital technology and parametric modeling as a method by which performative criteria may be integrated into the architectural design process to provide optimized solutions.
On September 25th Brad Bell and students from the UTA School of Architecture hosted a 4-hour workshop on 3D printing as part of the C3 Encountering Space Exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art. Several hundred visitors were introduced to the application of this technology through architectural models and direct demonstration. The workshop was supported through the generous assistance of the following students: Lance Abaya, Heather Stoker, Jon Holden, Matt Crowly and Stephen Bundy.
Brad visited UTSA on March 26th to give a lecture on the work being done at UTA. Brad spoke about the TEX-FAB effort and the success of the February workshops, the impact on the school and within the architectural community there. His lecture covered a broad range of topics nested within the discourse of digital design, its implementation and processes. Additionally Brad lead a day-long workshop that covered both 2D and 3D parametric techniques within Adobe, Rhino/ Paneling Tools which resulted in small laser cut prototypes and digital structures.
Students from UHCOA and UTA worked together as a Collaborative Studio this past Spring on a “nested” development project. The UH students designed the Transit Hub and the UTA students worked on the mid-rise mixed use complex attached. Sean Garrison and Evan Sheets worked on an impressive scheme that shared some parametric skin systems and formal organization. Sean’s final review and model.
The TEX-FAB initiative is featured in the May/June issue of Texas Architect
The students at University of Texas Arlington have initiated preliminary investigations into the design and production of a display system for the Partial Architectures Exhibit set to open concurrently with the TEX-FAB Workshop. The exhibition will be up on February 2nd, 2009 with the formal reception taking place on Friday February 5th, 2009 @ 6:00pm on the second floor of the architecture building.
Scheme 01
Scheme 02
Scheme 03
Scheme 04
Scheme 05
Minimal Complexity Optimization Model Concludes
Over 2,300 parts were cut and assembled into 144 sets of 16. The sets were then configured into 27 different sub-assemblies that were put into place to complete the final piece. The half-scale model stands just over 7 feet tall and will remain at UTA as a teaching model for future digital fabrication courses. The TEX-FAB Directors would like to thank the following UTA students for their participation in the optimization model construction: Janelle A. Brathewaite, Amy Brooks, Stephen Bundy, Naomi Contreras, Austin Fleming, Navid Tehrani, Rachel Kluger-Weston, & Hai-Lin Yang.