Researcher, Concept Designer, Industrial Designer, Manufacturing Engineer
COLLABORATORS
MJ Mayo, Ian Backstrom, Greg Reeseman
CONTEXT
"Flow" is a 45-foot-long architectural facade designed to elevate an outdoor event space.
Comprised of 45 additively manufactured panels, the facade's dynamic twists create a visually striking partition between the event space and the public. Manufactured within 1 mile of the site, it utilized 100% locally sourced recycled materials.Key Insights
The design process started by identifying the client’s needs through thoughtful conversation to define core requirements. Achieving a balance between aesthetics, manufacturability, and assembly constraints was crucial to staying within budget and meeting the timeline.
The challenge was to keep costs low and visual impact high.
application
The concept utilizes OTS components for joints;
I designed five unique panels that could be arranged in various patterns, enabling a modular yet personalized solution. This approach facilitated efficient visualization, production, and assembly.
The concept utilizes OTS components for joints;
the only custom parts are 3D printed panels.
impact
The project progressed from the initial scope of work to final installation in a sprint. Integrating digital engineering tools and advanced manufacturing techniques into our process enabled this rapid execution. Minimizing downtime allowed the client to maintain scheduled events while transforming their space in record time.
We went from render to reality in 4 weeks.
learnings + next steps
Printing objects with a small footprint that stand 6ft tall proved to be a challenge, and we were not able to manufacture at the speeds estimated during simulation. Increasing the cross-sectional size of the steel posts used in the installation would have reduced manufacturing time at a nominal cost.
Printing objects with a small footprint that stand 6ft tall proved to be a challenge, and we were not able to manufacture at the speeds estimated during simulation. Increasing the cross-sectional size of the steel posts used in the installation would have reduced manufacturing time at a nominal cost.