Computer-Aided Design and Manufacturing, Robotic Fabrication, and Construction Automation

Applications in Architecture and Design

Faculty at the Harvard Design School have long been involved in educational and research activities directed towards CAD/CAM applications in architecture and design. The school has offered coursework in the area since 1991. It has also sponsored three major symposia in this area (see Design and Technology Report Series, New Technologies in Design: Digital Design and Manufacturing Techniques I, II and III.) Faculty involved in the school's CAD/CAM initiative have co-authored a major book in the area (Digital Design and Manufacturing: Applications in Architecture and Design, John Wiley & Sons, NJ, 2004). Recently the work has been expanded to robotics and construction automation. Research projects include the Mobile Information Unit and Surfacing Stone, a study that lead to the installation of a robotically fabricated stone shell.

Research themes vary, but include the following:

CAD/CAM in relation to specific materials

A current research project is the shaping of natural stone using the GSD's recently aquired abrasive CNC waterjet, a robotically controlled system. The objective is the development of a translucent stone facade system. The study is being conducted by Monica Ponce de Leon, Martin Bechthold, and Wes McGee as part of their course GSD 6416 'Surfacing Stone'. Performative as well as aesthetic aspects are equally considered.

Doctoral theses in this area include:

Ruhl, Volker, Computer-Aided Design & Manufacturing of Complexly Shaped Concrete Formwork, Thesis Advisor – Spiro Pollalis
Rotheroe, Kevin, The Computer-Aided Design and Manufacture of Complexly Shaped Metal Architectural Framed Structures, Thesis Advisor – Daniel Schodek;
Martin Bechthold, Complex Shapes in Wood: Computer-Aided Design & Manufacture of Wood Sandwich Roof Shells; Thesis Advisor – Daniel Schodek
Yon Gib Yun, Structural Composite Members in Architecture Using CAD/CAE/CAM Technology, Thesis Advisor – Daniel Schodek
Jeng Neg Fan, Shape Memory Polymers for Furniture, Thesis Advisor – Daniel Schodek

CAD/CAM in relation to design processes, parametric design and product modeling

See, for example, the following Doctoral Theses:

Cardennas, Carlos, Product Modeling Environments and Design, Thesis Advisor – Daniel Schodek
Gerber, David, Parameterization & Human Computer Interaction in Architectural Conceptual Design, Thesis Advisor – Jeffrey Huang
Jordan Brandt, Mobile Fabrication of Complex Envelopes, Thesis Advisor – Martin Bechthold

3D models and CAD/CAM in relation to project management

See, for example, the following Doctoral Thesis:

Matsushi, Shiro, Collaboration in Architectural Design: An IT Perspective, Thesis Advisor – Spiro Pollalis
Ku, Kihong, Thesis Advisor – Spiro Pollalis

Product Design applications

See Prototyping for a Plywood Wheelchair and other work by Marco Steinberg