Innovative Materials in Design
GSD 6409, Lecture, Fall 2007

This course systematically explores innovative materials and their properties. The initial part of the course reviews primary types of materials with a particular emphasis on high performance materials (e.g., carbon fibers). Formal material selection methods based on computer databases are discussed. This part of the course includes a making and load-testing component. The next part of the course addresses smart materials (which exhibit transient or changeable properties that allow a multiplicity of design states), and related smart systems. Students conduct design experiments with different types of property-changing materials. Finally, the provocative world of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies are briefly introduced.

The course is offered in a combined lecture/workshop format. Lectures are normally held on Mondays and workshops on Fridays. There are both individual and team assignments, including a final project.

Innovation in Structure
GSD 6315, Lecture, Spring 2006

In our recent examples of architecture, visions of architects are enhanced by innovative approaches in structures by leading engineers. They engage in early stages of design process and significant dialogue takes place between architects and engineers. The understanding of structures is evolving from static to dynamic; introduction of new and improved materials takes place hand in hand with evaluation and consultation with structural engineers. They observe forces that may not be visible from the surface and they analyze the performative characteristics of buildings. With the rapid developments currently occurring in structural design techniques, and in technology, one of the most fascinating and interesting frontiers in architecture takes place during collaborations with structural engineers.

This course opens up a dialog up with this crucially important set of design engineers. Each year a number of well-known, or in some cases still emerging, set of engineers are invited to give a series of lectures on not only their work (often with well-known architects), but also on their own design ideas. Students also explore some of the structural concepts presented via a series of project documentations directed towards a publication, and physical model building and testing exercises. This year the course will focus both on transformable (shape-changing) structures and on those with highly complex geometries.

Advanced Materials and Technologies
GSD 6208, Lecture, Fall 2005

This course systematically explores materials and their properties. The initial part of the course briefly reviews basic classes of materials (metals, ceramics, polymers and their many derivative types) and their fundamental properties. Both traditional and newer high performance materials (e.g., carbon fiber materials and other composites) are examined. A materials science perspective is introduced that enables students to understand really why materials exhibit different properties and how these same properties can be controlled or manipulated. In the second part of the course, perspectives are introduced on how to both select and design materials for different applications via the use of different kinds of mappings of properties of multidimensional materials, the use of different types of quantitative material characteristic indices, and other techniques. Example applications are drawn from both the product design and architectural fields. The third part of the course addresses smart materials, which exhibit transient or changeable properties that allow a multiplicity of design states to be affected, rather than the singularly optimized states in traditional or high-performance materials. Included here are materials that change their properties in response to variations in different external stimuli (e.g., thermochromics) and materials that are energy-exchanging (e.g., piezoelectric materials that produce electricity when subjected to forces that cause shape changes and vice-versa). The role of these materials in “intelligent” environments is briefly explored. Finally, the provocative world of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies is introduced along with speculations on how developments in these areas promise to impact all design fields.

Re-visions: Recording Architecture
GSD 2413, Seminar, Fall 2004

This course introduces advanced digital media techniques and motion graphics as primary emerging modes of architectural representation. How can our understanding and interpretation of the historically significant in architecture, landscape architecture, and urban design be enhanced by using advanced digital media techniques? How does montage, the assembling and synchronizing of motion pictures, relate to our human perception and the way we experience architecture?

This course discusses precedents where digital techniques have been used within a context of historical studies. Examples include Oleg Grabar's study of early Islamic Jerusalem, and several projects that have focused on creating virtual "reconstructions" (e.g., the Palladio Project or the Unbuilt Monuments project). Other projects have sought to merge digital representations with views of physical sites (the augmented reality Ename 942 Project).

These and other projects offer exciting glimpses into the power of conventional digital techniques. The course further explores the potential and applicability of newer technologies. The aim is to understand what representational constructs are useful for what purpose. Applications in different areas, e.g. research or education, are explored.

CAD/CAM II: Design Development in Digital Environments
GSD 6319, Spring

This lecture course explores the design development process as it occurs within advanced digital environments, e.g., Catia, that support parametric modeling, and which are widely used computer-aided design and manufacturing applications (CAD/CAM) in architecture and other design and production industries (e.g., automotive, aerospace).

The first major component of the course examines the general utilization of different digital environments in the design development process via a number of diverse case-studies and modeling exercises on projects where digital design tools have been extensively used. A sampling of projects to be reviewed includes the following: B. Franken’s Bubble and Dynaform, William Massie’s PS1, Norman Foster’s Chesa Futura and City Hall, Kas Oosterhuis’s Floriade Pavilion, Schliach’s Hippo House and other grid shells, recent Sagrada Familia modeling, Gehry’s Library at Bard College, and many others.

The second major component of the course focuses on learning the use of digital tools are used in the design development, component manufacturing, and construction control phases of a project that occur after preliminary design stages. Characteristics of Catia and similar solid and surface modeling systems aree explored include their hierarchical organization and related parent-child relationships. Via the use of parent-child relationships, design changes and parametric variations can be made at will and propagated through a whole system. Design histories can be retained. These environments also support parametric modeling based on specified local constraints, feature-based design approaches, and application modeling (e.g., sheet metal, mold design). Particularly important are assembly-modeling capabilities, including interference checking, for creating complex systems of inter-related parts.

The third major component of the course briefly addresses a variety of related topics; including the use of shared digital models by different participants in the design and building process (architects, structural and mechanical engineers, fabricators, contractors), structural modeling, exporting digital modeling into CAM environments, the use of three-dimensional digitizing systems to create initial design models, rapid prototyping systems for design confirmation, and specific design development tools, such as those used in steel fabrication (e.g., SDS).

Computer Aided Design & Manufacturing III
GSD 6320, Workshop, Spring 2005, not offered 2006

This course continues the exploration of CAD/CAM applications in architecture and design initially raised in GSD 6319 and 6400 during the fall term. The focus of the course is on the general relationships between design-oriented parametric models and the digitally-enabled manufacturing operations used to convert them into physical reality. Particular emphasis is placed on the opportunities and limitations associated with different manufacturing processes and strategies.

Students engage in directed independent studies. The theme of these studies is architectural systems composed of modular elements that can be parametrically varied (which could include, for example, modular enclosure systems, exhibition systems, furnishings, and other applications - including modular housing). Students explore the design of their systems in relation to realistic production strategies, including the actual physical prototyping of components where it is useful. In addition to full access to in-house CAD/CAM facilities at the GSD, arrangements have been made with a number of external vendors with unique manufacturing capabilities to aid students in making viable and realistic prototypes.

Course Activities

Following introductory sessions, students choose a topic to pursue in depth — either one of their own choosing approved by the instructors, or from a list provided by them. In subsequent sessions, students periodically present their evolving designs and strategies as they relate to proposed manufacturing and installation processes. During this same period a variety of field trips are planned to manufacturing facilities and consultants, including companies that do machining, casting, fabricating and other common operations now commonly accessed through CAD/CAM activities. These field excursions constitute a major part of the course.

Project-based activities generally fall into five major phases. At the end of each phase, students present their work and/or findings to the class for discussion:

Phase I: During this phase, students are expected to make initial digital parametric solid models of their design work (ideally in Solidworks or Catia).

Phase II: Students explore different manufacturing process alternatives for their designs and study how the adoption of a particular process affects design qualities. Digital design models are varied to reflect process realities and opportunities.

Phase III: Component prototyping – in this phase students use GSD facilities and/or work with an outside company to make a prototype or prototypes of some part of their design. Possible outside connections include companies that do sand casting, ceramic shell casting, 3d wire bending, plasma and laser cutting, milling and turning, and other techniques.

Phase IV: Production studies – in this final phase, students explore how to use the knowledge gained from the prototyping phase in the development of a production strategy and a related facility. This phase includes looking at the impact of production lot size on facility type, equipment and layout. If interested, students may also look at relationships between production strategies and business models (e.g., “Lean Manufacturing”).

Phase V: Final project presentation.

Analysis and Design of Building Structures II
GSD 6202, Lecture, Spring 2005

A continuation of GSD 6201, this course addresses the analysis and design of structural elements such as beams, columns, rigid and braced frames, shear walls, plates, and simple shells. The use of these elements in a building context and simplified methods for analysis of indeterminate structures as well as easy-to-use computer programs are considered. Structural elements made of timber, structural steel, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, and masonry are addressed in-depth. Specific concerns such as lateral load resistance, overall stability, wind, and seismic design are also introduced. Case studies are used for class instruction, and students are expected to complete team projects exploring structural issues.