completed

process gallery

For our final presentation, a gallery was assembled of our process work.  Our visiting professor, Coleman Coker, directed a unique approach, asking us to begin the semester at the site, observing, recording, and abstracting the surrounding patterns of organization in an effort to prepare ourselves for working within what are invariably dynamic, interconnected systems.  Only after such exercises did we develop a program or begin designing any object.

finishing

Working on site, applying recycled polycarbonate skin...

...into the night...



Installing the recycled flooring involved getting very muddy for a couple of us.

Horizon framed just as planned...



We encountered a minor setback when a snow and wind storm came out of nowhere, scattering some materials and covering the structure in snow.  It wasn't clear whether we'd meet our presentation deadline the next day.

the move

With only minor parts and cladding to go, it was time to relocate the structure to its final site.  We began by winching it out to be loaded on a trailer.

The trailer was backed up, and the structure was winched onto it.



Once the structure was on the trailer and secure, we had several blocks to travel to the building site.  Transporting on a Sunday night ensured minimal traffic issues.



Arriving on site...



The next morning - time to install the floor, roof, and skin!

the "thin wall" and changes

We first fabricated the structural steel for what was named the "thin wall" in two pieces, inside on the shop floor.  We then manually placed it on the floor structure, securing and plumbing it with clamps and dimensional lumber as shown above.  The erection of this wall felt like a milestone for the group as we began to realize that we may indeed complete the project on time.

Our confidence was further bolstered by the installation of the wood slat infill for the wall.  the wood slats are made of wood salvaged from campus trees that were removed to make way for new construction.



This picture shows the completed "thin wall" with one of it's two benches already installed.  at this time in the construction, the material qualities of the project were becoming evident.

As all of the main pieces were erected, some necessary changes became apparent.  First, we found that the pitch of the roof we had planned would need to adjust to allow for drainage through the "thick wall." at first, this felt like a significant setback, but we made fast decisions, cutting and re-welding steel members to solve the problem with surprising efficiency.

We added an unanticipated piece of steel at the recommendation of our volunteer structural engineer, Jerry Stevens, to gain some rigidity in our moment frame.  A student is pictured above removing the newly added steel member upon the discovery of a conflict with the designed roof scupper.  The member was reattached in an adjusted location.

renderings

Below are some renderings of the project we are building.  None of them are totally accurate anymore, but all are fairly close and give a good idea of how this design should look as it comes together.

progress

The steel frame is now outdoors, and pieces of the wall  have been placed on it.  The peices for the thin wall have been fabricated, and await assembly.  More recent photographs will be posted soon. 

The class carries the biggest portion of our thick wall.

The structural steel frame has almost been completed, and we're relishing the welding experience. 

Three students take a break upon completion of the seating alcove.

process

Here are some pictures of our design process and the beginning of the building process.

Coordinating the design among eleven people has been extremely challenging, but in group charrettes like the one shown above, we have managed to converge.  This has been an invaluable experience for all involved as we learned to fight for ideas, abandon ideas, and simply be flexible.

 At one point a "talking banana" was introduced to the debate as a means to keep people from talking over on another.  Only the person with the banana can talk.  The rule didn't last very long, but it was great comic relief while it did.

 Construction begins...just checking to see if we can stand our walls inside the shop...We can't.

We somehow manage to keep everyone busy, laying out walls, planing boards, nailing, screwing, etc.  Framing is relatively foreign to many of us, but we're learning quickly.

moving along

Our group of eleven has been hard at work, ensuring that we have a built project at the end of the semester.  Here are some examples of the loose ends we've been addressing:


- Roles have been established, and a schedule has been developed.

- We developed and presented detailed graphics to the client to help him visualize the nature of what we were proposing and to know what his concerns would be.  we have since been addressing each of those concerns, massaging the project to a final solution.

- We debated as a class and consulted a structural engineer to determine how the project would be resolved structurally, settling today on a combination of wood framing and steel.

- We have been discussing and evaluating various material options, settling in the past week on what they will be.  With the project mostly resolved, we have made material take-offs and begun to make orders for the materials we need to purchase.  We also decided on the "skin", which will be a combination of two salvaged materials.  One will be the wood of trees that were removed on campus several years ago to make way for new construction.  The other will be polycarbonate material that is being replaced on the greenhouses, next to the architecture building.  We have collected both materials, and the wood is in the milling process as of this afternoon.

Construction will begin tomorrow as we frame the main wall.  Renderings and photographs are on the way.

the project

Our graduate studio of eleven students has been given the opportunity to program, design, and build a structure at Montana State University's horticulture farm, called Towne Farm.  Led by visiting professor, Coleman Coker, with MSU's own Christopher Livingston, our studio has determined the program and completed the general design of a field station that will be installed to serve the workers at the farm as well as visiting classes and the public. 

More to follow shortly...