FAU SOA - THE FIRST SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE AN INDUSTRY SPONSORED RESEARCH AGREEMENT WITH GOOGLE

A research studio led by Director Joseph Choma, used foldable structures to construct a pop-up structure for Google. The course embraced the pedagogical approach of teaching through research and research through teaching, where students collaborated with Director Choma on an industry-sponsored applied research project. The project began with a series of client-driven questions and prompts. Currently, the client Google conducts all of its product testing and user experience research within carefully designed spaces inside its headquarters. However, it found that its research results were often skewed because it was not reaching a broad enough demographic beyond the geography of the headquarters, which are dominantly based in major metropolitan areas. As a result, it posed the questions, what does it mean to design space as product? How can we design and fabricate deployable structures for community engagement initiatives around the world? How do we take product research outside of corporate headquarters and engage the public directly within outdoor public spaces? A lightweight pop-up structure was created for Google's community engagement initiatives. The foldable fiberglass structure was designed by combining funicular geometric principles with controlled buckling from curved creases. The two-dimensional crease pattern with a diameter of 30 feet was folded into place within two hours. As catenary-based arcs are folded into a series of structural ribs, four cantilevering canopies pop into place. The full-scale prototype spans 22 feet, stands 10 feet tall and has a material thickness of 1/16 inch.

This research project was featured in an article on Archinect on August 4, 2023.  Click on the button below to view the article.

Archinect Article