ACAW Team Feature: Sasaki/Studio NYL
This August, Boston Valley Terra Cotta and University of Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning will hold the third annual Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop (ACAW), with support from the UB Sustainable Manufacturing and Advanced Robotic Technologies (SMART). To give an idea of the depth of exploration and the process engaged by the ACAW teams, this will offer a sneak peek into what is developing in the factory prior to the weeklong event, to be held this August 13–16.
For this year’s ACAWorkshop, the teams have come together prior to the event – as early as March and April – to begin the design and development of prototypes of their explorations. What began as an abstract earlier this year (and for some teams, last year) has been developed through sketches, drawings, models and discussions in meetings between the architects, designers, façade engineers and the manufacturers. Initial prototypes of the designs have been produced in the factory and are at one or more stages of production.
This is the third of our ACAW Team Features, continuing with Sasaki/Studio NYL
Team: Sasaki/Studio NYL
Team Sasaki/Studio NYL is made up of a variety of individuals from Sasaki, Studio NYL, Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc. and Simpson Gumpertz & Heger. For the 2018 ACAWorkshop, Team Sasaki/Studio NYL’s has been working on a prototype that is an innovative take on the terra cotta sunshade.
Their unique form will be self-supported in its capacity to hold its own weight. The design team has combined advanced computational design software, digital fabrication techniques and the advanced manufacturing technologies of Boston Valley Terra Cotta to explore how the architectural applications of terra cotta can be expanded beyond decorative building cladding applications.
Team Members:
Christine Dunn – Principal, Sasaki
Chris O’Hara – Principal, Studio NYL
Brett Laureys – Principal, Wiss, Janney, Elstner, Associates, Inc.
Brad Prestbo – Director of Technical Resources, Sasaki
Lucca Townsend – Designer, Sasaki
Casey Williams – Senior Staff II, Simpson Gumpertz & Heger (SGH)
A preview of Team Sasaki/Studio NYL’s prototype for the third annual ACAW.
