Electives

The Palm Pavilion was the final project of IIT’s Digital Fabrication course, taught by Alphonso Peluso. This class works to teach and refine CNC milling skills through the use of 3D digital software, Rhino, and its parametric plugin Grasshopper. The Palm Pavilion began as an exploration of vertical columns but quickly transitioned to a question of movement through a small space. Three main columns blossom outward near eye level, which spiral up into an overhead canopy. Each column consists of twelve branches that incrementally step up to a max height of 8’. Small platforms act as the roots of these trees, which can act as small seating, model displays, or whatever else the people of Crown Hall might think of. The space is intended to be a short experiential journey while on the way to one’s destination, with the flowing columns directing the human movement in one direction or another. Despite the large size of the overhead pieces, the structure remains quite stable through its sturdy triangular column layout. Each column was built in two separate sections, the bottom “trunk” and top “canopy.” These could be constructed independently from one another to greatly speed up assembly by breaking into smaller groups. Our biggest issue was fitting the two sections on top of one another. After a quick pivot, we were able to simply rest the two sections on top of one another and use the dominos as filler pieces. From here, our last major challenge was fitting the three trees into one another. The tolerances of our joints were a bit too tight, but after some small adjustments everything came together to create the finished product.

This course will focus on 3D modeling of complex geometric components in Architecture and design. Concepts explored will concentrate on the advancement of digital design as an iterative process. Various modeling types covered are: Parametric Modeling, Generative Modeling, Responsive Modeling and Form Finding.

This course will serve as an Introduction to Parametric Modeling. The course will use architectural and structural texts as a guide/aid for learning complex Parametric Modeling. It will explore a series of Parametric structural design case studies. Case studies explored are Folded Plate Tessellations, Shell Structure Tessellations, Grid Shells, Tall Buildings, Responsive Components, and Generative Components. Students will propose and create their own Parametric designs.

Aesthetic expression as experience. Exercises in the study of form: proportion and rhythm, texture and color, mass and space. Exercises in visual perception and aesthetic judgment. Isolation and analysis; interdependence and integration of sensuous qualities. Aesthetic unity under restrictive conditions.

The course explores the integration of cutting-edge real-time rendering technologies into the field of architecture. With the advent of powerful hardware and software, architects now have the ability to create immersive and interactive visualizations of their designs in real time. Throughout this course, students will delve into the fundamental principles, techniques, and tools used in real-time rendering engines to create high-quality and photorealistic architectural visualizations. The course emphasizes practical skills and hands-on experience, allowing students to develop proficiency in utilizing real-time rendering engines to enhance architectural design processes.