Projects by architecture graduate students claim first, second and third at the Industrial Fabrics Association International’s Student Design Challenge

Polin, Sabrina

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Fun, Functional Fabric: SAAHP Students Sweep Competition in Fabric Structures Challenge

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Roger Williams UniversityDOCS@RWUFeatured News Story The Week at Roger10-15-2015Fun, Functional Fabric: SAAHP Students SweepCompetition in Fabric Structures ChallengeSabrina PolinRoger Williams UniversityFollow this and additional works at: https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_newsPart of the Higher Education CommonsThis News Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The Week at Roger at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in FeaturedNews Story by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact mwu@rwu.edu.Recommended CitationPolin, Sabrina, "Fun, Functional Fabric: SAAHP Students Sweep Competition in Fabric Structures Challenge" (2015). Featured NewsStory. 534.https://docs.rwu.edu/weekatroger_featured_news/534 News ArchiveFun, Functional Fabric: SAAHP Students SweepCompetition in Fabric Structures ChallengeProjects by architecture graduate students claim  rst, second and third at theIndustrial Fabrics Association International’s Student Design ChallengeAn image from the award-winning project titled, "(Con) Temporary,"by architecture graduate students Dominic Skrajewski and LeslieHulbert.October 15, 2015 Sabrina Polin ’17BRISTOL, R.I. – From a marine-inspired performing arts stage at Fort Adams in Newport to an urbantree canopy garden on the Charles River in Boston to large, whimsical tents for outdoor events on theRoger Williams University quad, a trio of unique fabric-based structures designed by graduatearchitecture students propelled them to a sweep of the top three spots in an international studentdesign challenge.When the Industrial Fabrics Association International announced the winners of its 2015 FabricStructures Student Design Challenge last week at the IFAI Expo 2015 in Anaheim, Calif., RWU’sNicholas Musilli landed  rst place for his individual entry, “Sail Stage,” Kyle Baron and CatherineSmeykal took second place for “Urban Canopy Garden,” and Dominic Skrajewski and Leslie Hulbertearned third place for “(Con) Temporary.”Not a bad showing, considering entry into the fabric structures competition was a  rst for students atRoger Williams – not to mention the challenge of integrating fabrics and textiles as major structuralcomponents, not exactly an everyday undertaking for many in the design/build world.Each of the three projects originated in last spring’s Design Structures II course taught by AssociateProfessor of Architecture Robert Dermody, who created a curriculum around fabric structures when helearned about the competition. With an open-ended design challenge – to develop a fabric structureof 600 to 2,300 square meters in size – and an unfamiliar medium, the students had their work cut outfor them, he says.While fabric is a largely untapped material in large-scale projects, Dermody says, it can be economical,sustainable and visually appealing. Students analyzed existing fabric structures and then launched theirown visions to create original and temporary, yet structurally sound, structural additions to locations oftheir choice. Many of them found working with fabrics a surprising test of their skills.“It’s hard for students to grasp the shape of fabric,” Dermody says. “Fabric will take its own shape anddetermine how it wants to hang. The designer needs to be cognizant of how they’re going to imparttension on the materials so that the structure will hold the desired form.”Musilli, the  rst-place winner, presented his award-winning design at the IFAI Expo this month. Inspiredby the waterfront location of Newport’s Fort Adams, he conceived an entertainment venue, with theVolvo Ocean Race Newport Stopover held at Fort Adams last May in mind. Sporting elements that tiethe sailing community together, a mast serves as the main structural component and curved, sail-shaped structures branch o  radially from the stage. Although challenging to design with fabrics,Musilli says that wasn’t the toughest part of the competition.“The biggest challenge was creating a believable story to accompany the design,” Musilli says. “Oncethe story was in place, the structure built itself – it was easy to bring it to life.”Although inventing a fabric structure to the speci cations of the design challenge was part of thecourse, entering their projects into the competition was not required – and Dermody says the studentswho challenged themselves further by putting their work up against others around the world should becommended.“I’m very impressed with the students, because they didn’t even have to enter,” he says. “Three teamschose to and went above and beyond – even a er the semester’s end – to add more and improve theirprojects for submission.”With the IFAI Challenge results in and an RWU sweep on the books, it seems like Dermody’s studentsmade a wise decision.

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Fun, Functional Fabric: SAAHP Students Sweep Competition in Fabric Structures Challenge

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