Students nervously pace the second-floor knuckle of Richardson Hall on a cool, spring day. Some flit to the walls to make sure their posters are perfectly secured and their models are ready to shine. Others nervously nibble on chips and watermelon.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s final exam time, and for students in assistant professor Mariapaola Riggio<\/strong>\u2019s class, that means making a presentation in front of their classmates, other faculty members and industry professionals.<\/p>\n The class, Timber Tectonics in the Digital Age, examines how the design and construction of timber structural systems benefit from digital techniques. Architecture students from the University of Oregon<\/a>\u2019s School of Design are invited to enroll alongside Oregon State<\/a> students studying renewable materials, wood science, civil engineering and construction engineering management. \u00a0All students work collaboratively, as part of a small team, thinking critically about how digital tools might be able to change the wood construction sector.<\/p>\n For their final project, the students were tasked with creating a \u2018wood products pavilion\u2019 that might represent the TallWood Design Institute<\/a> at the International Mass Timber Conference in Portland in 2019. The institute is one of the nation’s top research collaboratives focusing exclusively on the advancement of advanced wood products. The students used parametric techniques to design adjustable forms, and then refined them according to structural analysis information. The final challenge has been to plan the construction process appropriate materials and detailing.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve had a great partnership,\u201d says Nancy Yen-Wen Cheng<\/strong>, Architecture Department head at the University of Oregon. \u201cAnd it has been a privilege to co-teach with [Riggio]. She brings knowledge of the latest advances in timber structures and has been insightful about how to employ my digital design specialization.\u201d<\/p>\n Brent Stuntzner<\/strong> of CB Two Architects<\/a> in Salem agrees. He served as one of the judges of the students\u2019 final projects.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m always really excited to go in and ask the students questions,\u201d Stuntzner says.<\/p>\n Despite their nervousness, the students prevailed and presented thorough and exciting final projects.<\/p>\n \u201cThey are full of creative ideas,\u201d says Stuntzner. \u201cAnd after this class they are prepared to go into a variety of different environments within the construction and wood products industries.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Students nervously pace the second-floor knuckle of Richardson Hall on a cool, spring day. Some flit to the walls to make sure their posters are perfectly secured and their models are ready to shine. Others nervously nibble on chips and watermelon. It\u2019s final exam time, and for students in assistant professor Mariapaola Riggio\u2019s class, that… Continue reading