Laboratory for Material Propositions

Leighton Beaman and Yutaka Sho will be presenting the work of General Architecture Collaborative at North Carolina State University on March 3rd, 2025 at 6pm. The lecture, titled "Building & Building,"?will discuss GAC’s approach to practice, which emphasizes building as an act. We will also briefly discuss our ongoing research at the Cornell University - College of Human Ecology and Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning focused shared making as social innovation embodied in an increasingly global built environment. The lecture is part of the "Critical Zones Lecture Series" - In response to complex urban challenges such as poverty, inequity, conflict, and climate change, the "Critical Zones" lecture series will provide an examination of the innovative design research and collaborative efforts of emerging scholars and practitioners. This series, as a part of the NCSU School of Architecture lecture series, will explore how their methodologies address these pressing issues, focusing on regions and places that are polarized, contested, and unknown, yet demonstrate the full potential of design and planning. By engaging with unique work in these critical zones, the series seeks to inspire students and professionals, offering them new perspectives and approaches for transforming our communities and environments.

Tomorrow is the last day to participate in the Space for Others exhibition at the Cornell University - College of Human Ecology Gallery. Space for Others is an interdisciplinary design research exhibition studying the dynamics of co-creating spaces, balancing individual agency and collective collaboration. The project uses aggregate building systems and intuitive assembly grammars to explore this dichotomy. Through computational modeling, digital fabrication, and participatory play scenarios, the exhibition features full-scale building kits designed to foster social interaction through spatial interaction through inclusive, accessible, and shared making. This exhibition is the work of students and staff from the Cornell Human Centered Design department, and Cornell University College of Architecture, Art, and Planning. Project Team: Leighton Beaman, Riya Verma, Kalven Owen, Tioluwani Fabunmi, Keira Huffman, Andrea Porubcin, Iason Diogenous, Chloe Jung, Alice Huiwen Ho Researchers: Leighton Beaman, Lee Brunco, Arleigh Parr, Gracie Meek, Julia Kan, Elena Sabinson Fabrication: Leighton Beaman, Vincent Chicone, Charles Beach, Jaden Demarest

Come explore collaborative making using a full-scale building kit. Assemble, disassemble and reassemble parts by yourself or with others to create a shared structure. Open to all abilities and backgrounds. Share images of your work on LinkedIn and instagram - #makingspaceforothers January 17th - February 26th Cornell University - College of Human Ecology Martha Van Rensselaer Hall Gallery - 1st Floor Space for Others is an interdisciplinary design research studio combining human centered design, architecture, interior design and product design methodologies to explore the inclusive co-creation of space for others using both advanced design and fabrication technologies and intuitive approaches to shared making. The result of this investigation is a full-scale aggregate building system utilizing intuitive assembly grammars, tested through computational modeling and participatory making scenarios, and produced using digital fabrication techniques and collaborative design methods. Project Team: Leighton Beaman, Riya Verma, Kalven Owen, Tioluwani Fabunmi, Keira Huffman, Andrea Porubcin, Iason Diogenous, Chloe Jung, Alice Huiwen Ho, Vincent Chicone, Charles Beach, Jaden Demarest

Thank you to the The Architectural League of New York for selecting our Civic Playground Project for a 2024 independent project grant. The project examines how collaborative making structured around play and exploration creates a more shared and social engaged built environment. It's an honor to be part of such a great groups of recipients. Congratulations everyone!