I E A

THE INSTITUTE FOR ENHANCED ARCHITECTURE

THESIS:

The Institute for Enhanced Architecture was inspired by an unlikely victory at a game of chess and its aftermath.  On February 10th, 1996, the computer Deep Blue beat grandmaster Gary Kasparov. Once thought to be too subtle and strategic for a machine’s logic, it has become normal for a computer program to defeat a human at chess.  However, a mildly skilled human paired with a basic chess simulator will beat the computer every time. This is because of human creativity.

It is not unreasonable to assume that a large part of the work of design will soon be automated.  Designers can either fall to the onslaught of technology, or actively engage it to create buildings that are easier to build, better performing and more beautiful.  The fusion of human creativity and computerized tools vastly enhances the potential of architecture, and education will play a critical role in the outcome of this competition.  The standard university format of discrete classes, knowledge silos and competitive independence is ill-suited to prepare designers for changes in the profession. We need to train designers to be nimble thinkers and adept integrators of technology, and this requires a shift in the way we teach design.

Pedagogy

The IEA is a four year MArch/MS program, aimed at students with backgrounds in other fields.  The curriculum will be integrated, with students learning all required subjects through application to their design studios to better prepare them for the real-world application of knowledge.  

Praxis

The curriculum is based around collaborative studios focused on problem solving. Studios are supplemented with subject area seminars.

RENDERINGS:

DESIGN:

The building is designed from the inside out.  Three primary activities make up the majority of student life at IEA: collaboration, ideation and creation.  The studios were shaped to be ideal spaces for collaborative design. Spaces for ideation and feedback are distributed throughout the building; the generous circulation space is used for pin-ups, exhibitions, and casual collaboration and work. Creation occurs in shops ranging from biolab to art studio to large gantry room.

COLLABORATE

CREATE

IDEATE

SUSTAINABILITY:

GREEN ROOF

The site and roof were designed to serve as a foothold for the natural world in an otherwise industrial area of Portland. The undulating green roof fosters diverse plant life, supporting macroinvertebrate and migratory bird populations, and collects stormwater for use in the building.

SOLAR REGULATION

The shading system permits the right amount of solar gain in all seasons. 75% of the building is daylit during occupied hours.

WATER MANAGEMENT

Water falling on the site is stored, reused and cleansed. Stormwater from the surrounding ecodistrict is filtered through a bioswale before it joins the Willamette River.

PASSIVE SYSTEMS

The interstitial spaces are passively heated and cooled, and help to regulate the temperatures of the interior volumes.

STRUCTURE:

While the structure of the roof provides ecological and thermal benefits, it also serves as a manifestation of tectonic opportunities afforded by advanced computing.

ANALYSIS

The structure was analyzed for internal stresses and displacement with the Grasshopper plug-in Karamba.

University of Oregon - Terminal Studio 2017 - Professor Mark Donofrio - Design Partner - David Lieberman