Durational Performance, instructor: Kiel Moe. A 170,000 sq. ft performing arts center; Boston, MA
A careful analysis of material properties guides modes of construction, programmatic function, and thermodynamic performance for this multi-use building. Materials were evaluated for both physical and durational properties in order to harness both syncopated thermal fluctuations and shifting programmatic capacities over longer time spans.
Cast-in-place load bearing walls strike the site -- the MBTA commuter rail line -- in linear bands. The sculptural thermal masses are carved away as they taper upwards in space, hosting balconies and theater seating. Fragment models were created using a CNC-routed foam negative -- consisting of 23 sections -- and cast with a mix of rockite and iron oxide.
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