Expanding Intelligent, On-Site Fabrication: Can Manufacturing and Logistics Be Simplified With More Transformable Geometries?

What If Design Doesn’t End in the Factory?

Inspired by this challenge, the Labs team led a workshop for the Rob|Arch (Robotics in Architecture) conference in Toronto in the Spring of 2024. We used this venue to explore a fundamentally different approach by asking, “What if design doesn’t end in the factory?”

Instead of pre-fabricating unique parts, we wanted to know if standard parts could remain uniform until installed. By applying on-site transformation techniques, we aimed to remove the penalties traditionally associated with variation, opening a path to greater efficiency, adaptability, cost-savings, and resilience in architectural fabrication.

Why Standard Parts?

Logistical Simplicity: Transporting flat-cut parts is straightforward and cost-effective, minimizing the need for complex tracking and reducing the risk of errors during transit.

Enhanced Adaptability: On-site forming enables immediate adjustments, ensuring that the final product responds perfectly to the realities of the installation environment.

Cost Efficiency: By eliminating multiple off-site manufacturing stages, we reduce overall costs and decrease the likelihood of costly rework.

Accelerated Installation: On-site forming streamlines the installation process, reducing downtime and improving project timelines. No wait for remakes.

Precision and Quality: With direct oversight from engineers and installers, on-site forming ensures that each part meets exacting standards for fit and finish.

Environmental Responsibility: This approach reduces the carbon footprint associated with transportation and minimizes material waste through precise, on-demand fabrication.

Try it Yourself

Use the configurator below to explore how different patterns can be created from the same standard panel. Drag the blue dots to change the pattern. You can change the view by scrolling in & out to zoom or use Command + Click (Mac) or Control + Click (Windows) to change the angle of view.

Looking Forward

The SoFi Stadium project pushed the boundaries of architectural fabrication, prompting us to rethink traditional processes. By embracing intelligent on-site fabrication, the industry can move toward a future where standard parts are transformed into custom elements at their destination. This innovation simplifies logistics and enhances efficiency, sustainability, and precision, empowering our partners to design and build high-profile structures with less waste and more significant impact.

Special thanks to our design partners Perkins&Will, Rob|Arch, and the University of Toronto for hosting our workshop and providing a space for us to explore this important concept with students.