DAS sign

Digital fabrication research/ prototype
Design and fabrication team : Will Galloway, Gabriel Garofalo, Raymin Sidhar, Jack Dalgeish-Morel, Treya Vyas
(Toronto Metropolitan University)


The sign marks the entrance to the Department of Architectural Science and was one of the first on campus to reflect the newly minted name of the university (Toronto Metropolitan University)

Digital fabrication began as a series of technologies and refinements in computing, but came also with a range of theories and concepts about construction and craft. In this case we are looking at the tolerance and challenges of the materials and tools available to us and at the same time working to design a kit of parts that can be put together simply. Meaning time, effort and skill are embedded in the design and fabrication, but minimized in the assembly.

The final assembly is a cloud of parts, held together with printed connectors. It makes use of several fabrication tools, including a robotic 3d printer, a sinter printer, laser cutters, and CNC-cut plywood. Materials were selected and assembled to test their durability in a cold climate over four seasons. We suspected the 3d printed parts might not be durable, but they have withstood both weather and creeping plants without concern.