Kickoff 2026 I Prototyping

Design is an iterative process, and every prototype brings the team closer to the final installation. This week the team continues testing, refining designs and collaborating to bring the installation one step closer to reality.

(Photos Taken By Andy Nguyen and Allie Male)

As the project has entered the construction phase, the team reaches an exciting milestone by completing the 1:6 physical scale prototype and begins preparing for the next phase of development. The team's focus had now shifted toward fabrication, testing and refining the technical details of the node connections.

Completed 1:6 Scale Model of the Kickoff Instillation

In collaboration with the shop supervisors, the team troubleshoots, refining fabrication methods, testing connection details and preparing components using the CNC machine. At the same time, Project Leads Saad Malik and Jose-Miguel Calle manage material orders and project timelines, gaining valuable project management experience required for a large-scale installation.

Students use CNC machine to begin prototyping node connections

 

Collaboration remains the heart of this project. Students have begun working alongside members of TMU's Engineering Department to develop and integrate the LED lighting system into the structure, ensuring the structure maintains the original design concept.

With each prototype and design review, students gain hands-on experience in fabrication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and iterative problem-solving. Each iteration provides new insight, allowing students to evaluate, improve and finalize the node and edge details before beginning fabrication of the full scale structure.

Students Gain Hands on Experience with New Tools Under the Guidance of Shop Supervisors

With the node and edge details finalized and fabrication underway, the team is ready to begin constructing the full-scale structure. Every prototype, meeting, and design revision has laid the foundation for the exciting work that is still to come.