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Get Lectured: Florida Atlantic University, Fall '23/Spring '24

2023-09-25T19:56:00-04:00

Get Lectured offers a rundown of different events and public programs taking place at schools of architecture each semester. Today, our ongoing series continues with a look at what’s in store at the Florida Atlantic University School of Architecture in 2023–24.

The poster, designed by the school's Director, Joseph Choma, literally stands out with its unique folded creases, which turn an otherwise flat medium into a three-dimensional sculptural object. "Unlike typical two-dimensional posters, each poster is folded along curved creases to produce shadows based on the specific lighting condition," Choma told Archinect.

Image courtesy of Joseph Choma/FAU School of Architecture

The Fall’s events begin September 26 with an appearance from UPenn lecturer Barry Walk. He is followed on October 11 by Florida International University’s Elisa Silva. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Ted Krueger will visit campus on October 24 for the special interdisciplinary event ‘The Mission to Mars: An Out...

Florida Atlantic University's Joseph Choma leads students to explore folded fiberglass structures

2023-08-04T15:17:00-04:00

A research studio led by Florida Atlantic University (FAU) Director of the School of Architecture, Joseph Choma, uses foldable structures to construct a pop-up structure for Google.

Much of Choma's work has explored innovative design methods through complex geometric structures, materials, and experimental construction methods. For his latest studio, Choma implemented his pedagogical approach of "teaching through research and research through teaching" by having students collaborate on an applied research project with Google. In working with Google's Head of UX Workplace Design, Amy Badersnider, she promoted the studio to discover a new way to "design space as a product" and explore ways to "design and fabricate deployable structures which can be used for community engagement initiatives" globally. She challenged the students by asking, "How do we take product research outside of corporate headquarters and engage the public directly within outdoor public spaces?" The end result dev...

Joseph Choma will become the next Director of the School of Architecture at Florida Atlantic University

2022-04-01T17:46:00-04:00

Clemson University’s Joseph Choma has been announced as the next Director of the School of Architecture at Florida Atlantic University (FAU).

Choma is currently the Director of the Design Topology Lab and has been the Director of Clemson’s Master of Science in Architecture program since July. Choma will take office effective July 1st and replaces Associate Professor Francis E. Lyn, who has been serving as Interim Director.

Earlier on Archinect: Joseph Choma explains why folding is important to the field of architecture

His work centers on material innovation, experimental construction methods, and the impact of complex geometries on the built environment. Noteworthy projects have included a recent studio exploring the application of his patented foldable fiberglass structures as shelter in the wake of natural disasters, an installation for the AIA’s Atlanta Emerging Voices competition in 2013, and the solo exhibition Object to Atmosphere for the Barbara Archer Gallery, also in Atlan...

Joseph Choma explores foldable shelters with his students at Clemson University

2021-12-20T14:24:00-05:00

Taking as the focus the possibility of his patented, foldable fiberglass technique for use in resiliency design efforts, Design Topology Lab founder Joseph Choma is once again breaking the mold on a typology that has become increasingly relevant in the era of intensifying natural disasters born out of climate change.

Choma is currently teaching a studio at Clemson that explores the potential of fully deployable shelters for disaster relief with foldable composites.

The Cone crease pattern. Image courtesy of Joseph Choma, Clemson University.

The studio was split into four parts. The first segment included analyzing the current state of deployable shelters for disaster relief, uncovering what he calls a significant gap between lightweight tents and more permanent dwellings made from prefabricated components. This gap resulted in people usually living in tents a great deal longer than originally anticipated. The challenge for his students then became to answer the question of how flat-p...

Joseph Choma explains why folding is important to the field of architecture

2019-05-08T16:27:00-04:00

Joseph Choma, founder of Design Topology Lab and an architecture professor at Clemson University, is pioneering work into the field of foldable structures and materials. For the past few years, Choma has been focused on developing a fabrication technique that allows fiberglass to be folded by hand.

While some might compare the technique to origami, Choma's work differs by embracing material and structural constraints. "Traditionally, origami is dominantly composed of hidden under tucked folds, which is not an efficient use of material or ideal for resisting structural loads," he explains. For Choma, the difference is that once a folded plane has a specific orientation to gravity and is considered to have material thickness with the intent of carrying loads, it is no longer 'just origami', but a folded structure.

Photo by Joseph Choma.

One would think folded structures have a long historical lineage within the field of architecture. However, most structures which we casually label a...

Win a copy of Joseph Choma's “Études for Architects”, a book of pedagogical design games for architects

2018-08-08T12:25:00-04:00

Design Topology Lab founder and architectural educator Joseph Choma is back with a new pedagogical book called “Études for Architects”, which comes a few years after his acclaimed “MORPHING: A Guide to Mathematical Transformations for Architects and Designers”.

If you're a new student to design or maybe you want to refresh your skills, this book features a series of pedagogical games that architects can play as a means to design. Thanks to publisher Routledge and Joseph Choma, Archinect is giving away five copies of the book to our readers!

Photo courtesy of Joseph Choma.

Written in straightforward text and featuring explanatory diagrams, the book's learning objectives include: computational thinking and making; introduction to design as an iterative, reflective, and rigorous process; ideas of continuity and discontinuity; and understanding the bias and constraints of analog and digital tooling. It also includes compelling examples of student work to e...

See how Joseph Choma built the “Chakrasana” arch using his fiberglass folding technique

2017-09-05T14:23:00-04:00

Design Topology Lab founder Joseph Choma continues to put his fiberglass hand-folding technique to the test in a new larger scale structure called “Chakrasana”, which is currently on display at Clemson University, where Choma is an architecture professor.

Weighing in at only 400 pounds, the accordion arch pavilion was designed, fabricated by hand, and installed by Choma and a team of four people within 30 days. Design Topology Lab further explains their fabrication process below:

Photo: Joseph Choma.

“Similar to paper folding, the process begins with a crease pattern composed of mountain and valley folds. Two 54 yard long rolls of 33.3" fiberglass cloth were stitched together using a full flat felled seam to create one continuous 32' 10" x 21' 9" sheet, with zero material waste. All the edges were precisely sewn to prevent sharp, rough or frayed edges. Using a painter's masking tape, a crease pattern was drawn on the fabric surface. The intricate pattern was composed of a total of 87...

Joseph Choma demonstrates his nifty paperfolding technique for fiberglass

2017-07-11T20:20:00-04:00

In his latest design investigation, Joseph Choma, the founder of Design Topology Lab and an architecture professor at Clemson University, is helping shape up a future for fiberglass being used as a primary building material. Choma has been developing a fabrication technique that allows him to create structures by hand-folding fiberglass — a technique that he describes is as simple as folding paper.

Photo credit: Ken Scar, Clemson University

By selectively coating resin on fiberglass cloth, parts can fold easily along the fabric hinges, Choma describes. The process doesn't require any molds or fasteners, which could mean less production cost and less material waste. In developing the technique, Choma is driven by the belief that fiberglass will become a primary building material in the next decade, possibly replacing steel. Typically used as a secondary component, fiberglass is noted for its resistance to corrosion and to harsh elements like fire. Choma's technique indicates that it's...

Winners of the MORPHING book giveaway

2015-03-20T21:19:00-04:00

In Archinect's latest book giveaway, we received over 100 responses for MORPHING: A Guide to Mathematical Transformations for Architects and Designers. Authored by Design Topology Lab founder Joseph Choma, Morphing is a pedagogical guide that can help architects, designers, students, and enthusiasts to understand in greater depth the trigonometric transformations and functions behind the digital design tools they use.

The three lucky winners are:

Brian, Columbus
Chris, New York
Nicholas, Vancouver

Congrats! And a great big thank you to everyone who participated.

Joseph Choma shared more details about Morphing, which you can read here.

Win a copy of MORPHING by Design Topology Lab founder Joseph Choma

2015-03-10T14:11:00-04:00

MORPHING: A Guide to Mathematical Transformations for Architects and Designers is not your high school math coursebook. Authored by Design Topology Lab founder Joseph Choma, Morphing is a pedagogical guide that can help architects, designers, students, and whoever is interested in the topic to understand in greater depth the trigonometric transformations and functions behind the digital design tools they use.

Since its release in January by Laurence King Publishing, Morphing has garnered positive reception. "I am particularly curious to see how readers of Morphing may identify alternative approaches to the inquiry, " Choma shared via email. "After all, Morphing can be seen as a guide through my own thought process into mathematics."

With that said, Archinect is giving away Morphing to three of our readers! To enter the book giveaway, fill out this survey by Wednesday, March 18, end of day. Winners will be chosen at random. Good luck!

Scroll down further for more insight into the book f...

Joseph Choma’s latest installation “Line 01” on display until the end of October in Atlanta

2013-10-21T16:48:00-04:00

There is nothing that joins mathematics and art more easily than the line. For something that looks so simple, there are plenty of complexities that come with it. In this case, architect and designer Joseph Choma of Design Topology Lab challenges the perception and drawing process of the line with his recent installation "Line 01" at the Promenade Building in Atlanta, Georgia. The installation will be on display at the fifth floor of the Promenade Building until the end of October.

Joseph Choma, 2013 Emerging Voices Architect, Exhibits in Atlanta

2013-01-24T17:46:00-05:00

If you're in Atlanta in the next few weeks, make sure to see Joseph Choma's solo-exhibition, Object to Atmosphere, as part of the Young Architects Forum Atlanta Emerging Voices 13 exhibition. Choma is this year's recipient of the AIA Atlanta 2013 Emerging Voices Citation for his research and experimentation in architecture.

Emerging Voices 13 will also feature a composition of the YAF Atlanta 48HRS Design Competition entries and winners.

BOUNDARIES by Joseph Choma / Design Topology Lab

2012-02-07T17:35:00-05:00

Architect and designer Joseph Choma of Design Topology Lab, a research platform dedicated to the ontology of space defined by mathematics, has shared with us his project, BOUNDARIES. The installation, part of a recent exhibition at SP_ARC Gallery in Marietta, Georgia, is a 26' x 13' drawing of his trigonometric transformation: thickening and is constructed out of 450 tiles.