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 developed into creating a foldable composite "pop-up" structure.

Choma shares, "In practice, the structure or pavilion would be collaboratively designed and fabricated with a local community. Then, Google would infill under the open air structure with high-tech furniture that is fully embedded with all their electrical and audio/visual needs. After the research has been completed, the high-tech furniture would be removed, leaving the open air structure for the community."

"As an initial proof-of-concept, a full-scale prototype was fabricated. A foldable structure was designed by combining funicular geometric principles with controlled buckling from curved creases," explained Choma. "As catenary-based arcs are folded into a series of structural ribs, four cantilevering canopies “pop” into place, based on precisely calibrated buckling — mechanically behaving as a bistable structure. Although the folded structure is composed of both structural ribs and cantilevering canopies, the overall geometry still globally performs like a structural shell."

Using Choma's patented selective coating technique made out of fiberglass, the students were able to fabricate a 30ft in diameter prototype structure. An important element of the pop-up structure is it's fabrication technique. Choma walks us through the process below:

"Take a dry fiber reinforcement fabric, mask off seams to create fold points, infuse the unmasked fabric with resin, and cure the resin. Suddenly, you have a composite laminate with uncured, soft seams that allow the entire structure to be folded for easy transport and installation on site. And after the entire laminate is installed, the dry seams can be infused with resin to solidify the whole structure."

"More specifically, cross-stitched reinforcement fabric and bio-based resin were used. The fiber reinforcement fabric is manufactured at a maximum width of 100 inches. Therefore, the continuous crease pattern needed to be discretized into nine pieces. These pieces were then connected together into one continuous sheet with a glued overlapping joint. The location of the overlapping zones was strategically placed to run perpendicular to the curved creases. They were also located in specific locations to provide additional structural reinforcement where it would be most needed. For example, an overlapping seam bisects the center of each cantilever. After placing the flat plane above a minimal scaffolding, the surface was folded by hand into the three-dimensional vaulted geometry within a couple of hours. Then, after the hinges were rigidified with resin, the scaffolding was removed, resulting in a rigid folded vault. The full-scale prototype spans 22ft, stands 10ft tall, and has a material thickness of 1/16 inch. This research demonstrates a possibility for implementing foldable composite structures for an architectural application — where space is product."

Choma previously shared with Archinect, "I want to foster a school that is critical of the growing complexities associated with the cultural and technological project of architecture. Let’s embrace constraints as opportunities and tackle the most challenging problems of our time.”

Explore more of Choma's work here.