The beacon
A Project by jenny sabin studio, in collaboration with MEDstudio at Thomas Jefferson University, R&D by Sabin Design Lab at Cornell AAP
Jefferson University, Philadelphia
Featured at DesignPhiladelphia 2016
Building upon ongoing work at the intersection of architecture, health, medicine, textile design, fiber science, and biology, the Beacon features novel formal expressions that adapt to changes in a human-centered environment through formfitting and high-performance lightweight structures. Mathematically generated and activated by the hidden structures and dynamics of co-evolving datasets including human interaction via the Beacon app and turgidity data gathered from plants on the Rail Park, the Beacon is a 20 foot tall free-standing structure featuring knitted and woven lightweight, high-performing, formfitting and adaptive materials structured and held in tension with nonstandard stitched laser cut steel modules.
One of the first examples of large-scale material construction by drones in architecture, the exterior skin of the Beacon emerged over the course of 10 days, as drones wound and wove photoluminescent micro-cord in response to human engagement with the Beacon app. Material responses to sunlight, immersive color, as well as human physical participation are integral parts of our exploratory approach to this project. Responsive materials including solar active and photoluminescent yarns integrate cutting edge micro-scale manipulation of fiber features and effects to achieve human-scale changes in color in response to light, environment, and human activity. Forming a bridge between medicine and architecture through advancements in digital fabrication and emerging materials, this project promotes communication and active exchange across disciplines. Through the integration of health, wellness, technology, and design, the Beacon generates spatial transformations of light that in turn, empower and inspire collective levity, engagement, and play in the city and beyond.
Design Team
Lead Architectural Designer: Jenny E. Sabin
MEDstudio Director: Peter Lloyd Jones
Systems Design and Management: Trudy A Watt of Waxwood Agency, Michael Koerner
Design and Production: Andrew Moorman, Jingyang Liu, Bennett Norman, Danny Salamoun, Jordan Berta, Maddy Eggers, David Rosenwasser, Dillon Pranger
Engineering Design: Arup
Lighting: Jeffrey Nash
Drone Operation: Nick Lang
Drones Provider: Autel Robotics
Knit Fabrication: Shima Seiki WHOLEGARMENT
Steel Laser Cutting: LaserFab
Steel Fabrication: Filippi Brothers
Powder Coating: Ingham’s Powder Coating
Installation: Railroad Construction Company, Inc
Photography: Croy Popp, MEDstudio@JEFF, and Jenny Sabin Studio
Special Thanks to Michael Duffy for drone consultation