About the innovative materials lab (iml):
The Pratt Architecture "Innovative Materials lab" is propelling SoA into a realm where innovation meets versatility. The goal of this space is to provide students and faculty with the necessary tools for material experimentation and innovation.
Material research is necessary given the world conditions we face now. Architecture must incorporate informed use and reuse of material that considers: life cycle, manufacturing concerns, and performance enhancement.
Organic Pigments and Dyes
Early on in the Innovative Materials Lab the staff and students ran many experiments with completely organic 3D printable materials to explore material gradients, organic pigments, and robotic printing parameters.
Composites Materials
Bio-Based Materials taught in a seminar course focused on the use of hemp composites, and have utilized the Innovative materials lab to explore the viability of hemp as a material. In addition to their experimentation with hemp-crete, students utilized the lab's library of fungal cultures to produce hemp based mycelium bricks and "bio-mortar".
Culture Library
A focus of the materials lab is to increase the success rate of mycelium based material production, and explore the properties of composites. We have a growing library of fungal strains, a database of fungal cultures, their material properties, and protocols to aid in the success of their production.
iml Hours:
Monday - Friday: 10am - 5pm
The Innovative Materials Lab is by appointment only - Please use the form below to submit a project!
The Material Lab is available only to students and faculty in the Architecture program. Students will never engage with the lab without guidance. Bring your ideas to the production facilities staff, we will help steer your project towards success early in development.
Submissions
The goal of establishing the materials lab is to support the production of more environmentally friendly materials. We can encourage more thoughtful practices in architecture by researching and developing materials to make them more functional, cost-effective, and more successful. Our goal in the shops is to support you in the making process but also provide you with skills that will help you succeed in your future careers. If you are interested in submitting a proposal for a project or research in the Innovative Materials Lab, please use the link below.
