The Florida International University mobile art pavilion was designed by a group of students from the university's School of Architecture. Senior Instructor and Berenblum Busch Architects Founding Principal, Claudia Busch, led seven student teams from her Graduate Architecture Studio 9 to envision what the future pavilion might hold.
The students' design was inspired by the idea of re-imagining the Spanish Pavilion of 1937 for the 21st century. To achieve their visions, students worked with FIU’s Robotics and Digital Fabrication Lab to integrate robotics and advanced manufacturing technologies into their designs.
Of the seven student-proposed designs, the design of 315 square-foot dome-like structure was selected. The pavilion will consist of three layers with the outer one being made from a rigid metal frame to hold the fabric that encloses the pavilion and display walls designed to rotate to vary the closure of the piece and accommodate for art display and performance. The structure will also be weatherproof to address sustainability in terms of energy usage, renewable energy resources, and sustainable materials. The fabric envelope features ETFE solar coating to help reflect and diffuse direct solar radiation, optimizing temperature comfort inside. The pavilion will serve as an art display and performance venue showcasing popular short plays, pop-up events, and full-length dramas, and will generate more exposure for artists.
The multi-use, mobile art pavilion will bring the arts to different South Florida communities as part of a partnership between FIU and Grace Arts Florida. The university's Robotics & Digital Fabrication Lab will fabricate the design to be on-site in South Florida communities summer 2020.