Ten hours of crane time over two days was what it took Metalab to assemble the Open Channel Flow sculpture. Three major vertical supports were first placed that set the datum 21' above grade upon which the tripod assembly was placed with the boom crane extended. On a bucket lift we placed the fasteners with relative ease. The accuracy of this maneuver was carefully orchestrated but ultimately was possible through the digital fabrication of a jig that exactly set the bolt pattern in the concrete footings placed in the ground below prior to the delivery of the steel pipe components. View from the bucket lift... A safe landing, skate park and Houston skyline looking on Looking over the shower head... Camera tilt to fit it all in... not the bucket lift Matthew Geller, Artist Some of the crew: MG, Joe, James the Crane and Juan in hardhat. Shower head cantilever extension Open Channel Flow topping out at over 50', that's AV down by the steps

The Photobooth is ready to be fabricated.  Our assembly team at Merge will receive a kit-of-parts of digitally cut components ready to be formed and welded, a 1/4 scale model and some diagrams... not one dimensioned drawing!  Metalab has designed and authored the parts for this innovative and mobile Photobooth.  Our clients at BSP will transport and install this at weddings and other occasions for quick, high quality photos printed on the spot.  The wheels will be integrated into the box with removable handles so the unit can be easily moved onto the thick ballast plate from the truck/crate.

The life of the Mirabeau B Sales Center was to be temporary from the start... according to COH permitting. Monday we had the big crane and truck out for moving day. Weighing in a 11,000 pounds the PV powered container needed some counterweight on the crane... Mission construction's backhoe scoop provided the heft. The containers new temporary home is at Campo Sheet Metal's new shop space.  Hopefully we'll be fabricating more SPACE's in this monumental space in the near future...

Plucked from the Salvation Army auction on Washington Ave for $1500. 1975 Ford F250 39,000K miles with extended bed, painted Metalab Green

The AA|FAB Cluster at the Architectural Association organizes a competition to award new projects that employ digital design and fabrication in innovative ways. The parametric suspended ceiling system that we developed in the 5500 Studio and DigiFAB with Scott Marble as visiting critic impressed the jury which selected it for a First Prize. We will present the project in London in September at a conference during the London Design Festival.

The foundation (3 pier footings) for the Open Channel Flow sculpture have been placed.  The assembly shown is the jig that Campo Sheet Metal built to locate the bolt plates on which the pipe work will be installed.