07/11/2024

Iowa State and OPN Architects collaborate to create 3D-printed concrete furniture for Rudd library

An innovative collaboration merges Iowa State University’s research and 3D-printing facilities with OPN Architects’ digital tools and vision to create an outdoor seating space to be installed this summer at the new Rudd Public Library. The former library was destroyed in a tornado in 2021. OPN employees, including several College of Design alumni, worked with architecture associate professor Shelby Doyle, the Stan G. Thurston Professor in Design Build, to create the furniture crafted from concrete.

The pieces designed for the library function as an art installation and public seating, featuring seven separate concrete pieces allowing patrons to sit or recline, similar to benches.

ACSA International Conference

College of Design dean Luis Rico-Gutierrez co-chaired “Inflections/Inflexiones,” the 2024 Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture’s International Conference, from June 27–29 in Querétaro, Mexico. He led several conversations investigating potential changes in higher education and emerging research.

Architecture associate professors Cruz Garcia and Nathalie Frankowski also participated in the conference. Frankowski spoke on a panel exploring the issue of gender being overlooked when designing the built environment. And Garcia moderated the closing keynote address on “Illuminating the Overlooked: Unconventional Practices for Responsible Futures.”

FEMA & ISU Grants

Shelby Doyle, associate professor of architecture and Stan G. Thurston Professor in Design Build; Pete Evans (BArch 1995 Architecture / Graduate Certificate 2014 Human Computer Interaction / MID 2017 Industrial Design), assistant professor of industrial design; Nick Senske (BArch 2003 Architecture), associate professor of architecture; and Chengde Wu, associate professor of architecture, recently received funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities Grant Program to develop 3D-printed concrete tornado shelters. The grant will help them develop designs and feasibility studies for 3D-printed safe rooms and support the College of Design’s 3D Affordable Innovative Technologies (AIT) Housing Project.

Doyle and colleagues from the College of Engineering received an Iowa State University Exploratory Research Project Grant for the “Engineering 3D-Printed Concrete Composites for Innovative and Sustainable Infrastructures” initiative. Funds will help them initiate the development of high-risk, high-impact, novel ideas for new research projects.

Bridging the Divide Grant

Art and visual culture assistant professor Raluca Iancu and fashion design and merchandising associate professor Rachel Eike received Iowa State University’s 2024 Bridging the Divide grant for their project “Innovative Sustainable Solutions: Non-woven Textile Through Papermaking,” which aims to merge sustainability practices with traditional fine art papermaking techniques.

Research Collaboration Catalysts

Merate Barakat, associate professor of architecture; Jiwnath Ghimire, assistant professor of community and regional planning; and Patrick Finley (MFA 2013 Graphic Design), assistant professor of graphic design, have been selected by the Office of the Vice President for Research to participate in the 2024-25 Research Collaboration Catalysts program cohort. They are among 20 Iowa State faculty selected for the program, which is designed to train the next generation of interdisciplinary research team leaders.

Happy Paws Project

Bruno Oro, assistant professor of industrial design, is collaborating with Limb Lab to help children with cerebral palsy get fitted for orthotics. Together, they have developed “Happy Paws,” a special teddy bear that accompanies kids as they get fitted for their equipment. The bear aims to help children understand and accept their assistive devices more rapidly.

View the video linked below to learn more about Oro’s research and his students’ involvement in the project, which includes development of a series of children’s picture books. A story about the ongoing project will be published later this summer in the College of Design’s Inspire magazine.

Best Paper Award

Alenka Poplin, associate professor of community and regional planning, received the Best Paper Award for her presentation on “Serious Digital Geogames and Their Implementations Enhanced by Artificial Intelligence, Mixed- and Augmented Reality” at the 24th International Conference on Computational Science and Applications held July 1-4 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

New Rome Program Resident Director

Simone Bove, a longtime interior design instructor for the College of Design Rome Program, has been named the program’s new resident director. His appointment began July 1. He succeeds Pia Schneider, who retired in June after 24 successful years in that role.

Community & Regional Planning Interim Chair

Community and regional planning professor Susan Bradbury has been named interim chair of the Department of Community and Regional Planning. Her interim appointment began July 1. Professor Francis Owusu, who completed his second term as chair of the department at the end of June, had earlier announced his decision to return to teaching full time in fall 2025 following a faculty professional development leave.

Encaustic Painting Exhibition & Reception

“An Exploration of Nature Through Encaustic Painting,” an exhibition by art and visual culture associate professor Barbara Walton (BFA 1991 / MA 1993 Art & Design) and fellow alumna Rachel Deutmeyer (MFA 2018 Integrated Visual Arts), is on display through July 26 at the Memorial Union Art Gallery on the Iowa State campus. A reception will be from 5–7 p.m. Thursday, July 18.

Ross Hall Mural

A new mural designed by College of Design students and recent graduates now graces the walls of Ross Hall’s second-floor dining space. Over the last eight weeks, the interdisciplinary team of students painted the mural for the Department of English as part of a summer mural studio taught by Anna Segner (MFA 2019 Integrated Visual Arts), assistant teaching professor of art and visual culture.

Rising Star Summer Interns

Second-year architecture student Colter Lauersdorf, industrial design sophomores Olivia Lammers and Jadan Tseng, and community and regional planning senior Laurel Waterman were selected to participate in the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Rising Star paid internship program this summer. They will share reflections on their experience in an in-person presentation from 9–11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, in 2019 Morrill Hall on the Iowa State campus. The event will also be livestreamed on the Rising Star Internship Facebook page. We’re also highlighting each intern on the College of Design Instagram account.

Reggae Poster Contest Winners

Posters by graphic design juniors Natalie Friis, Ana Kacmarynski and Isaac Lueckenotto and senior Thayla Tuler were selected for exhibition in the 9th Annual Reggae Poster Contest. They are among only 100 works selected from a total of 601 entries from 55 countries. The students developed their winning posters in a studio taught by graphic design assistant teaching professor Christopher Scott.

Alumni Spotlight: Paavan Joshi

Inspired by his father, an interior designer and architect, Paavan Joshi (BA 2014 / MS 2022 Architecture) was eager to enroll at Iowa State University’s College of Design to carve out his path as a designer. Now working as a design professional at HKS, Inc. in Chicago, Joshi credits his Iowa State experiences and education for helping him become the innovator he is today.

View the video linked below to learn more about Joshi, his time at Iowa State and his plans for the future. Watch for his alumni profile in the College of Design’s Inspire magazine, which will mail later this summer.

Deep Chaniara

MArch 2018 Architecture

Deep Chaniara, AIA, NCARB, NOMA, architect and associate at Pickard Chilton, is a recipient of AIA Connecticut’s 2024 Emerging Professional Award.

Charlie Dissell

BS 2006 Community & Regional Planning

Charlie Dissell, currently the City of Indianola’s deputy city manager, will start a new position as assistant city manager for the City of Independence, Missouri.

Akshali Gandhi

BS 2012 Community & Regional Planning & International Studies

Akshali Gandhi recently returned from Pune, India, where she spent eight months on a Fulbright Nehru Research grant-supported project studying street design and road safety. Read more about her Fulbright experience in the latest issue of the Iowa Stater.

Charvi Jagani

MArch 2017 Architecture / MUD 2017 Urban Design

Charvi Jagani, AIA, has been promoted to associate at Substance Architecture.

Bryce Ketterhagen

BLA 2024 Landscape Architecture

Bryce Ketterhagen has joined the Whistling Straits golf course maintenance crew as a straits course irrigation technician.

Yasmine Killeen

BArch 2013 Architecture

Yasmine (Sepehri) Killeen, AIA, has been promoted to associate at Substance Architecture.

Chad Moklestad

MArch 2020 Architecture

Chad Moklestad passed all six divisions of the NCARB exams and is now a certified architect with OPN Architects in Des Moines.

Paolo Orlando

MArch 2017 Architecture

Paolo Orlando, AIA, has been promoted to associate at Substance Architecture.

Emily Preston

BArch 2024 Architecture

Emily Preston has joined Substance Architecture in Des Moines as an intern architect.

Jack Schultz

BLA 2024 Landscape Architecture

Jack Schultz has joined Bolton and Menk in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a landscape designer.

Ethan Standard

BS 2013 Community & Regional Planning

Ethan Standard, CPM, joined the City of Johnston as its economic development project manager in late May.

Peyton Tinker

BFA 2020 Interior Design

Peyton Tinker, NCIDQ, WELL AP, an interior designer/associate with DLR Group in Seattle, Washington, passed her NCIDQ exam and is now a certified interior designer.

Upcoming Events

• An Exploration of Nature Through Encaustic Painting Exhibition Reception, celebrating the work of Rachel Deutmeyer and Barbara Walton, Wednesday, July 18, Memorial Union Art Gallery, 5–7 p.m. More >>
• CYstarters Demo Day, Tuesday, July 30, ISU Research Park Core Facility Atrium, 3–6:30 p.m. More >>
• ISU Rising Star Internship Presentations, Tuesday, Aug. 6, 2019 Morrill Hall and livestream, 9–11 a.m. More >>

Questions? Contact designotes@iastate.edu.