The Ramp Shade is designed to extend and cover the area on the side of the school's pedestrian bridge that connects Perkins and the Academic Commons.

Foster, an academic building that used to be a popular hangout spot, is no longer accessible to students. A ramp shade would give students a much-needed place on campus to hang out or do homework outside. The aim of the Ramp Shade is to encourage students to study outside of the classrooms and in the fresh air. The Ramp Shade has two states which are full extended for shade and the other is tucked away under the bridge for storing it. We have to states because our shade is not meant to go through really bad weather so when weather is bad is can be tucked away.

This project started with a cardboard replica of what we thought would be such a great model. We couldn’t get it but unfortunately, the mechanism that moves the shade up and down did not work. This did not work because of the way the strings were attached the shade would not be able to go up. Also, it was not deployable to it could not be tucked away.Then we made another replica out of cardboard, this time we got help with what our shade could be. We decided to go with origami because we were told it would be more bendable and easier to tuck away.  We began researching origami and types of folding techniques could be used for a shade. Although it was challenging and time-consuming, we started to learn how to fold the origami shade. Once we got that we tried connecting it to our model. We still didn’t know how we were going to make this retract and expand. We thought maybe running a string through it would work. Then we realized that the origami wouldn’t just stay up on its own. 

The next task our team worked was a structural frame for the origami and the connections between components. Once we laid out the finalized parts in Rhino, a CAD software, the frame was ready to be laser cut. We also laser cut fabric to fit in each frame, creating the shade. Then we created tape hinges on the cardboard model to experiment with the folding mechanism. We to show that. Then we moved on to laser cutting a wood frame and the fabric sections. Metal hinges were then added to the frames to connect them and allow the shade to fold.

The origami is one that took a long time to research and figure out what to do. To finally realized that we didn’t need to just be folding paper that the origami needed to replica a frame was hard to get to. Once we got there is made it a lot easier to work with and see where to go from there. This project in the end would be great for student's and faculty. It would be easy for anyone to deploy and a great addition to the campus.

The Ramp Shade is designed to provide a shady space for students to relax, eat lunch, or have an outdoor classroom. This project is an origami shade That uses weatherproof fabric in-between a robust structural frame. 

At the beginning of the semester, the idea was to create a shady pace within campus since a once-popular academic building, Foster, is now shut down.  Currently, there is not a cool place for students to eat lunch outside besides the library. We stuck with the vision and did not change it any time throughout the process. 

This project is an excellent idea because everyone on campus wants a place to hang out outside. Later, the prototypes will include picnic tables so students can eat lunch outside without having to sit on the concrete. On the prototypes, there was trouble with the idea of the frame and the design of the origami.  The project first had a pulley system that pulled a large piece of wood to create the shade.  The shade was too heavy and large for the simple and weak pulley system,  and later designed lightweight origami to help. The students were trying to decide between a wooden or acrylic frame.  Although wood would work,  using acrylic to laser cut the frame would be more durable and is overall more aesthetically-pleasing.

Throughout all of these prototypes and ideas, the final project was straightforward and light origami design that will give maximum shade coverage.  The final shade design proposes covering the area closest to the chapel by attaching to the new pedestrian bridge. There is still one problem, that is coming up with a way of fastening the shade to the bridge.  During the final presentation, a teacher had a critique bring up the idea about water, which is a good idea to think about.  The project also can  have poles and have wires stretched out across the area so the shade and be extended out manually by students. 

Swangin' Seats is a pavilion that transforms from a study area to a hangout space through the use of movable walls. 

People are able to lower the walls to create a more enclosed space or raise them up to the point where they become an extension of the roof for an open feel. The key feature of this project is that when the walls lower, they serve as a swinging bench seat. The end of each wall is angled inward to create a seat that folds down. This project allows for an interactive space that has more than one use. It provides an extra spot to sit and study or just hang out. Each wall can be raised or lowered individually, so it is also very customizable. People might have two walls up and the other two down for seating. It is based on the needs of its users.

This project started out with a basic idea of a room with removable walls. At first, the walls were going to be pulled up from the floor to surround the person or people inside. This idea changed into having the walls descend from above. This way, the walls can be folded up at a ninety degree angle to become an extension to the roof and provide more shade. There is a pulley system that allows the user to lift and lower the seats incrementally.

The wall benches needed to be strong enough to hold the weight of a person, but light enough to be easily lifted. The walls also had to be secured onto the frame to hold a person. Our solution is to use a series of ropes or stronger material to link the wall to the framework. The pulleys help make it easier to lift, and the ropes will hold the wall/seat securely. People will pull a rope down in order to lift each corresponding wall. There is a hook to fasten the rope to that will hold the wall in place. When someone wants to lower a wall, they can simply undo the hook and let the wall come down. Swangin' Seats creates an innovative space that allows student to sit, socialize, or study in a customizable environment.

In essence, this project is a deploayble seated area. It gives students a place to eat or study under the roof of a pavilion. When it is deployed, the benches go up and are hooked to the side structure. The seats act as a shaded pavillion that protects from adverse weather or from sunlight. 

Many protoypes were made before the main one. Four or five iterations of the project were made to get to the final product. Figuring out what and where things would work impacted the project greatly. Having the connections of the hinge with the seats was not working so it took another approach. A long wire to hook through the chairs was used to get it connected. The rest was easy and to the point. 

The project mainly used cardboard at first because that was the only thing that would work. Ducttape was used to get the whole thing connected. Then, it started to get advnaced. The project got into the wood industry and the pieces started to work. The connections of the chairs to the roof went smooth with wood and the pulley system is something to admire. It works full proof now and the materials were wood and screws. 

A project contains a real life work space solution. It is a slide of sorts for your book-sack. It allows students or employees to easily and safely transport their bags from floor to floor in a multi-story building.

Have you ever wondered how you could transport your bags from level to level when there is no elevator for use? Well, My partner and I have figured out a solution to this problem! We came across the idea of making this slide because one of our friends was hurt and has no way to carry his bag besides getting someone to carry it for him. We realized this was a problem that we needed to fix because it was a common occurrence that someone had to bring his book-sack to the class was in but they would then have to run all the way across campus to get to their class.

We begun looking at ways we could solve this problem. We soon came up with a solution. We began framing and sketching our ideas. We finally came up with a good idea. It used a telescoping method to form as a chute. There would have been about ten pieces that would unfold out of itself all the way to the ground progressively getting smaller and smaller. We soon realized this was a bad idea because once the book-sack reached the ground it probably wouldn't have fit down the shoot because the end piece would be to small. Granted, we could have made the starting piece bigger but then the entire project would be too big to fit into the space.

We tried many different ways, but most of them failed for one reason or another. We finally came to the solution/project that we are currently working on. Thus being a bendy art piece/usable slide for your book-sack. The latest prototype is made out of PVC pipes that have about a ninety degree angle in them. On each PVC part there are connectors. The problem this poses it that one of the sides has to be bigger that the other meaning it is not a smooth surface all the way down the slide. We are trying to fix this problem by getting the desired slope we want, setting it, and now taping it for the tubes to be flush all the way down the slide.

This semester, we have gone through many different steps and phases that have led us to the Book sack Rollercoaster. Our Book sack Rollercoaster is made up of numerous pieces of PVC pipe that range from straight, curvy, steep, and gradual pieces that are bound together. These pieces create a track connected to the staircase railing allowing the book sacks to travel down the stairs in a smooth, artsy transition.

Our design of the Book sack Rollercoaster has gone through quite a process itself. We originated in the idea of having a telescoping chute that would run from the top of the stairs down to the bottom, but this idea soon failed because it would be hard to control the slope of the chute being that each box fits into a larger box above it creating quite a steep slope. This, as well as the size of the first and last boxes, became issues. Because of all of this, we abandoned the idea and eventually came to this idea of PVC pipes creating a track for the book sacks to follow down to the bottom of the staircase. The pipes would be mounted to the staircase and use gravity and the designed slope to transport the book sacks in a smooth and artistic way. 

This Book sack Rollercoaster will allow those who are injured and unable to carry their own book sacks to have an easier alternative than getting another person to carry it for them. This will prove to be very helpful for not only those students who are injured, but also for other students, teachers, or visitors who are carrying heavy items, have their hands full, or are simply just lazy. Being that we are in a place where everyone lugs around heavy book sacks, having a beautiful, artsy design will not only add charm and fun to the boring stairway, but will also serve as a very convenient system to transport items for in multi-leveled buildings.

Our project is tilted bench desk because of the two states it can be in. The table is versatile in the way that everyone can use it. The bench is a bench that everyone can enjoy on campus. 

Our has so many benefits to it. It has two states that can help ay student in need of a productive work space. It has a seat and a back rest for relaxation. The back rest then folds into the table allowing for a productive work space. 

The joints on our project are top notch and have passed our nine star reliable test. It has a guide rail in order for the bench back to never fall off when it is in transition into a table. Our  bench desk is top notch and has high grade wood in all parts of the product and is available in multiple sizes for all of your working needs. 

The Dench is a bench that turns into a table to provide a comfortable place to sit and work on the school's campus. 

The bench is designed to sit a little taller than a normal bench at 24 inches. It is designed like this so that anyone will have ample room for their legs under the table. The seat and table are long enough to sit two people in case a student needs help or is doing work with a partner.

The greatest challenge of this project was to figure out the arm joint. In this bench, we needed an arm that could rotate so that the table could act as the back of the seat. To fix this problem The Dench would need to have a sliding mechanism to allow the table surface to come off of the arms and rotate to become a bench seat back. Another problem was figuring out how the arm would rotate without falling all the way down. The Dench would then need a circularly shaped arm with stoppers on both sides to make sure it won't fall in either direction. The Dench will be made out of wood and the legs would be 2 by 4's. Additionally, to put this together it would need plenty screws so the arm could attach to the bench.

Although there were some difficulties in the making of this bench, there was always a solution. In conclusion, the Dench is needed because it allows a student or faculty member to simply sit or work comfortably outside on the school's campus.  

Our project is for students who want to do work outside in a workspace that has a desk for your homework or projects or you just want to go outside and enjoy the weather. There is now a place for that with our Bench/Desk Workspace. 

Our mechanism is a bench that is used as a desk, but why have a lap as a desk when u can have a foldable desk. The desk has hinges in it so it can be used as an arm rest and a desk. The primary use of our device is to be able to work outside where there is a quiet place to work, working outside while everyone is in class makes it peaceful to sit on a bench that has a desk instead of using your lap. 

As of now we have not tested nor finished our model yet, but once we do finish I believe it will turn out great and will be used a lot for many reasons, and will be a good add on touch for availability for studying and or working quietly and efficiently.

Our project Bench Workspace gives students a space to enjoy nature while under the shade of a tree. The desk my partner and I designed attaches to a tree, creating an outdoor work space on the school's lawn. 

Why use your lap as a desk when you can have a fold-able bench that transforms into a work space? The primary use of (project name) is to provide a peaceful place to sit outside and work. Our Project can be used by students who have a free period in the day and would like to finish  homework or study. 

The desk has hinges in it so it can be used as an arm rest and a desk. Give several paragraphs of text explaining what worked and didn't work in your model. Tell us about your different design iterations and why you went with the tree attachment. What engineering challenges did you face?

Although we haven't completed the final product we believe that once we finish the full scale it will offer students a great option for  studying and quietly and efficiently outside?.