Digital Fabrication And Computational Design Projects

At the forefront of architectural innovation, the Digital Fabrication and Computational Design initiative at Virginia Tech explores how emerging technologies are reshaping the way we design and build. This platform brings together research and pedagogical projects that harness computational thinking, parametric modeling, robotics, and advanced fabrication methods to expand the boundaries of architectural practice.

Through cross-disciplinary collaboration and experimentation, faculty and students investigate new materials, construction systems, and design workflows that integrate digital tools from concept to realization. From full-scale prototypes and research installations to speculative design investigations, these projects reflect our commitment to pushing the future of architecture toward greater precision, sustainability, and creativity.

Below, explore a growing collection of projects developed in studios, labs, and collaborative research settings that embody the evolving intersections of design, computation, and making.

BAMBOO PLAY BioDesign through Computation

Bamboo Play explores sustainable construction through the innovative use of bamboo, a rapidly renewable material. Developed in the Integrated Computational Design and Fabrication course, this project demonstrates how minimal intervention and material- informed design can lead to complex spatial outcomes. The structure comprises 346 unique elements, each precisely fabricated using CNC tools, derived from the natural node-to- node dimensions of unmodified bamboo poles. A custom digital design tool was developed in-house to manage the complexity of the geometry and assembly.

LEARN MORE ABOUT BAMBOO PLAY

MOOD-VIRONMENT

Mood-vironment is an emotive, intelligent, and interactive installation that creates a dynamic, immersive atmosphere through responsive color-changing and musical effects. This socially responsive installation places users’ emotions at the core of the experience, harnessing Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies

LEARN MORE ABOUT MOOD-VIRONMENT

3D-PRINTED CLAY FACADE BLOCKS Self-Shading, Self-Ventilating Strategy for Hot Climates

This project investigates the potential of 3D-printed clay blocks as a sustainable alternative to traditional bricks, particularly in hot climates. Traditional masonry construction contributes significantly to environmental degradation due to high energy consumption during manufacturing and limited thermal performance in use. In contrast, this new system introduces freeform, hollow blocks designed to passively cool building façades.

LEARN MORE ABOUT 3D-PRINTED CLAY FACADE BLOCKS

ICDF 24 PAVILION

Students in Assistant Professor Ramtin Haghnazar’s Integrated Computational Design and Digital Fabrication course explored the fusion of parametric modeling and advanced fabrication techniques. Using Grasshopper, they developed design concepts that evolved into a 3D spatial structure, featuring custom 3D-printed joints—a testament to the power of computational design in construction innovation.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ICDF 24 PAVILION

ICDF 24 PAVILIONRobotic Harmonics

The ICDF Integrated Computational Design and Digital Fabrication course offers a deep dive into the evolving field of architectural innovation through computational design tools and digital fabrication techniques. This course is tailored to educate and empower students in using advanced software and hardware to design and produce complex geometrical structures, particularly focusing on free-form architecture which symbolizes a new techno-cultural paradigm shift from traditional industrial Modernism.

LEARN MORE ABOUT ROBOTIC HARMONICS