Boston Valley Terra Cotta is pleased to announce that team applications are now open for the 2024 Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop (ACAW). Celebrating its ninth year, this unique workshop invites professionals from the architectural industry to explore innovative building solutions and further their understanding of architectural terra cotta for large-scale assemblies. ACAW is hosted by Boston Valley in collaboration with Carnegie Mellon University School of Architecture, and the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning.
ACAW was established in 2016 with a vision to foster innovation in architectural design, with a focus on the versatile and dynamic medium of terra cotta. Over the years, ACAW has enabled teams to delve into diverse areas of study, ranging from bioclimatic and biophilic design to exploring surface and rainscreen system solutions.
Participating teams in ACAW 2024 will have the exceptional opportunity to collaborate closely with Boston Valley Terra Cotta’s experts to conceptualize and design an assembly mockup utilizing architectural terra cotta. Teams should be prepared with a project brief. This intensive and immersive process spans the course of eight months, allowing teams to gain in-depth insights into the capabilities, strengths, and limitations of this resilient material.
The ACAW experience begins in January 2024, as teams embark on a series of weekly Design Charette Meetings. Through pre-design and prototype research and development, teams will have the opportunity to explore innovative digital tools in the production of terra cotta assemblies, and how the variable materiality of terra cotta (through-body color, finish, and glaze) can inform and enhance a façade’s performance. By the end of March 2024, participating teams will have honed their designs for the proposed assemblies to be prepared for fabrication.
The culminating event of ACAW 2024 will take place during the week of August 12-15, 2024, in the architecturally rich city of Buffalo, New York. Boston Valley Terra Cotta will graciously host the 5-day conference, providing a dynamic environment for teams to assemble their mockups and present their research findings to a distinguished audience of architects, designers, and industry leaders.
“We are excited to review applications for what will be our ninth year presenting this workshop,” says John Krouse, COB at Boston Valley Terra Cotta and founder of the Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop. “ACAW has been a hub for innovation, collaboration, and the exploration of possibilities. We invite professional teams from around the world to join us on this exciting journey as we move forward in using architectural ceramics to create and build scalable facade solutions.”
Team applications for ACAW 2024 are now being accepted on the event website, and interested professionals are encouraged to apply by November 3, 2023. A jury selection committee comprised of representatives from Boston Valley Terra Cotta will review the submitted team applications.