USC School of Architecture had very specific design criteria for the Timme Architectural Research Center's 150 graduate student desks. Tangram Studio was given the following objectives to solve: use only green materials and processes, achieve an open, transparent design while retaining a definition of each student's space, design for quick and easy reconfigurations, incorporate the specialized storage and display requirements of an architectural student, and lastly build a tank that with last decades.

Form did follow function. The station addresses the specific needs of architecture students: open enough for some collective discourse, yet private enough for individual focus. We built it as rugged as a work bench: to withstand years of drawing, cutting, building, and moving. With a typical 60" high top shelf 20" deep for constant display of architectural models the topography of station clusters are punctuated only by the student's own 3D work. Concealed storage drawers and overheads were engineered for student padlocks. Our solution integrated two simple double bent sheet metal pulls detail with the padlock attachment point.

To enable easy reconfiguring each semester Studio arrived at an autonomous free standing station design. They are universally designed for either back to back or single sided clusters. The electrical system is modular as well with connector whips are easily reconfigured without electricians.

To achieve the station's highly porous transparent perforated steel panels was an engineering hurdle. A special cluster punch tool was machined to enable our CNC sheet metal stamping production to perforate this pattern without distorting the flatness of the sheet metal during stamping.

The station is comprised of over 95% of green materials and processes: Homasote, used for critique tack panels, is 100% recycled newsprint with no glue binders. Steel which is over 90% recycled content is utilized for the frame, storage elements and as the perforated paneling. Forbo Marmoleum made from renewable plant materials is normally a flooring material. We used it as the work surface top for increased durability and it's green content. Arreis MDF, the work surface substrate, is a green MDF made exclusively from reclaimed wood by product. All of our steel elements are finished with the low VOC closed loop powder coating process. Fine texture powders where chosen for their better longevity in high use settings.

The development cycle for the USC School of Architecture was 10 weeks from initial contact to installation.