The Metropolis Next Generation entry has garnered another award: 2011 AIA-DC Unbuilt Award.  The 2011 Washington UNBUILT Awards Program recognizes excellence in projects that to date remain unbuilt – theoretical and unbuilt commissioned projects.  Congratulations again to the HOK / Vanderweil Design Team!

Integral to the development of this project was a balance between energy conservation measures and design aesthetics.  While this goal may seem evident, available technologies create a unique challenge for designers to marry these two principles.  It took great strides to move from research into development, and formalize gestures into 3D Vizualizations that were recently featured at Design DC, where the AIA-DC Unbuilt Awards were announced.

The final renderings are a result of the tremendous efforts of Jarek Bieda and Colin Benson, DC’s Vizualization Specialists, who drew from the exterior design of Scott Walzak, atria design of Ming Hu and Monika Kumor, and interior design of Antony Yen.  In a mere four days, Jarek and Colin deftly translated these distinct models into visualizations that gave reality to our concepts.  Sitting down with Jarek, I learned more about their process. 

Sean Quinn: What drew you to work on this project?

Jarek Bieda: Our Visualization Lab is involved in most of the projects in the DC office, so it was natural that we helped out on this one too.  Even though we only had 4 days before the deadline, we worked intensely and delivered the images everyone was happy with.

SQ: What was your involvement and experience on the project?

JB: The goal for us was to take the very conceptual computer models created by the design team and turn them into detailed visuals that will help to make the idea seem realistic and exciting.  The 3D models we were given were basic but we also received a lot of detailed instruction about how it “should” look.  This helped us to define what we are trying to visualize.

SQ: What would you like to see brought into your regular project workload?

JB: We would be very excited to help develop the idea further, possibly building some physical models of the algae panels and work with the team to assist in system research and further the design process.