Make It Modular - Design Realization Garage

Hello! My name is Maxwell, and I just graduated from Design Tech High School, a public charter school in Silicon Valley focused on problem solving through the use of design thinking. I am currently 18 and will be attending UC Berkeley in the intended major of Architecture in the fall. As the first and only school to be located on a corporate campus (ORACLE) combined with futuristic ideals of education, I have been exposed to so many incredible opportunities that have allowed me to grow as a designer and find my passion for architecture. Our teachers always encouraged us to start curiosity projects and made sure that we had all of the resources and tools necessary to succeed. The heart of our school was the Design Realization Garage, a space that spanned 3,000 square feet over two stories and was filled with all of the tools, materials, and machinery to create and bring our visions to life. Woodworking, robot-building, sewing, and 3D printing were a few of the endless amount of projects that came from this space. My goal with the Make It Modular Challenge was to create a place for my community where people of all ages can experience the joy and power of creativity. Whenever I set out to make a project, I always focus on the sustainability, both in terms of our effect on the environment and making sure to build out initiatives that will last to ensure success and effectiveness. I imagine this space becoming an asset for the city of Foster City by selecting a location right in the center: Leo J. Ryan Park. With its close proximity to the main shopping mall, recreation center, library, city hall, police station, fire station and the crown jewel of the city: The Foster City Lagoon, it is sure to stand out and be easily accessible to everyone. Students from both Nueva and Design Tech High School are trained in design thinking and could spend time mentoring residents in their projects, while picking up volunteer hours along the way. Librarians and recreation center staff can hold events and use the space during camps to teach about tools such as 3D printing, laser cutting, and sewing. With most of the residents working in tech industries or even retired, they would also be able to volunteer their time in the Design Realization Garage to connect with other residents. I believe that creating this space will not only build a stronger community, but it has the ability to set students (of all ages) on a path to believe that they can truly make a difference in the world.

For Sketching

• Paper
• Pencil
• Permanent Marker
• Ruler

For the Foam Model

• 8x10 Foam Board (3)
• optiCutter
• Exacto Knife
• Yellow Construction Paper
• Blue Construction Paper
• Black Construction Paper
• Thick Permanent Marker
• Metal Ruler
• Scissors
• Hot Glue Gun
• Hot Glue Sticks (2)

For the Tinkercad Model

• 3D Shipping Container Model in Pieces (3)
• Black Boxes (16)
• Transparent White Boxes (30)
• White Boxes (2)
• Light Brown Boxes (2)
• Solar Panels (5)
• Yellow Box
• Blue Box
• Yellow Roof
• Blue Roof

I brainstormed a couple of locations for where my project could be located, but eventually selected an open spot in Leo J. Ryan Park. It was centrally located within the city, had plenty of room, and overlooked the lagoon. There, I spent time imagine how people would interact with an installation and how it could be accessed. That is how I came with the idea to create essentially a mirrored structure with multiple entry points as it would be in the center of multiple walking paths.

I sketched out a couple of potential layouts and plans to use the shipping container, but ultimately landed on this final design. I played around with stacking and connecting at different points, but I felt that the final solution maximized the space and would allow for better flow and integration within the park. I showed the different elevations and wrote out dimensions to help me create both physical and digital models.

I drew out all of the dimensions of the model and how many pieces to cut out of each. I then used optiCutter to plan out the most efficient way to cut the foam pieces. Only two of the foam pieces will be used for the model, while the third will be used as the base. I used a ruler to mark out the cuts on the foam, then cut out precise pieces using the edge of my metal ruler and an exacto knife.

I used my sketches as a guide to glue all of the pieces together and cut construction paper or used permanent marker to add details. A minimal amount of glue should be used, so that excess will not be seen once the pieces are put together. The last piece of foam can be glued to the bottom of the model and cut to size as it will be a little longer than needed.

To really bring the idea to life, I decided to use Tinker CAD and the provided storage container model. First, I duplicated the model made out of pieces three times and referred to my sketch to create the correct layout. I removed the doors, extended or shortened side walls to the correct length, and cut out holes for the accordion doors. I added the decking to both sides of model and started working on adding garage doors and the accordion doors. Some were left open to really highlight the potential for expansion of space and indoor/outdoor working options. The yellow and blue storage lockers and sun sails were then added to both sides as well as skylights and solar panels for the roof. To finish it off, I added contemporary furniture inside and out to allow for visualization of the space.