FOURTH YEAR UNDERGRADUATE
Jake Levy—General Contractors Association of Toronto Award
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Jake Levy—General Contractors Association of Toronto Award
About the Award
General Contractors Association of Toronto Award:
For overall excellence and a demonstrated interest in project management is presented to four, fourth year students.
Meet Coral! A terracotta 3D-printed moss biome, awarded the Undergraduate Student Research Award at Toronto Metropolitan University, I explored moss propagation and robotic terracotta extrusion to address Toronto’s Urban Heat Island Effect. Coral is a 1:4 scale prototype that reimagines underused urban surfaces, streets, alleys, and underpasses as living systems capable of sequestering carbon, filtering pollutants, and supporting urban ecology. Using the KUKA KR6 robotic arm, I scripted KRL toolpaths to 3D print over 60 terracotta pieces, later kiln-fired and assembled. Each piece can withstand 1,400 lbs of force and retain 14% of its weight in water. A six-week moss propagation experiment tested growth using a moss and buttermilk slurry applied to the interior surface, watered daily, and documented. Grateful to TMU for supporting this research and for the chance to explore how architecture can cultivate living, regenerative systems within the city. Thank you to Vincent Hui for serving as the faculty advisor for this research project, and to Filip, Jason, and Jordon from the TMU DAS workshop for their invaluable guidance and support throughout the process.
General Contractors Association of Toronto Award:
For overall excellence and a demonstrated interest in project management is presented to four, fourth year students.
Meet Coral! A terracotta 3D-printed moss biome, awarded the Undergraduate Student Research Award at Toronto Metropolitan University, I explored moss propagation and robotic terracotta extrusion to address Toronto’s Urban Heat Island Effect. Coral is a 1:4 scale prototype that reimagines underused urban surfaces, streets, alleys, and underpasses as living systems capable of sequestering carbon, filtering pollutants, and supporting urban ecology. Using the KUKA KR6 robotic arm, I scripted KRL toolpaths to 3D print over 60 terracotta pieces, later kiln-fired and assembled. Each piece can withstand 1,400 lbs of force and retain 14% of its weight in water. A six-week moss propagation experiment tested growth using a moss and buttermilk slurry applied to the interior surface, watered daily, and documented. Grateful to TMU for supporting this research and for the chance to explore how architecture can cultivate living, regenerative systems within the city. Thank you to Vincent Hui for serving as the faculty advisor for this research project, and to Filip, Jason, and Jordon from the TMU DAS workshop for their invaluable guidance and support throughout the process.
