This is the primary structure for the Project RE_Entry marquee. By demonstration, the design invites community members to envision the potential for material reuse through both high-tech and low-tech fabrication methods. RE_Entry is a self-scaffolding system fabricated primarily with high-tech tools and by both Urban Design Build Students and Trade Institute of Pittsburgh apprentices. The pieces of the plywood structure and hollow-core door panels of the facade were CNC milled. The structure was erected from the ground up and serves as its own scaffolding. A design element pervasive throughout the work's detailing and construction is its ability to be deconstructed to transportable-sized pieces, as is the part of the mission of at Project RE_.
We CNC milled the the primary structure from AA faced birch plywood. This was 3/4" thick with 5 interior ply. The first major order was red oak infill and the second order was poplar infill which milled cleaner and looked beautiful with the polyurethane finish.
All edges were sanded with 80, 120, 220 grit with apprentices from Trade Institute of Pittsburgh.
All faces were finished with 3 coats of polyurethane and edges with 6 coats, also done by Trade Institute of Pittsburgh.
Lower sections of the structure were prefabricated.
The aluminum base plates were custom fabricated.
The base plates were not fully tightened until the bridge was installed - connecting the two sides together.
The bridge pieces needed to be rotated into place.
Hand-tightening the binding posts and barrel bolts proved to be the most time consuming element of installation.
Scaffolding planks were moved throughout the structure during installation and have a more permanent use as a walkway above the bridge section.
This secondary armature was designed to attach the panelized faced to the structure at any point on the vertical elements of the primary structure.
The reclaimed hollow core doors which are mounted to this structure are sold across and down the retail aisle.