John Ochsendorf, associate professor of building technology at MIT and current fellow at the American Academy in Rome, has invited David Escobedo, owner of Buda-based Escobedo Construction, to join in a collaboration of design and construction of a true load-bearing stone dome.
Collaboration began July 9th with Philippe Block’s internship at Escobedo Construction. Block, a Ph.D. candidate in building technology at MIT, will spend July and August working at Escobedo Construction while consulting regularly with MIT colleagues. Block and Escobedo will work together to design a state-of-the-
The prototype vault, to be designed using Block’s new software, will be made out of cut stone with no steel reinforcement. The execution of Escobedo’s and Block’s design will be made possible by Escobedo’s advances in combining CAD and Inventor software to create precise design parameters.
Escobedo Construction is a general contractor that self-performs most major subcontracting jobs. The company’s artisans work with concrete, steel, stone and wood, but Escobedo has enhanced traditional craftsmanship through the use of 3D-computer modeling and full-scale computer plotting, which have made possible the company’s collaboration with the MIT team. The use of 2- and 3-axis CNC (computer numerical control) machines allows Escobedo to cut stone and wood with a great amount of precision, although artisans working by hand remain essential to the company’s fabrication process.
Escobedo Construction embraces sustainability beyond its energy-efficient systems to build structures that are long-lasting and easy to maintain. Given the widespread push toward greener practices, especially in the design and construction industries, this new joint effort to promote innovation in the use of stone – an abundant, indigenous, durable material – is especially promising and timely.
