Last spring, SOM was one of five architecture and engineering practices selected to participate in the inaugural Advanced Manufacturing in Architecture and Design (AMAD) workshop.

Hosted by Space/Craft, Cemex, and Thornton Tomasetti, AMAD brought together interdisciplinary teams to explore how advanced manufacturing techniques and emerging building materials can drive innovation in architecture and design.

Our team developed ORCA, a prototype for public furniture that challenges conventional perceptions of concrete. Conceived as a self-balancing, dynamic form, ORCA blurs the line between sculpture and furniture. Its geometry optimizes weight distribution while introducing a sculptural “kickstand” that enables both single and double activation—creating a flexible, interactive object for public space.

The workshop culminated in a one-week intensive fabrication process, during which teams collaborated to produce full-scale concrete prototypes.