Stick Structure

Also known as Jake's Structure, Structural Stability Model.

No. 14 · 1976 / 2009

The structure was conceived as a senior project with a bold purpose: to create a life-sized, reconfigurable model for teaching structural stability. Its original design featured plywood shear walls and bolted connections, allowing students to disassemble and reconfigure it to study different load flows and configurations. However, this vision of adaptability was never realized, and the structure remained static for over three decades. Exposure to the elements took its toll, with the plywood walls deteriorating and the framework leaning precariously by the early 2000s.

In 2009, a dedicated team of students took on the challenge of revitalizing the Stick Structure, preserving its educational intent while addressing its growing instability. The team carefully dismantled the aging framework, navigating rusted bolts and compromised materials. In its place, they introduced modern updates that reimagined the structure for a new generation. Steel diaphragms replaced the plywood walls, offering greater durability and resistance to weather. A two-directional truss system improved stability, while a cornerlever design reduced column dependence, maximizing open space and enhancing the structure’s versatility.

The renovation process exemplified collaborative problem-solving, blending respect for the original design with forward-thinking innovations. More than a structure, the Stick Structure represents an evolving educational tool, demonstrating how modular frameworks can adapt to new needs while maintaining their relevance. Its ability to transform, both physically and conceptually, has made it a rare and enduring model of reconfigurable design.

modular framework, structural stability model, reconfigurable architecture, steel diaphragms, two-directional truss, cornerlever design, educational tool

Photographs