Tweaking Stata

 

Welcome to “Tweaking Stata”, a fun sport that is part of the 2005 CSAIL Olympics.

 

WHERE: 2nd Floor Lounge
WHEN:  Starting at  3:15pm  TODAY, Tuesday, January 25

WHAT: Wearing architect Gehry’s hat or your own, you are asked to propose a solution to the “problem area” identified hereinbelow:

 

Problem Area

 

Seven months after people moved in the Stata Center, the 3rd Floor  Break-out area is still in transition.

 

Red squares indicate  location of 3rd Floor Breakout Area in the Stata Center

 

Of the neighboring research groups (eg. Abelson, Teller, Knight, TIG, Oxygen), no one has claimed ownership todate. Furniture from the old building is left in the area including a non-functioning coke dispenser. A “fussball” game has been removed because it was noisy. On occasion, students and visitors sit down to relax.

 

View of the 3rd floor breakout area approaching from the east

 

 

Function

 

Your team’s goal is to come up with a design that puts the 3rd Floor Breakout area as the coolest place to visit in the Stata Center, a must-see! If you want, you can  propose an alternative use. Some examples: sauna/hamam, bicycle parking lot, video arcade, conference room, napping area, open study area, reception room, orangutan zoo.

 

 

Materials

 

You will be supplied with a scaled, laminated floor plan of the area  and blocks of clay.
Use these materials to “sculpt” your model, just like in kindergarden.

 

Decisions

 

You must decide two things: the function of the room (i) and how to arrange objects, eg furniture, in the space (ii)

 

Activities

 

You can talk, draw lines, sculpt the clay. You can draw a list of the top “ten areas-to-fix” in the facility too.

 

Fears and Help

 

Several architecture students have kindly volunteered to help as team consultants, jurors, photographers. They will be near your team to assist and offer you advice, eg how to use clay, which objects to place in the space etc

 

Food

 

Warm, supple and delicious cookies will be available on site. You can eat them.

 

 

Deliverables and Presentation

 

At 5pm sharp, each team gets five minutes to pitch and present their proposal. The objective is to convince everyone that your concept is the best! You can rely on the concept,  the clay model and rhetoric to achieve your goal.

 

Implementation

 

The Stata Center authorities will certainly take notice. Architecture students can help flesh out the winning proposal.
So, if your idea is great you will certainly make a contribution!

 

Optional

 

You can register to take a short-survey on your experience working in the facility.

 

 

Scoring

 

50% of your team’s total score is participation.  Showing up for 10’ counts, even if it is for the presentations! Just make sure you let your team-leader know. Sending an email with comments counts half points.

 

The other 50% is your design:  Extraordinary concept, nice clay model, convincing presentation

 

Example: Team A fields  10 people. 2 more send an email. Subtotal from participation: 110points
               Team A proposal is extraordinary and ranks FIRST among equals. Subtotal from design: 100 points
               Total Team A: 210 points
               Team B fields 15 people. No one sends email. Subtotal from participation: 150 points
               Team B proposal is alright and they rank SECOND among equals. Subtotal from design: 75 points
                Total Team B: 225 points

 

 

Prizes

 

Winners (and losers too) get a free tour of the architecture department and free board if they ever show up in Greece!

 

 

Questions

 

Contact the commissioner at tsakonas@mit.edu