The NOVA pavilion was designed Jake Levy, Emily Lensin, Luca Castellan, and Nathaniel Barry fromToronto Metropolitan University, and the designs of Snowcone, Lithoform, and S’Winter Station inspired it. The pavilion features plastic 3D printing, a white Cordura canopy, and a red EMT pipe connection, giving it a unique look. NOVA was recognized as one of the six finalists in the 2024 Winter Stations International Design Competition, and it was constructed using five prefabricated modules.
The project aimed to test the capabilities of plastic 3D printing in Canada’s cold winter climate. The modules are designed using eight unique red conduit sizes connected with seven different 6mm plastic 3D printed nodes.
According to the designers, “Resonance was not solely revisiting the past, rather an opportunity to reflect on TMU’s past fabrication methods, materials, and assemblies, and introduce new tools and technologies like plastic 3D printing.”
The plastic 3D printing was done using two Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W 3D printers, using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. The structure uses red EMT conduit pipes while the canopy is made from Cordura textile. The project also helped students gain experience with different textiles, sewing techniques, and stitching methods.
The Cordura canopy proved to be strong enough to withstand the winds and snow on Woodbine Beach. As a result, students were encouraged to experiment with new materials such as felt, canvas, nylon, and Cordura.
Jake Levy, leader of the projects, states that “NOVA is the first successful plastic 3D printed project in Winter Stations History, providing an opportunity for students to assess its performance during Toronto’s winter season. Positioned at Woodbine Beach, facing varying temperatures and forces, NOVA is a testament to the potential of 3D printing in winter conditions, challenging traditional norms.”
Project Info
Designers: Toronto Metropolitan University
Name: NOVA
Location: Toronto, Canada
Year: 2024
Photographer: Dean Roumanis, Gabriel Bocsa, Jake Levy, Ariel Weiss, and Nicholas Kisil
