URBAN RENEWAL: EVOLVING TERRA COTTA

Thesis statement by Leigh Stone

Carl Elefante says, “The greenest building is one that is already built.” (1) Modern buildings are designed to last 30-60 years—what if we renewed and built to last a minimum of 250 years? This thesis champions terra cotta for its low-carbon properties, compressive strength, ease of maintenance, and aesthetic possibilities. Some of the oldest artifacts that tell our evolutionary story are ceramic vessels dating back to 10,000 BCE.

Architectural terra cotta manufacturing has almost disappeared in the US. By designing a terra cotta innovation and production facility, and retrofitting a 1928 industrial building, the project introduces terra cotta as a viable architectural structural building material for low-rise construction and adaptation. Optimization strategies and new technology make it a compelling alternative to concrete and metal.

1. Carl Elefante FAIA FAPT, 2021 Short Bio, Senior Fellow with Architecture 2030, on the board of the Climate Heritage Network (CHN), former President AIA 2018

Professor Lisa Little | ARCH793A | Practice Makes Performance