ACAW is a hands-on research and development workshop for architects and facade engineers to explore the use of terra cotta in high-performance facade design.
Presented by Boston Valley Terra Cotta with CMU School of Architecture and the University at Buffalo School of Architecture and Planning, the Architectural Ceramic Assemblies Workshop (ACAW) brings together professionals from the architectural industry and academia, offering participants the opportunity to explore innovative building solutions and further their understanding of architectural terra cotta for large-scale assemblies. Now in its eighth year, research and experimentation at past ACAWorkshops have culminated into real-world projects currently in development.
The workshop aims to encourage the use of terra cotta early in the architect’s design process. This allows for the efficient production of high-performance facade solutions. Through pre-design and prototype research and development, teams explore innovative digital tools in the production of terra cotta assemblies, the development of unitized façade systems, and how the variable materiality of terra cotta (through-body color, finish and glaze) can inform and enhance a façade’s performance.
To learn more about past workshops we encourage you to purchase the Bioclimatic Ceramic Assemblies I and II books which dive deep into the behind the scenes of ACAW. Looking for a brief synopsis of our previous workshops? Check out the News section or Past Workshops pages; Assemblies page, Team Presentations page, and Lectures page.