The Living, David Benjamin's design studio, has been acquired by Autodesk. Combined, the two will create the Autodesk Studio (part of Autodesk Research), which will "create new types of buildings, public installations, prototypes and architectural environments," Autodesk's blog states.
The Living has seven staff members at the moment, as well as a handful of part-time collaborators. Benjamin's area of specialty is synthetic biology, though he's been collaborating with Autodesk for years in the fields of architecture, art, and computer science.
Some projects the studio is currently working on include a university center for research on robotics and color-changing mussels that track water quality in New York's East River.
Hy-Fi, The Living's latest project (and a collaboration with Autodesk), was released last week at MoMA. The project will provide seating, shade and water while creating almost no waste for the 2014 Warm Up summer music program. It will be composted at the end of the summer.
Of the acquisition, Benjamin says: “This will enable The Living to do more of what we are already doing and supercharge it.” Take a look at Hy-Fi below to see what he means.
Related Stories
Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020
Top 155 Architecture Firms for 2020
Gensler, Perkins and Will, and HKS Architects top the rankings of the nation's largest architecture firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Giants 400 | Nov 29, 2020
Top 100 Architecture Engineering Firms for 2020
Stantec, HDR, and HOK head the rankings of the nation's largest architecture engineering (AE) firms for nonresidential and multifamily buildings work, as reported in Building Design+Construction's 2020 Giants 400 Report.
Government Buildings | Nov 25, 2020
New Indiana Toll Road headquarters creates unified environment for staff
New LEED Gold facility consolidates operations for tollway authority.
Architects | Nov 24, 2020
AEC Leaders share lessons from past downturns
Positions of passivity and cost-cutting run counter to the key lessons from AEC leaders who successfully navigated their firms through past market downturns.
Smart Buildings | Nov 20, 2020
The Weekly show: SPIRE smart building rating system, and pickleball court design tips
The November 19 episode of BD+C's The Weekly is available for viewing on demand.
Transportation & Parking Facilities | Nov 13, 2020
BIG and Kilo-designed Pegasus Pod transports first Hyperloop passengers
The pod achieves Hyperloop travel at speeds over 1000km/hour.
Government Buildings | Nov 13, 2020
Tax shortfalls nip government projects in the bud
Federal contracts are proceeding, but states and cities are delaying, deferring, and looking for private investment.
AEC Tech | Nov 12, 2020
The Weekly show: Nvidia's Omniverse, AI for construction scheduling, COVID-19 signage
BD+C editors speak with experts from ALICE Technologies, Build Group, Hastings Architecture, Nvidia, and Woods Bagot on the November 12 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Museums | Nov 5, 2020
The Weekly show: Designing cannabis facilities, Bob Borson's Life of an Architect, museum design
BD+C editors speak with experts from Cooper Robertson, Life of an Architect, and MJ12 Design Studio on the November 5 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
Multifamily Housing | Oct 30, 2020
The Weekly show: Multifamily security tips, the state of construction industry research, and AGC's market update
BD+C editors speak with experts from AGC, Charles Pankow Foundation, and Silva Consultants on the October 29 episode of "The Weekly." The episode is available for viewing on demand.
