V.E.L.M.A. (Vehicle for Engineering, Light, Mechanics, and Acoustics)
35.9544° N, 83.9295° W | Interior Architecture Design-Build Studio | Prof. David Matthews
This design-build studio constructed a prototype STEAM lab trailer “VELMA” for the Lenoir City Middle School STEM program. The 18 member, student design team partnered with 6th-grade students and cross-disciplinary experts to envision, design, and build the lab. The VELMA trailer serves as a prototype for multi-disciplinary innovation that expands student educational STEAM experiences.
Conceptual Framework:
The concept of VELMA emerged from merging design ideas generated by the sixth grade STEM students and interactive design sessions with the Leadership Visioning Team. The Leadership Visioning Team is a group comprised of experts from STEM Education, Physics, Engineering, Design Methods, and Industrial Design. The synthesis of the
two groups is essential to developing an approach to the design that is empathic to the 6th graders’ needs and the wisdom and knowledge of disciplinary experts.
two groups is essential to developing an approach to the design that is empathic to the 6th graders’ needs and the wisdom and knowledge of disciplinary experts.
The five images below represent five parameters used for developing a fully immersive and enticing experience for the 6th graders, who would end up using the lab to learn, brainstorm, invent, design, and build sound machines. These machines would ultimately impact and interact sensorially with the VELMA Lab. Each image represents a stage the users would experience to help guide them through the space and creative processes. The stages are: Entice, Enter, Engage, Exit and Extend.
Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration
Conceptual Journey Mapping
ENTICE
ENAGE
ENTER
EXIT
EXTEND
FINAL BUILD
Final Design VELMA Lab
Construction Documentation
