Implementing an artwork in the Acopian stairwell is a multifaceted project that requires careful thought and planning that spans many disciplines and departments. Our project, at its inception, sought to create a finalized design for the installment to be implemented within the stairwell. Our group went through extensive brainstorming processes, creating and shaping a design we felt would best combine engineering and the Lafayette liberal arts experience. In order to create the best design, the concepts surrounding the installation were also addressed. Extensive research was conducted on the Political, Social, Technical, and Economic contexts that encompass Lafayette, the Easton community, and the broader topic of engineering education as a whole.

   With further research, our design, as well as our conception of our product’s end goal, began to shift to align with our findings. Our group has indeed come up with an interdisciplinary design idea for the stairwell, however, this design is not an end all be all. Instead of proposing a specific design, our group intends that this paper be a proposal for an artwork, with our design and research as background information to carry the project into the future. The design may change as others continue to work on the project, as it has changed many times over the course of the semester. With this in mind, our group’s main goal has become creating a well outlined proposal to initiate funding and begin the first stages of installing an artwork that will highlight the core values that the Lafayette Engineering department claims to embody, and instill a greater degree of creative thinking within its students.

    Throughout the course of our project, we encountered numerous challenges. One of the most prominent challenges we faced was creating a technically feasible idea that aligned with our creative, artistic vision. Initially, our ideas were highly conceptual and idealistic. The first stages of the design paid little regard to the actual feasibility of implementation, and focused solely on the artistic appearance. Our many ideas then evolved over time in relation to our increased understanding of the technical concepts behind our intended creation. As we conducted more research and looked into the contexts surrounding the work, we had to alter our idealized dreams of a potential artwork to fit into the technical constraints. These ideas also transformed with each additional community member we reached out to involve in our project.

    Certain aspects of our designs had to shift because we realized that would no longer have the desired effect on the atmosphere of the Acopian stairwell. Our conference with artist Stacy Levy increased our knowledge of materials and their function, and we realized that our original design would be very difficult to carry out. For example, we amended our original idea of stringing multiple smaller plastic orbs through the half pipes because her suggestions and expertise steered us in a different direction.

    Another challenge we encountered was working against the clock. We had large ambitions at the start of our project which helped jumpstart our engagement and research. However as time wore on, we realized that our end goal needed to shift. We went from hoping to present a proposal to Allison Byerly to laying the groundwork for the next stage of the project. Another constraint in regards to time was the difficulty in scheduling with community members. For example, we were unable to meet with Daniel Sabatino until our project was more than halfway complete. When meeting with him we ran into certain obstacles with the water aspect of our design and it became apparent that it wasn’t as feasible as imagined. Had we been able to meet with Professor Sabatino earlier, it is likely that our design would have evolved into something different and possible more attainable. However these challenges are much easier to see looking back now and will be learning tools to be used by students in the stages that follow.

Considering the progress we have made, further efforts should be devoted towards creating a deeper technical analysis, speaking with key community figures, and finalizing the artistic direction. Of all the sections that require further research, finalizing the artistic design is the most important. Having a clear picture of the aesthetic is imperative to building focus within the project’s scope. Once an artistic design is near being finalized, the technical analysis can be better investigated. Further research within the technical analysis will likely include more research into the pumping and structural systems that operate within the project. These systems are central to the current design and will likely be relevant in the future. Without a thorough investigation of these systems, a serious proposal can not be realized.

While finalizing the artistic design and later developing the technical analysis, it’s imperative that future groups actively utilize and expand the established community contacts. In terms of art, local artists like Stacy Levy and Jim Toia are invaluable resources that can give feedback on the design and prevent future groups from running into avoidable errors. Its would be advantageous to establish more of these types of contacts within the artistic community of Lafayette and Easton as a whole. The more artists who are involved in this project, the more likely it is to succeed in achieving its aesthetic and societal goals.

Future students working on the Acopian arts stairwell should make full use of the technical experts that exist within the engineering community of Lafayette. Maintaining a consistent relationship with professors like Scott Hummel and David Sabatino will achieve two goals. Those relationships will make the technical analysis far more efficient by reducing the technical roadblocks the students are likely to encounter. Also, by involving these key figure, support for the project will undoubtedly grow. This will make acquiring funding and future relationship building substantially easier.