Students Develop Low-Cost Curved Structure Method
Three high school researchers presented a dowel-and-connector technique for building curved structures at an international engineering conference in Turin, Italy.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Materials Science
Three high school students presented a low-cost technique for creating curved structures at the IASS conference in Turin, Italy, from September 14 to 18, 2026. The method connects wooden dowels with 3D-printed plastic connectors that soften in hot water, allowing flat grids to take curved three-dimensional shapes.
Why it matters
The students explored the process as a more accessible and energy-efficient alternative to conventional methods of creating curved structures. The approach could help architects and engineers experiment with designs for larger roof structures, though the university announcement does not establish that it has been adopted for commercial construction.
The research was presented as a student project at the IASS conference, with three high school researchers working alongside Hofstra University engineering professor Edward Segal from summer 2025. The announcement does not establish whether the technique has been tested beyond the models shown or adopted for commercial construction.
The players
Hofstra University
A private research university on Long Island, New York, whose Summer Science Research Program supported the students' work.
Edward Segal
An engineering professor at Hofstra University who worked with the students on the curved-structure project from summer 2025.
New York University Tandon School of Engineering
The engineering school of New York University where student Madison Lee enrolled in integrated design and media.
The details
The technique uses wooden dowels joined by 3D-printed plastic connectors. Models are immersed in hot water so the connectors soften, letting the flat grid structures be hung to form curved three-dimensional shapes.
Timeline
Summer 2025: Students began working with Professor Edward Segal on the project.
September 14-18, 2026: Research presented at the IASS conference in Turin, Italy.
November 6, 2026: University article published about the students' research.
Roadmap
The student work was exhibited at the IASS conference alongside research from MIT, the University of Tokyo and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, placing a high school project within the field of shell and spatial structures. Its low-cost, hot-water-shaped approach offers a contrast to the expensive, specialized fabrication typically associated with curved architectural forms.
The approach could eventually help architects and engineers test curved roof designs using inexpensive materials and less energy than conventional fabrication. The announcement does not establish a timeline for any practical application.
The takeaway
Low-cost, accessible methods for building curved structures could widen who gets to experiment with complex architectural forms. Student-led research like this shows that practical design innovation can come from unexpected places.
Further reading
Explore more Materials Science coverage to see how new construction and fabrication methods are being developed.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
