The Model Shop and Miller Fabrication Lab have long served as essential resources for students at the School of Architecture—spaces where ideas move from concept to physical form. In recent years, however, their role has evolved significantly. What began as a primarily student-focused facility has grown into a dynamic hub for collaboration, supporting a wide range of projects that extend beyond the classroom and into the broader design community.
This expansion has led to partnerships across disciplines and industries, including collaborations with School of Architecture faculty, university departments, cultural exhibitions, and leading architecture firms throughout Miami. Among these projects, the team fabricated custom rafters for Steven Fett Architecture, constructed display cases for the Teofilo Victoria Memorial Exhibit, and produced book stands for the School’s Centennial Exhibit—each requiring a high level of precision, creativity, and adaptability.
The Lab’s collaborative reach also extends across campus. In partnership with the Department of Theatre Arts, the team milled architectural components for an upcoming stage production, contributing to the spatial and visual storytelling of the set design. These interdisciplinary efforts highlight the Lab’s versatility and its ability to support creative work in a variety of contexts.
This past spring marked a significant milestone, as the Lab was commissioned to design and fabricate furniture for Foster + Partners’ new office in the Miami Design District. The project included the production of tables, stools, shelving, and model plinths—demonstrating not only technical expertise, but also the capacity to deliver at a professional level for a globally recognized firm.
Building on this momentum, the fall semester brought another high-profile collaboration. Working alongside Professor Victor Deupi, the Lab designed and constructed a 15-by-15-foot pavilion for the World Architecture Festival at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The pavilion served as a platform to showcase faculty models and publications from across the School’s history, offering a physical representation of its academic and design legacy. Designed with adaptability in mind, the structure can be reassembled and reused for future events on campus, extending its impact well beyond the festival itself.
Together, these projects reflect a broader transformation within the Model Shop and Miller Fabrication Lab—one that positions them not only as technical resources, but as active contributors to design innovation, collaboration, and professional practice both within the university and beyond.
