Designed and constructed by students in the “Outside-In Project” seminar during the Spring 2023 semester, this inflatable installation, titled GSAPP x WORM invites all kinds of interaction between user and pavillion. Visitors can walk through, play with, jump on, sit on, and lie down on the inflatable. The concept of a continuous line was employed to create simplicity in form for an ease of assembly and reduction in material cost and construction time frame. The pitched upper arms of WORM were designed to optimize incident sunlight to increase the efficiency of two mounted photovoltaic panels.

Anchored by weighted ballasts and filled with recycled foam, the lower section of WORM can accommodate any and all forms of interaction without impacting the structural performance or appearance of the inflatable. The economy of form allows for just a single blower to inflate the pavillion. Additionally, two industrial-grade colour-changing LED chords, and three charging cables, are powered by the PV’s mounted atop WORM’s Structure. Only one blower is used to keep this installation inflated.

Sited immediately in front of Avery Hall, this installation was designed in part for Columbia GSAPP’s “End of Year Show” and the school-wide graduation ceremony. This winning design proposal saw numerous design iterations and form optimizations throughout the course of the semester, but was ultimately built in just one day by the project team.