watch: PARTISANS virtually constructs EV experience center on dassault systèmes

partisans revolutionizes architecture with Dassault Systèmes

Sustainably- and adaptably-designed charging pavilions have been proposed by PARTISANS. Called EV Experience Center, the architectural proposal devises a charging facility for electric cars that also doubles as a flexible event space. The design not only embraces sustainable material use but engineering as well. Using Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud, along with the advanced building delivery expertise of James Kotronis, the Toronto-based architecture studio virtually constructed a center that can be efficiently adapted into unique designs based on remote locations.

Watch above: designboom exclusively speaks with PARTISANS, Dassault Systèmes and James Kotronis about the EV Experience Center.

All images courtesy of PARTISANS

EV EXPERIENCE CENTER CONCEPT

The EV Experience Center ideates a flexible future for transportation architecture in both its design and use. The pavilion doubles as a charging station for electric cars and a turnkey event venue. Its form – and therefore its components – change according to its location and needs. The undulating roof, composed of a self-cleaning glass substitute, generates unique silhouettes for each center based on these parameters. This can be assembled in a fast fashion.

‘The idea for the EV Experience Center started when we questioned what the future of transportation would be, such as on-route gas stations. We considered prefabrication and installation very quickly and in different, mostly remote, locations,’ begins Pooya Baktash, Co-founder of PARTISANS.

‘The EV Experience Center is not a one-off project. For many years, we have been working with Dassault Systèmes to understand how architecture can move away from the being bespoke, project centric,’ continues Pooya. ‘This project reverses the traditional method of architecture. We created a geometry with parameters that can easily automate depending on the location. Based on this structure, we created the limitation of sustainable timber and ETFE to enable a series of scenarios to be rendered.’

From timber to its ETFE roof, the structure of the architectural proposal is fabricated from recyclable and reusable materials. Steel is used sparingly, only where absolutely necessary. ETFE, for example, is 2% the weight of glass, self-cleaning and allows a lot of natural daylight through. It also aids easy assembly outside urban areas through small crews, machines and transportation. The concept has a framework to look and be built similarly.

framework for the future

The key is expanding the design to be effective in multiple locations, even remote. This needs to be efficient and reliable when expanded. With the importance of sustainable design in construction is known but not typically delivered. The architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry has a lot of error and inefficiency. The EV Experience Center is not only built from sustainable materials but aims to be built sustainably, not once but multiple times. All stakeholders involved in the productization needed to collaborate efficiently.

‘The architecture, engineering and construction industry accepts such a high degree of failure that we build this into the process. Failure is anticipated in schedules and budgets. PARTISANS, together with Dassault Systèmes, are working to reduce inefficiency in the whole process instead. The EV Experience Center aims to optimize the entire system rather than one project,’ explains Ivan Vasyliv, designer at PARTISANS. ‘The 3DEXPERIENCE tool is able to handle the entire process, from design to manufacture and logistics to assembly and operation.’

‘All stakeholders are able to see a feedback loop through the entire process so that components can be optimized. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform means we can assess problems early and in a holistic manner,’ adds Ivan.

PARTISANS did not wish to only conceptualize the EV Experience Center; they wished to be involved in the design through to construction. A single virtual environment was needed to realize the framework of the generative architecture, but also enable easy, continuous and trackable collaboration and communication between stakeholders. Issues were noticed early in every stage and any changes modified stages up- and down-stream accordingly.

‘Once captured digitally, the 3DEXPERIENCE platform sets up a feedback loop that can inform limitations and help evolve the design, its construction and assembly techniques,’ confirms advanced building delivery expert James Kotronis.

collaborating on 3dexperience

‘We believe in virtual conceptualization. It is important to capture the concept in an actionable and adaptable manner, from simulation to testing and virtual construction to the assembly and manufacturing of these components. This is digital continuity.’ James continues to say, ‘in the traditional AEC industry, we conceptualise, design, develop and construct, and stages happen to go wrong. The 3DEXPERIENCE platform allows a much broader testing of concepts.’

To model all processes, components and then variants, PARTISANS enhanced the 3DEXPERIENCE platform on the cloud to utilize an array of tools to support productization, component standardization, and fundamentally reliability. Most notably, these included Imagine and Shape surface modeller to ideate the design and its adaptable shape; the data-driven XGenerative Design coding that generates new forms, swaps surfaces and tests logic based on inputs; building the details of the design through to fabrication using 3D Design; and lastly, ENOVIA to understand and control the product lifecycle management.

Using Dassault Systèmes’ 3DEXPERIENCE platform, PARTISANS and its collaborators have realized a prototype that not only revolutionizes the electric vehicle infrastructure but also the methods used in the architecture, engineering and construction industry.

‘The EV Experience Center is a prototype for a way of building. Its future, I think, will depend a lot on regulations and individual interest. There is a product that can be leveraged by partners like governments and municipalities to expand the network and promote electric vehicles and charging ports. As well as the power infrastructure, however, the EV Experience Center supports the holistic needs beyond the urban center like shops, repair centers, washrooms and overnight stays. It strives to make the entire network more accessible as it expands really quickly over the next decade,’ concludes Ivan Vasyliv.