MATCOM Lab

Director:
Tyler Swingle, Assistant Professor

Research Assistants:
Miles Sletto
Kazi Suhi
Mohit Timalsina

MATCOM lab is a design research laboratory at the University of Cincinnati dedicated to advancing architectural innovation through material design, computational methods, and construction assemblies. Research outcomes leverage inherent material characteristics to reimagine material life cycles and develop innovative construction techniques that promote more sustainable and efficient building solutions. By challenging architectural biases and exploring new design outcomes, the lab pushes the boundaries of conventional practices to uncover novel possibilities. Through industry collaboration and interdisciplinary experimentation, MATCOM lab cultivates forward-thinking strategies that enhance the performance and resilience of the built environment.

covington cairn

Partnership:

The Carnegie Visual and Performing Arts Center and The Center for Great Neighborhoods

Details:

Year: 2025 (ongoing)
Materials: Concrete and waste aggregate
Computation:
Dimensions:
Team: Miles Sletto, Tyler Swingle

CAIRN is a landmark public sculpture designed as both a visual beacon and a symbol of collective identity for the Covington Central Riverfront (CCR). Drawing from the enduring act of stone stacking as a ritual of place-making, the sculpture rises as a vertical procession of 19 pillars—each representing one of Covington’s unique neighborhoods. These pillars are thoughtfully gathered into five cast elements, each embodying a different historical era and cultural identity of Covington. While distinct in character, these cast elements are carefully stacked in succession—symbolizing how Covington’s layered histories, communities, and identities build upon one another and evoke the collective foundation and shared trajectory of the city.

beyond brick

Partnership:
University Honors Program, University of Cincinnati

Deatils:

Year: 2025 (ongoing)

Material: clay and waste aggregate
Computation:
Dimension:

Team: Mohit Timalsina, Tyler Swingle

This research, advocating for the addition of both reclaimed construction materials and agricultural byproducts within brick manufacturing, offers both new and enhanced material efficiencies with reduced amounts of clay by altering the molecular structure of bricks through the mixture composition. The expected outcome is a regional and naturally occurring construction material that reduces extraction footprints, reduces building energy loads, and reduces waste through reuse manufacturing strategies.

balancing branches

Partnership
Fiber Fiction, School of Architecture, University of Texas at Austin

Deatils
Year: 2024
Material: Softwood (yellow pine) and hardwood (
Computation: Galapagos + Rhino/Grasshopper
Dimensions:
Team: Tyler Swingle

This initial stage of focuses on creating small-scale prototypes using found hardwood volumes grafted with newly fabricated wooden extensions. Each reclaimed hardwood piece is 3D scanned to capture its geometry, grain, and surface irregularities. These scans inform both the design of custom attachment strategies and the fabrication of joinery tailored to the unique character of each volume. Extensions are physically joined to the original pieces, forming hybrid units. Computational analysis is then used to determine the combined center of mass of each hybrid object, allowing us to test the structural logic of stacking and balancing these grafted forms. This phase serves as a proof of concept for the integration of scanning, digital analysis, and physical assembly.