Principal Marc Swackhamer is an Assistant Professor of Architecture at the University of Minnesota. In his ongoing research, Professor Swackhamer examines the relationship between performance and ornament as specifically developed through digital production and fabrication techniques. He recently fabricated and installed Disperse, an acoustic wall installation, in a multi-purpose room in Steven Holl’s addition to Rapson Hall at the University of Minnesota. Professor Swackhamer has, over the past three years, developed studio and seminar coursework on the topic of biomimetics. Student work from this effort won a 2007 AIA COTE (Committee on the Environment) national education award. He worked with School Head, Renee Cheng, on a new chapter for the re-designed Architectural Graphic Standards, 2007 edition on the topic of emerging technology. In the fall semester of 2006, he was accepted as an Associate Member of the University of Minnesota’s Digital Design Consortium where he conducted research in the area of digitally produced modular wall systems. Through this effort, he and Blair Satterfield collaborated with Computer Science Professor Gary Meyer to study the potential architectural applications for color-shifting automotive paint. This resulted in a second permutation of Drape Wall entitled Cloak Wall, which was on display at the Goldstein Museum of Design from October 2007 to January 2008.