Field trip

The Huft Project site used an Onsrud CNC machine. It was primarily used for case work. Their primary material for cutting was OSB, MDF, and FiberBoard. Key benefits of the machine was that it had a vacuum table to hold material and an automatic tool changer.

A key problem with using veneered MDF was that the routed material left an exposed edge. Huft used a very nice edge banding machine to veneer the edge of their mdf panels.

Huft had a unique fine furniture line they sold online. This table design used bent steel legs edged with wood. The steel was bent using a floor die machine bending set.

They had recently upgraded to an industrial automotive paint booth. This allowed them to fit a large number of pieces, or larger pieces to be painted or coated.

They really showcased their design ideals and talents in the build of their own space. They integrated the build and design space. Their stated reason for this was they wanted to increase the collaboration and relationships between the design team and the shop team.

I was really impressed with the custom drawer pulls they caste in shop. They were able to pour the mold using investment casting methods and then poured at a forge they had inshop

They also had my favorite model of 3D printer! Form Labs makes a great stereolithogrphy printer that is really cheap. It uses a bottom down extruder bed that deposits resine. It has print quality that is accurate to 50 microns. Huft aslo had a 3D printer that an employee made in house. They print flower vases a giveaway to new clients. 

I really enjoyed the tour at huft. Their corporate structure was even reflected in the way they arranged seating. There was no executive offices but instead everyone sat at long tables.  

Hufft Projects - Tour

Our digital fabrication class visited Hufft Projects in Kansas City to learn more about design and fabrication in a real-world context. The first thing that surprised me after walking in was the total treatment of the space. Hufft projects felt like a studio space as soon as you walked in. 

Previous projects, studio lighting, artwork, and current mock-ups were displayed throughout the space.  

The office was divided into primarily two spaces: the designers studio space and the fabricator's shop space. Hufft Projects fabricates most of the projects that they design, with casework fabrication making up the vast majority of their business. They then deliver their finished projects to the site in their Hufft-branded van. 

The office culture seemed fairly comfortable and relaxed. Many of the employees were still talking after closing time; a few were even discussing work over a beer. Dog cages near a few of the employee's desks indicate that the office is dog-friendly and thought about their employee's comfort. 

The firm was located in an old grocery warehouse and provided more space than Hufft projects needed. Some of the extra space has been allocated to fabrication functions. Other ares are in the process of being adapted; the above image shows a portion of the building that is being converted into an employee gym. 

Rebekah Winegarner -- Hufft Visit

 The first time I came across designs by Hufft Projects, it was of their sleek and industrial style custom furniture.

Upon visiting Hufft Projects one of the most impressing things was their design space. Arranged on three long tables, computers and chairs were evenly spaced and indistinguishable to give no hint to the status of the user. The tour guide (who had been with the company many years) explained that Hufft felt good ideas could come from anywhere, and that it was important for all of the designers to interact. So, all designers and even interns, regardless of status, experience, or specialization were all in the same open work area.

Hufft projects has a comprehensive metals shop in addition to a full wood shop, 3D printer, and CNC router. In the metals shop Hufft casts cabinet handles of their own design for high end clientele. This capability nicely compliments their custom cabinetry, which is a very big part of their daily production and revenue.  

Hufft Projects Field Trip

Matt Kenney

My Experience at Hufft Projects:

Having some previous familiarity with Hufft Projects, I was excited to see where they make all of their work happen. I especially liked upon entry that they had a recent part of a project that I recognized from their website, a facade mockup from a current project.

Part of being a well operating firm is to have a large material library. I enjoyed how not only did they have books, but actual material samples as well. I also took note that all of the shelving, they fabricated themselves.

A new trend that I am seeing a lot in firms these days is the idea of an open collaborative space for designers. I enjoyed their long rows of desks (which they also fabricated) that kept everyone in the same space so that they could work together.

In addition to the desks, they also fabricated their own mobile pin up boards. I found these to be a great idea as they had casters and could move easily from desk to desk, keeping all the work ona  project together.

Their wood shop was quite impressive. I found it to be a great space with many current technologies including a CNC router as well as an edge laminater.

I also enjoyed that Hufft has their own metals shop. I found it really interesting some of the things they could make, especially having their own foundry that they could use to cast brass door pulls.

One of the things I was interested in was how they were using digital fabrication day to day. I found it really cool how not only were they designing a custom door pull for the Artery residence, but also could rapidly prototype using their on site 3-D printers. It made for a quick study and I found that to be successful. 

In addition to having a 3-D printer, they make good use of their CNC router. I found it interesting that they make all of their own casework and a lot of furniture in house for projects that they have. They had the current cabinets for the Artery House still in their shop. Using laminated MDF, they made some professional cabinets that saved having to outsource that component of the project.

Hufft Projects Trip

Hufft projects have their own material library in their office. Having a big collection of materials to look at during the design process helps architects and designers generate ideas and work faster.

Working space in Hufft Projects is shared by all employees and employers, no matter what their positions are. Their working space basiclly consists of three long tables with computers right next to each other. The idea of having a shared working space helps with generating ideas between employees and employers during the design process of any project.

One of Hufft Projects office space is a room for 3D printers. The photo above is vase in the process of 3D printing, which is designed by one of the employees and it is given to Hufft Projects clients.

What I really like about Hufft Projects that they work on a range of projects, from big architectural design projects to small detailed fabrication projects. The photo above is 3D prints of drawer pulls. Each 3D print has a different shape, and the purpose of making these 3D prints is to be able to feel how each design feels like. 

nolan fike Huft Experience

 I appreciated their “Chocolate Factory” where they had a library of materials ready for any client. This goes along with their motive to complete everything at their office/shop, complete with prototypes that could be manufactured there as well.

 Most of the walls were painted with a chalkboard coat, allowing clients, designers, and shopworkers to write down anything, anywhere, at any time. Seeing the multiple drawings on every surface, it must promote design creativity for every employee that works at Huft.

 Clearly they have a sense of humor. I found this outside of the newly installed paint room. Along with the art and prototype pieces displayed around the office, it makes for a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.

 I found their shop space to be unique and nostalgic. Drawing off a renaissance craftsman’s style of production, multiple tables with multiple people working on them is great for communication and cooperation. Also, I found it interesting that each new shop worker had to build their own table.

I was really impressed with our tour guide who, despite being under 30, had stayed with the company since the beginning. That shows an employee to company trust that not many can find in larger firms of any profession.

Hufft Trip Pictures

Hufft Projects 

Luke McElwain- Trip Pictures 

The build this table with the usage in mind. This center strip allows the easy concealment of wires from peoples electronic devices thus making the conference room a less cluttered environment.  

Hufft created their own coasters.  This exemplifies the companies mission to create anything that they can.  Plus, its a cool piece of branding.  

This machine automatically applies a veneer strip of wood to the outside of a piece of wood to make the wood have the appearance of being solid.  This makes the cabinet building process much faster due to the drastic reduction of time spent ironing on the veneer strips.  

JNK - HUFFT TOUR

JNK: HUFFT TOUR

ARCH 600: DIGIFAB

It is obvious that Hufft makes an attempt to appeal to their employees and future potential employees. 

Many items during the tour contributed to the employee-centric environment: music system rigged up throughout entire building, very nicely designed work stations, special tasks to introduce employees to the space (I.E. fabricators first task to build their own shop desk).

The separation between designer and fabricator was made apparent throughout the tour, as each position at Hufft has its own specialty without overlap- this is something that could be called into question in the age of integrated systems. 

The 3D printer room stood out to me as it was a separate entity from the fabrication room, showing that 3d printing has become more of a prototyping middleman at Hufft.

Hufft’s plans for their building was interesting as they have way more space than they know what to do with, so they have decided to build a gym facility and apartment units in the remaining space. 

The pool and landscaping firm I work for is currently contracted out to build the pool on Hufft’s Artery Project.

The Artery project is an immense residential design in Kansas City. 

http://hufft.com/residential/artery-residence/

Although not responsible for any design work, it has been immensely interesting to follow the project since the conceptual stages with my company. 

My first impression of Hufft was this walk through video, showing an emphasis on design and creativity. 

Artery Residence from Hufft Projects on Vimeo.

Throughout the tour we saw numerous items that Hufft had fabricated in-house for the Artery project: including cabinets and hardware. 

Hufft Projects Tour

Hufft Projects Tour

Charlie Roter

Hufft's material library was designed and fabricated entirely in house specifically for their office space based upon their unique needs. 

From the top to bottom of the firm, workers in the firm all sit with each other. Additionally, they will sit next to others who are not trained in the same specialty for purposes of integration between disciplines. 
Seen on the sides and against the far wall are movable pin up boards that may be specifically purposed to one project at a time. This allows for less time being spent physically pinning and unpinning in the same space and more time utilized working. 

Demonstrating to the class the design process of cabinet pulls and how the ability to digitally fabricate in house speeds up the process and ultimately lead to a better project rather than have to outsource the fabrication process.

The digital fabrication area features a large 3 axis suction bed CNC machine.

 Custom made storage rack in digital fabrication work shop

The wood shop area, features tables hand made by their craftsmen to suit their particular needs. Tables are close to each other in an arrangement inspired by an early medieval photo of a wood shop in a similar layout.

The recently installed industrial paint booth, sizable for a car, allows Hufft to finish their products in house opposed to paying to outsource the process.

Hufft Projects - Field Trip

         Hufft Projects started the company making mainly projects and some objects with digital fabrication. After that, the demand of digital fabrication`s objects started growing up quickly. Nowadays, they have been investing a lot in digital fabrication due to this demand.

            They have for research an open small space in the middle of the building which is super interesting because of the facility to go there for inspiration and creativity.

             The relaxed workplace with music helps for a good environment during work hours. Furthermore, they can easily talk to each other because of the connectivity between tables. Also, it can improve knowledge between coworkers and help to solve problems fast due to the proximity.

            Normally, architects at Hufft Projects do not execute their own projects, which means that architects design their projects in the front of the building and all execution of their projects is made by industrial designers in the back of the building.

          

          The transparency between the design part of the building and the execution part is very interesting because it is used as a table of annotations. Also, it gives a very consistent style to the originality of the building.