Ivy Tech Concrete Forms Class 2024

In the spring of 2024, the class I was in collectively came up with the design of this unique piece. We initially planned to make a sitting bench that would be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. I initially wanted to incorporate some beautiful wood into the design, but then I thought about the logistics of acquiring the wood, and I was uncertain about our available budget. Additionally, I thought it would add more difficulty to the project. I also want to state, for the record, that after the initial collective decision regarding the shape of the bench, I took the lead to further develop the design by drawing, modeling, and rendering the bench to visualize our ideas. I also, with the invaluable assistance of our instructor Jeff Fair, designed the form needed to pour the concrete into. Anyway, making the form was a pretty complex undertaking; the template was made by me outside of class, and then we constructed the necessary struts and bracing to help contain the concrete securely. To create the holes in the middle, we utilized round concrete form tubes measuring 48 inches in diameter that you would typically find at Home Depot or wherever. The bench is reinforced with steel wire mesh, which was carefully set into place during the concrete pour. We ended up using approximately 14 bags of concrete, and the seven of us managed to complete the job in about three hours. I wasn’t able to be there for the stripping of the form once the concrete had fully cured. The class collectively decided to paint the inner holes a “Ivy Tech” green, and we stained the surface with some concrete sealer to protect it. I even 3D printed a plaque that featured all my classmates' names along with Jeff’s name. All in all, this project turned out to be a pretty educational and rewarding class experience. The icing on the cake is that it now sits on permanent display by the entrance of the Keith E Busse Technology Center, located on the Fort Wayne campus!!