To begin the exploration, the engineers performed a rough stress test: They stood on the brick. It survived the ordeal, allowing them to perform some rough calculations about capabilities. “In a competition, you want the entry to be exciting, but there’s no time to do the science, to know for sure if it will work,” says Clark. “So you stand on a brick. If you win the competition, you have a good start to go ahead and explore.”
As the brick had limited stiffness, Clark, Saporta, and Benjamin began to explore curved structures, cones, and cylinders, for the added stability they offered. The double curve they came up with, named Hy-Fi, offered maximum strength with a stiff, wide base resistant to wind loads, and a soaring statement that could be viewed from within and afar.