MATERIALS LAB EVENTS
LATEST NEWS
The Materials Lab is a resource dedicated to in-depth material investigation in design. Our circulating, ever-expanding library of material product samples and assemblies was founded in 2001. By supporting advanced and interdisciplinary material research, development, and fabrication, the Materials Lab provides the knowledge, skills, and resources necessary to design and construct a better built environment.
In addition to our material library, the Materials Lab houses a rotating exhibition space, an extensive collection of circulating books, a “free samples” section of surplus materials, and individual and group workspaces. The Materials Lab also organizes a diverse range of programming including hands-on workshops, lectures, and other events.
STAFF
LOOKING FOR MATERIALS?
Browse the online database or visit our collection of 29,000+ samples in person. Material samples can be loaned for hands-on inspiration and presentations. Students, faculty, and staff are welcome to check out material samples with a UT EID.
TOUR THE MATERIALS LAB
Location + Contact
West Mall Office Building (WMB) 3.102
The University of Texas at Austin
(512) 232-5969
materialslab@austin.utexas.edu
OPERATING HOURS
Monday – Friday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Fall and Spring semesters
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
Click the images below for more information.
COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS
The material library is ever-growing and our material researchers are always on the lookout for new materials. If you come across a product that you think we should add, email us!
FOLLOW US
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@materials_lab“Eco Illusions: The Plastic Behind the Green” opens tomorrow! Join us for the exhibition reception from 5:00 - 6:00 with curator @danellebriscoe. Here’s your chance to catch the Materials Lab at its best! Plus, cookies and fizzy water. All are welcome. Find us at WMB 3.102.
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@materials_labWhat materials can replace soil? (And why would this be necessary?) Stone wool, most commonly used as thermal insulation, might seem like a surprising substitute. Stone wool is made from basalt, the most common volcanic rock.
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@materials_labLooking for a foam alternative that’s bio-based and backyard compostable? Check out our #materialoftheweek Cruz Foam. @cruzfoam is made of majority upcycled food industry waste and is also industrially compostable. It will completely break down within about 45 days - similar to a banana peel!
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@materials_lab“Can we truly call a system ‘green’ if it’s held in place by materials that may outlive the ecosystems they aim to sustain?” Associate Professor Danelle Briscoe (@danellebriscoe) asks this question in our upcoming exhibition, Eco Illusions: The Plastic Behind the Green.
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@materials_labHere today, gone….in 1226 tomorrows. Can you guess which of these two foams is biodegradable? Compared with conventional polyurethane foam, which breaks down over hundreds of years, here’s a version that biodegrades 99.2% in less than 3.5 years (the green one!).
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@materials_labHere’s a net positive: durable tiles made of recycled fishing nets and ropes. Maritime gear makes up at least 10% of plastic waste found in oceans, added at a whopping rate of 1.5 tons per minute.
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@materials_labHow do you transform glass into the “gold-standard” of insulation boards? Fill it with bubbles. Cellular glass (like regular float glass) is made from sand, limestone and soda ash. These simple ingredients are melted, cooled and crushed into powder with just a bit of carbon black.
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@materials_labJoin us next Monday, 2/19, for a lunchtime talk with Dr. Sara Codarin, a roboticist and educator whose research spans large-scale additive manufacturing, robotic fabrication, digital craft, storytelling, and generative AI for world-building.