Sutro Tower
Modeled in Rhino 5
Designed 2017
Cut on Shopbot Buddy
Built Late 2017/2018
Assembled by a Team of 3
Installed May 2018
A SAN FRANCISCO LANDMARK CIRCA 1890
After living in San Francisco for most of my 20s, Sutro Tower became my favorite landmark of the city. When it was time to move away I designed this steampunk inspired replica as my swan-song for the city that had given me some of the best years of my life.
Hole No. 3
Sutro Tower is now the centerpiece of the course at Urban Putt San Francisco.
As a miniature golf course feature it provides players with a spectacular hole-in-one shot that raises the ball 14 feet into the air and comes crashing back to Earth surrounded by lightening, thunder, and antique lattice-work inspired by the original Bay Bridge.
Developing Sutro Tower
Refinement of the silhouette of Sutro during the early stages of development with volumetric forms.
Build, then install.
Sutro Tower would be the first course feature designed and built off-site, then installed in a single day. This posed a number of design considerations to ensure the tower would not only be beautiful in appearance, true to the course theme, and exciting to play, but that it would also fit through the front door!
Designed in Rhinoceros 5
Everything is designed inside of Rhino. This is a direct capture of a typical design workspace. Here you can see the linework developed for the lattice work seen in the Legs and Arms as well as the beginning of the Waist and Crown.
Everything cut out with a 4x8ft Shopbot CNC.
From the very beginning, Sutro Tower was designed with its manufacturing in mind. Nearly every piece is milled from 1/2in, 4x8ft Plywood.
A Giant Puzzle
Every piece is designed to fit with every piece around it. Characteristics like material thickness are used to the puzzle's advantage.
Step by Step Assembly
Each Leg is nearly 7ft tall and not only supports the weight of the tower above but also includes plumbing for a golf ball to travel up and down.
