Programs
Oyster Restoration Brick Project
Through hands-on partnerships across the Tampa Bay community, Honors students in the Art + Environment course blend creativity, science, and design to tackle real environmental challenges.
As seawalls with synthetic material are constructed, the Tampa Bay community has seen devastating loss of oyster habitats. When oyster populations decline, there are countless effects on other animals, habitats, people, and the functioning of natural landscapes. The Oyster Restoration Brick (ORB) project is focused on utilizing 3D Printing technology to craft artificial oyster habitats that support healthy oyster growth and development.
3D printed with clay, ORBs offer a safe and sustainable way to rehabilitate our local ecosystems through healthy oyster growth. Each semester, students test new ideas and refine past designs, applying engineering principles like looping and diagonal interlocking to build stronger, more sustainable oyster habitats. By collaborating across disciplines and building on the work of previous classes, students make a lasting impact on local ecosystems.
Installations
More details to come.
Honors Tech Studio
Located on the fifth floor of the Judy Genshaft Honors College, the Honors Tech Studio is a state-of-the-art creative lab where students bring ideas to life using 3D and clay printing technology. Equipped with advanced modeling software and fabrication tools, the studio gives students hands-on experience designing, prototyping, and producing innovative projects, including the oyster brick habitats developed in the Art + Environment course.
Community partners
Collaboration is at the heart of the Oyster Brick Restoration Project. By partnering with community members and experts across Tampa Bay, Honors students gain real-world experience while contributing to meaningful coastal restoration efforts.
Community Partners
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium
- Clay Co-Op
- Clam Bayou Educational Center
- USF Marine Science
- USF Design, Art & Performance
- Shorecrest
- St. Raphael Middle School
Research Partners
Sponsors
Want to Get Involved?
Student Experiences
Ian Blair-Catala, Honors Alum
I was one of the first students to work with Professor Piracci to design and produce the structures for the Oyster Restoration Brick project. I also wrote my Honors thesis on the design process for the original ORBs as well. It was amazing to start on the ground floor of this project and later see those designs I completed 3 years ago become real structures that help the local environment. I will always remember my time on the ORB project very fondly and strive to bring the principles and mindset of this project to my graduate research.
Lily Boyer, Honors Alum
I got involved in ORB right after I made a tough switch in my academic path from nursing to environmental science during my junior year. Through Tina Piracci’s classes, I learned about a new world of interdisciplinary projects that combat habitat loss and environmental challenges with art and design that I couldn’t ignore. Through the project, I’ve learned about design prototyping, 3D modeling and printing, and the basics of additive manufacturing. As I got carried through the unique workflow, shown how to operate the pugmill and 3D printers, I picked up many hard skills that I will indubitably carry with me throughout higher education and my future career. I plan to continue working towards a future that merges art, design, and ecology for viable environmental solutions. ORB is a small piece of a much larger effort that is fueled by students who are passionate about helping the environment in a creative way, I couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of the team.
Contact
Tina Piracci is an artist, educator and innovator whose work bridges art, technology and sustainability. She holds a Master of Science
in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley, and a Bachelor of Fine
Arts in sculpture and new media from the University of South Florida. Her work has
been exhibited locally and internationally. Beyond the studio, she collaborates with
Potters for Peace, combining clay and technology to develop accessible clean-water
solutions.
At the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Professor Piracci teaches innovative art and
technology courses, including Art in Motion, Art + the Environment, and Healthy Humanities
& Living Environments: An Interdisciplinary Studio with Global Colloquium.
Interested in learning more about the Oyster Brick Restoration Project? Contact Tina Piracci.