From Field to Form: Corn

From Field to Form is a series of events exploring the possibilities, life cycles, and architectural implications of plant- and earth-based materials.

Corn, the world’s second-largest cultivated crop, offers potential far beyond food and fuel. After the harvest of the kernel, large quantities of corn stover (stalks, leaves, husks, and tassels) remain in the field. Often treated as waste or low-quality livestock feed, these by-products are an underutilized biological resource with significant potential for the biobased building materials industry.

Corncob has been used for insulation, soil stabilization, and as a cement replacement when burned, while husk and stalk fibers can be engineered into high-performance materials to replace petroleum-based products. These innovations promote a circular economy and reduce environmental harm, reimagining the role of the entire corn plant to echo its historic importance as the “Bringer of Life” in Indigenous cultures.

Organized in partnership with Healthy Materials Lab at Parsons School of Design, this event will convene voices from across the lifecycle of corn, including a plant geneticist, a materials researcher, and a designer, to explore how the myriad corn by-products from the agricultural sector might serve as new feedstocks for design, architecture, and construction.

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Current Architectural League members receive a free ticket to this and other events throughout the year. To access your fully discounted member ticket or tickets, click "Enter promo code" in the ticket window and enter your Member Number.

All confirmed attendees may claim Continuing Education Units for this event.

This event will not be livestreamed.

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