Parametric Folding, Panelization and Integration in Architecture: A Boston Community Theater Case Study

This paper investigates folding as a practicable design methodology in response to the combined requirements of complex sites and public programs. A sloped waterfront community theater in Boston is used as a test case, where a parametric workflow in Rhino/Grasshopper is employed to translate continuous surfaces, via panelization, into buildable systems constrained by curvature and developability. In the Boston community theater case study, diamond panels are employed for the primary enclosure and seating; stepped panels organize circulation across the slope; and triangular closures resolve edge conditions and tolerances. Fold lines simultaneously function as legible paths, stitching exterior and interior into a continuous sequence. Parameters are used to align lines of sight, gradients, and drainage with structural supports, thereby demonstrating a traceable linkage from geometry to construction and operation. The findings reveal that folded geometries establish continuous linkages among topography, circulation, and program; that fold lines function as force paths, drainage organizers, and edge closures; and that interstitial layers between folded interfaces facilitate transitions between performance and everyday modes, thereby sustaining public use. The study proposes a reusable “folding–parametric–panelization–structural integration” framework, providing a transferable technical pathway for community-scale public architecture.