Association for Computing Machinery: Piano Staircase Weekly Workshop

This semester, the ACM Student Chapter is continuing the Piano Staircase project with a renewed emphasis on hands-on prototyping and system integration. Building on last semester’s planning and design work, participants will now begin assembling and testing real hardware that will eventually transform the Russ Atrium staircase into an interactive installation using sensors, lights, and sound.

The project is structured as a collaborative, resume-building experience. Students will work as part of a multidisciplinary team, gaining practical experience with embedded systems, Raspberry Pi development, and interactive hardware design. Contributions will be documented in a public GitHub repository, and participants will have the opportunity to point to tangible, real-world work when speaking with employers. Contributors may also be recognized directly on the completed installation in Russ.

The Piano Staircase is open to students across engineering and computing disciplines, including Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering. No prior experience is required. This semester is an especially good time to join, as new participants will be introduced to the project fundamentals before diving into prototype assembly.

Join us in building a highly visible campus installation while developing practical skills that extend well beyond the classroom.