About Us

Grid Beam began in 1975, when Phil Jergenson reimagined Ken Isaacs’ “Living Structures” through a new lens. While experimenting with Telespar—a metal tubing with holes spaced every inch—Phil noticed a key insight: hole spacing should match the width of the material you’re using. That discovery was the breakthrough. From that moment on, he was off and building.

What followed was a lifetime of modular exploration: furniture, solar vehicles, shelters, workstations—all made from simple beams, evenly spaced holes, and bolts. Grid Beam became more than a building system—it became a philosophy of reuse, adaptability, and invention. Nothing is wasted. When one project ends, the materials simply become the foundation for the next.

Phil’s daughter Rona grew up in a house full of Grid Beam. As a kid, she built her own bunk beds, bookshelves, and room layouts—sometimes rebuilding her entire setup week after week. It was a hands-on education in creativity, engineering, and independence.

Today, Grid Beam is still open-source, endlessly reusable, and ready for whatever you imagine. It’s a building system for makers, dreamers, and doers—for the projects you haven't thought of yet.

So What is Gridbeam?

A simple, modular building system made of beams with evenly spaced holes that allow you to bolt parts together—no welding, no special tools. Think of it as adult-scale LEGO for real-world projects.

How it Works:

  • Tri Joint

    This triangular configuration evenly distributes pressure across all internal angles, creating rigidity and resistance to twisting or flexing.

  • Modular Lengths

    Gridbeam comes in modular lengths—1 foot, 2 foot, up to 8 feet—making it easy to build to scale without custom cutting. Every piece fits within a standardized grid, so parts line up perfectly no matter the size.

  • Hole Spacing

    Every beam is drilled with holes on a precise grid—typically 1 inch apart. This consistency allows for modular connections, perfect alignment, and easy part swapping or expansion.

Why It Matters:

Gridbeam promotes sustainability, reuse, and hands-on learning. It lets anyone—from designers to students—prototype, experiment, and build without waste or permanence.

Wooden Furniture

What Can You Build?

With Gridbeam, the possibilities are endless. We’ve built tiny chairs entirely from 1-foot lengths—then reassembled those same parts into a table, then a bike stand. The same aluminum Gridbeam has been used for workbenches, electric vehicles, rail cars, and even stages at Burning Man. Everything is modular, reusable, and made to evolve with your ideas.

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What We Believe in:

In a world of fast fashion and throwaway culture, we believe in building things that last. Gridbeam is about sustainability, creativity, and second chances—nothing ends up in the landfill. It’s a system that lets us reuse, redesign, and rethink, all while making the planet a little greener for the next generation. Mistakes are welcome—it’s all part of the process.

Past Projects and Current Builds:

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