Arch & Social Practice: Solar

PGAR 5631 | Fall 2011 | Faculty: Laura Briggs, David Lewis

This fall the New School launched a multi-year research initiative with Stevens Institute of Technology to explore the use of solar technology to create sustainable, replicable, and cost-effective housing solutions. Over the course of the next two years, teams of undergraduate and graduate students, with expertise ranging from engineering to architecture to urban policy, are designing and then constructing a fully functioning solar duplex house in the Ward 7 community of Washington, DC working with Habitat for Humanity, DC, and the local DC government. The team is also developing relationships with local civic leaders and stakeholders to ensure that the design proposal will make a positive contribution to the community (http://www.buildingpositive.org/). This course builds on initial design ideas developed during the fall 09 and spring 10 by Architecture, Engineering Systems, Product Design and Urban students. This seminar will focus on development the details for the house. It will include building full-scale prototypes to test hypothesis and also the working drawings for the house. The details have the potential to greatly enhance the project. We will be working side by side with students from fashion, digital technology to engineering to finalize the integration of systems. The first part of semester will involve prototype development and testing. The second part of the semester will prepare final construction documents based on results. Specifications and schedules will also be developed along with procurement of materials to initiate construction.Open to: All students in the School of Constructed Environments