NC Sustainable Building Design Competition 2011

What parents will do to ensure their children get good grades. I sacraficed some of my pepper and basil seedling so the kid could have "live plants" in his scale model.

In another post I mentioned that as part of my son's college architechual class, he and 3 other team members were preparing a scale model, rendering and site plan for a reclaimation housing project competition. Well, his team won the local competition and is now going to Raleigh tomorrow for the State competition on Sat. Requirements included sustainability, accessability and "green" in the design. As one of their recommendations for the site, the team incorporated gardens for the all the units housing 20 families. Since I was just getting involved with SFG, my son chose to use that as his model for gardens. Oh, BTW, the "kid" is 48 and a retired Navy Chief.

Here is the model the team is including in their presentation. The Community College team is going up against the power houses of NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke. Full credit to Mel and his book is featured, and that's real Mel's Mix in the box.

Awesome, Congratulations on the win and best wishes on the next step.
The little box looks great.
BTW what a great idea, I may be using it in the future. I returned to college last year and just found out a few weeks ago that I can continue on after getting my Undergraduate degree next year. The started a Masters Program in Sustainability last year. I will be applying and hopefully getting my Masters in Environmental Sustainability in 3 years.

Well good for him and you both! I remember when you posted about this a while back. Thanks for the update.

It's a shame he didn't check with us sooner about his objectives; there's certainly not a shortage of opinions on these forums!

I love the idea of putting the fiver on the table to bribe the judges, but is that really sustainable?

Seriously tough, congratulations to your son's team and you! Very cool to see something near and dear featured prominently and done well. Your seedlings are going to a great cause of educating others and just maybe we'll see a convert or two here. Please pass on the congratulations and thank your son for his service to our country.

I am a little confused though about how NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke are "power houses"? :lolsignwave:

Thanks.

All are four year schools with all the latest and greatest design equipment and a much bigger enrollment.

Chopped Liver MM wrote:I am a little confused though about how NC State, UNC Chapel Hill, and Duke are "power houses"? :lolsignwave:

Kay wrote: All are four year schools with all the latest and greatest design equipment and a much bigger enrollment.

Could CL be suggesting that they have lackluster athletic programs?

How totally cool! I used to work with architects and I really appreciate all of the "new" learning that is going on to make our buildings work better for us & the planet. Keep us posted and good luck to his team!!

boffer wrote:Could CL be suggesting that they have lackluster athletic programs?

Boffer just might have it. (lol) Wake Forrest is the mower, and they are the grass.

Great to hear.

Let me know if you need any help .... I'm fairly fluent in USGBC/LEEDS if you need any reference materials or interpretation.

Thanks, but the competition is upon us now. The team did work with LEEDS and think they may be platinum. (with many assumptions) FYI, the winning NATIONAL team actually gets their plan implemented.



Kay

Kay,

Please post on this thread when you get the results. We'd love to know how it turns out.

CL

And the winner is THE TORNADO THAT TOUCHED DOWN 3 BLOCKS FROM THE COMPETITION SITE.

Just as the judges were being introduce, a Raleigh policeman came into the auditorium and announced that everbody who was in the NC museum of Natural Science was being evacuated into the auditorium and the shelter below it. People were being pull in off the streets as well. The guy in the A/V center switched to a live feed from WRAL/TV and we watched one of the tornados approach downtown Raleigh.

After the all clear, it was kinda anticlimatic to find out the NC State team won. We didn't even get an honorable mention.

BUT... you did spread the word about SFG! Well Done! Sorry you didn't get a prize in the competition .

I did better than that. Today was Earthday and the Military had a program on how the Armed Forces are going GREEN. One of the speakers was the Facilities Manager at Ft. Bragg, NC. On his slide I noticed community gardens was a topic being introduced on the base. SOOOOO, after the presentation, I shashay myself to the stage and ask him about the program. He said it was a sore subject but the base commander said gardens for the base, so gardens he was getting. The problem was getting people to properly take care of their "plots". I just agreed with him and said, unless I have my space right outside my quarters, I wouldn't be interested either, but with the Square Foot Gardening method, I could have a garden in a 4x4 area even right on my deck or balcony. AND that the SFG Foundation would come out and help him with his program if he contacted them and asked for help. I even told him about a class that had been run at FT Hood. (Sorry I couldn't remember who conducted the class). And I made him write down the name All New Square Foot Gardening as the place to get all his information, including the website (I mentioned it was .org now) and told him I got my copy from Lowes.

Kay

YOU GO!!!

I'm so sorry they didn't win. Of course anyone surviving a tornado got an award of another day. Please pass on thanks to the team and remind them they got an honorable mention here.

Nice job getting the mention in! Perhaps one day the military will open their eyes and make on-base living a little nicer.

CL

Walsh Thank goodness all were safe from the tornado.

Great work spreading the word. You are a true ambassador for SFG, both here and abroad. Have you considered getting certified as a SFG Instructor? Hope there is a symposium near you, or you try the home study course.

Proud of you! (Your son too)