CU Environmental Design Students will partner with the Lama Foundation in Questa, New Mexico to assist in the design and construction of a simple and sustainable structure for three season use. The design will begin with students gathering research on simple shelters: form, space, materials and site. Students will then spend 8 weeks of the semester designing a shower facility of approximately 100-150 square feet. In March, one project from the group of sixteen will be chosen to be built at the foundation beginning in the spring and finishing in the summer. The studio will conclude with the development of construction documents, scheduling and cost estimates for the chosen design.

 

Students will experience working with a client, designing within a budget, and gain a thorough understanding of sustainable design and development. This course will become a 5 week design/build studio over the summer with construction split into two phases: prototype construction in Boulder during the first week and a three week assembly at the Lama Foundation. It is not mandatory to enroll in both classes. Students can chose to participate in either the design studio or the build studio but enrollment in both spring and summer studios will provide the most enriching sequence.