|
 |
December 4,2008 |
School of Architecture
CarnegJe Mellon University
201 College of Fine Arts
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-3890
(412) 268-2355
http://www,arc.cmu.edu |
Mr. Jason Fincke, Executive Director
Ms. Kathy Zarisnak, Administrative Manager
Builders Guild of Western Pennsylvania
650 Ridge Road, Suite 101
Pi tts burgh. PA 15205
Dear Mr. Fincke and Ms. Zarisnak,
I want to take a moment to thank you and Builders Guild or Western Pennsylvania for your contribution to the enrichment of our students' education and the pursuit of building practices that preserve and celebrate the powerful natural resources shared by all of humanity. One year ago, the students, faculty and supporters of Carnegie Mellon University joined together to participate in the Solar Decathlon, the nation 's foremost collegiate competition fo stering innovation in marketable energy-efficient homes. On this occasion. I wanted to share with you how Ihis extraordinary experience has impacted our students and launched a new initiative in community-based sustainable design at Carnegie Mellon- the Neighborbood Design Build Studio.
Enabled by your generous support, the Solar Decathlon team's project, TriPod, made a successful showing on the Mall. Recently. the students submitted TriPod to and won the 2008 US EPA's Lifccycle Building Challenge Award in the '·Student-Built'· category and was also awarded for best gTcen house gas reductioIl. The team's success has inspired Carnegie Mellon to expand its vision of sustainable building education and practice.
Integrated within architectural and sustainable design coursework and focu sed on the real-world implementation of gyeen solution s, the Neighborhood Design Build Studio leverages the lessons of the Solar DecathJon into a program that takes communities as clients in building projects aimed at addressing community needs, revitali zing urban areas and promoting city-wide investment in sustainable design and building.
In the Neighborhood Design Build Studio, students translate ski lls and experience from the classroom into fuJI-scale, working projects em bodying the [undamentallessons of the Solar Decathlon. Thc collaboration of disc iplines, the focus on sociaJly responsible design and the integration or environmental ethics WitJ1 humanitarian concerns are manitested in buildings and design that directly benefit the community. The Neighborhood Design Build Studio also provides another chance to provoke critical discussion about sustainable urbani sm and wiJl create a forum for public education in the places people live and work every day.
Your gift made it possible to complete a two-year, design build project and allowed our "Solar Decathletes" to compete in a unique intemalional competition at the cutting edge of green design and building technology. More importantly, your generosity provided Carnegie Mellon faculty and students with the opportunity to expand the School of Architecture's sustainable design and community revitalization mission.
Please accept the enclosed 2007 Solar Decathlon team photograph as a symbol or our appreciation. We will continue to provide you with periodic updates on the Neighborhood Design Build Studio and hope we can rely on your interest and support in pursuing this new initiative.
Most sincerely,
Stephen R. Lee
Professor. School of Architecture
Lead Faculty Advisor.
Solar Decathlon 2003, 2005, and 2007
|
|
|
|
