College Community Students Collaborate to Build Green Villages

Students from the Kirkwood Community College are working together with various programs in building green buildings under the Sustainable Housing Education Project (SHEP). The initiative is through the Iowa Sustainable Village Project.

The goal of the Iowa Sustainable Village Project is to encourage a diverse group of people, according to Construction Management professor Jim Off. Off also cited that student participation is growing in numbers and most of them come from programs such as architectural technology, construction management, interior design, HVAC, plumbing, masonry, energy production and distribution, agriculture and horticulture.

Off said, “We want it to be an ongoing and continuous effort on this project.” ff added, “The students can really see what they’ve been studying, see it come to life and see the product of their work.”

Off also invited the students of Jillissa Moorman who is the coordinator of the Interior Design Program. Moorman is delighted as the realistic collaboration will provide practical experience to the students. Heidi Hoffman, one of the interior design students who collaborated with SHEP sees it as a networking opportunity. “Talking to the construction management students open you up to a whole other field that intertwines with your field. I think it’s really important we got to work with them,” Hoffman said.

According to Off, the design will include three buildings, a landscaped area, solar collectors and they might possibly install a wind turbine. The first building will be used as a multifunctional space to accommodate classes or meetings and where students can learn about sustainable, green design. Off also aims for the building to be a showcase for homeowners and homebuilders on their techniques in creating sustainable living environments.

The second building, which is still undergoing the design conceptualization process will be built as a house. Moorman said, “Students will keep doing the process of designing buildings, building them, disassembling them, taking them, designing, building it and so forth.” Moorman believes that the entire program will be very beneficial for students of interior design and construction management. Moorman also foresees that sustainability is the way to go for interior designers.