Odum Green Building Concept Design Revealed
January 24, 2009
Wednesday, January 21 2009 was a truly great day for the Odum School of Ecology. The Architectural Firm BNIM and the Green Building Planning Committee finally revealed the Concept Design Plan.
Our Vision:
Our understanding of emerging global economic and environmental issues leads us to forge a sustainable building ethic for the world’s first college-level ecology program– the Odum School of Ecology. Our goal is a building that is ecologically resilient, socially just and economically sound.
Envision a world where the earth’s complex living systems are intricately linked and in delicate, harmonious balance with their surroundings. Serving as a model for how natural and built environments will collaborate in the future, the Odum School of Ecology will transform education and research and set an example for a future sustainable society.
The conceptual design of the Odum Green Building proceeded with a number of goals or visions in mind. These elements include PEDAGOGY, BIODIVERSITY, LIVABILITY, ENERGY, WATER, and NUTRIENT CYCLING. Each of these visions are embodied in the design of what will be the World’s most Sustainable Teaching and Research Laboratory.
PEDAGOGY
To create change, the building and site will serve as a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary transparent living laboratory available to everyone.
BIODIVERSITY
Embracing ecological diversity, complexity and resilience, the project will allow natural systems to self organize, heal and regenerate ecological processes. This, in turn, will provide food, fiber and shelter for living species including humans.
LIVABILITY
By encouraging interaction and collaboration amount the university, all sectors of the environmental community, and the general public, and by incorporating the healthiest building practices, this project will create inspiring and healthy indoor and outdoor spaces where people ling to work, study and visit.
ENERGY
The building will operate on a carbon neutral basis that demonstrates appropriate demand and supply technologies at various scales.
WATER
Occupying a headwater to the Oconee River watershed, the project will celebrate water by conserving and regenerating freshwater cycles, directly linking the building sire to the river.
NUTRIENT CYCLING
Mimicking nature, the building will operate waste-free by integrating natural systems and adopting and inventing sustainable operating practices that harvest nutrients.
A great deal of time, energy, and thought went into the conceptualization, modeling, sketches, and ideas presented on Wednesday. However, the hardest part is just beginning, and we need your help. Any comments, questions, suggestions, ideas, or criticisms that you may have are extremely important to us and we want; no, we need to hear from you. Each and every comment or concern will be brought to the Committee’s attention, and will be addressed.
Building Conceptualization
January 14, 2009
The Odum School of Ecology’s Green Building Planning Committee has been hard at work revising sketches, finalizing ideas, and proceeding down the path of building conceptualization toward a complete design. The images and descriptions that follow are excerpts taken from the 75% completion design teleconference.
The charettes, design meetings, planning, and conceptualizing are all finished. The final Odum School of Ecology Conceptual Plan will be presented by the architectural firm BNIM on Wednesday January 21, 2009 at 3:00 PM in the Ecology Building’s Auditorium. Anyone interested in the final book, or the design process is urged to attend.
As always, if you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at jlmck10@uga.edu and I will try to get back to you as soon as possible. Hopefully, I will see all of you on January 21 at 3:00PM in the Ecology Auditorium.